Evening star., 1940-12-10


Mr.. Carvel barked. I've always
said that a hit-and-run driver is
one of the worst menaces to So
ciety."
Stephen arrived in the doorway
In time to hear the latter speech. He
strobe in, his face frightening in
It's immobility. He stood in front of
Larry. IF you hadn't been such a
drunken bum. none of it would have
happened anyway" he said bitterly.
Its a pity it couldn't have been you
at the wheel, If it had to be some
one"
Larry stepped back, and the elder
Carvel looked nonplused.
you've torn up three or four
cars with your drunken driving. and
managed to get out of everything
because your father was prosecuting
attorney. You killed Benny Gil
mans dog with pure reckleSSness.
But when man gets hit, it has to
be, by some curious twist of fate,
that some one else is in the drivers
seat"
SIepTeQ. janet protested.
"Mr Malone A nurses calm
voice called him from the hallway
"Mr. Coburn has just regained con-
sciousnesS and he's calling for YOU
His family we're sent back home.
He wants YOU
Janet Is Interviewed.
Stephen hurried out at once Larry
and his father too made their un-
easy and silent departure, After A
while the hospital superintendent
stepped in to see Janet.
There isn't any reason for YOU
to keep vigil like this. Go home,
. child and rest. You need it," she
urged kindly.
Janet's agreement was meChan-
ical. A reporter passed her as she
went down the hospital steps. He
didn't recognize her at first. but
when he did he called out and she
stopped. He snapped her picture
with brisk boldneSS, as she stood on
the bottom step, and then began
asking her questions in rapid sue
What will you do-what are your
plans if you are found not guilty
and released, Miss Storm" he
queried, will you go right on
teaching here in Drillford?"
No! Oh. no!' she cried passion
ately. III 90 away. as soon as I
can" She was talking more to her
self than to him. She continued on
her way, leaving him scribbling
Susily in his notebook.
Walking down the street. she felt
the curious stares of passers-by who
recognized her She felt. too. that
behind every window curtain lurked
hostile. speculative eyes It was
miserable valk back to her house.
Mrs. Smith met her at the door
We'll" she said brutally. you can
Just pack up YOUR things and get
out Of here! I knew you'd get into
something sooner or later. 7 don't
know what the school board meant.
hiring YOU. I won't have YOU here
In my house another instant. Poor
Mr.. Coburn-and that little girl left
an orphan
please. Mrs. Smith" she i'm
plored. Doors were opening on the
next landing. as they always did at
any commotion in the lower hall.
Mr.. Coburn is still alive. and he
might possibly get we'll They said
there was chance I wasn't driv-
ing fast, Honest I wasn't" she said
t,,Er 1I,r IL
and smut the door, leaning against
1t weakly for moment.
Feels 1t Dream.
Likely story! 7 bet YOU were
drunk" Mrs. Smith shrilled outside
the door. Get packed. Not an
other night do you stay under my
roof Hit-and-run driverl"
Janet began packing her things
with wild, frantic haste. hardly
knowing what she was doing
"Please. God" she prayed, don't
let him die. For Tinas sake. Please!
Pleasel' The whole room seemed
to be rocking. She clung to the
back Of a chair.
Its all Just a dream" she told
herself after while I'll awaken
and It will be just silly dream
III laugh at myself for having been
20 frightened 1t must be dream
II can't be happening to mel"
Stephen had to bend low to catch
the old mans words It seemed
queer to hear the cultural accents
spoken so feebly.
The doctor too, was listening, and
q nurse, lowering behind the doctor.
"You heard that?" Stephen Whis-
pered hoarsely to the doctor. as Mr.
Coburn's voice died away, and he
closed his eyes with weariness.
"Yes," the doctor answered grimly
He began working over his patient
again.
The nurses face was bright with
sympathy That poor child down.
stairs-the little teacher. I mean.
Someone go tell her quick 1t wasn't
her fault at all, she said.
Someone better get hold of that
boy" the doctor muttered as Mr.
Coburn began to speak feverishly
again. Hes calling for him now"
"Tom-vou don't mean TO do it,
You didn't mean it," the frightened
old voice cried
Finds Janet Gone.
Stephen hurried downstairs and
into the reception room, only to
find that Janet had gone He went
out got in his car and drove toward
the Coburn's. Even Miss Mills knew
the moment he came into the house
that something dreadful had hap
pened. She thought, of course, that
Tina IS father had died.
tom Coburn" Stephen thun-
dered. He jerked the boy to his
feet without ceremony. Your IA
ther just regained consciousness a
few moments ago. He told us just
what happened. He said 1t was an
accident, that you didn't mean to do
It. You only needed to tell the
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