Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-05-25


vale. Also, she wondered whether the
hollow feeling at the pit of her stom-
ach was a presentiment of bad luck
or just plain cowardice Either way,
she knew she had to get moving.
She showered and dressed and was
ready to 60 at one o'clock As she
walked out to the car. its glossy finish,
which Ray had polished the day be-
fore. mirrored the crisp line of her
skirt. the tailored jacket, and the
gay little straw. She touched the door
panel with her fingertips
You're spoiled puss, my sweet"
she said, but you are pretty" Sliding
in behind the wheel, she pressed the
starter and the motor answered with
its lazy purr. She shifted into reverse
and backed out Of the driveway.
Leaving Wendover, she turned onto
Tuscarora Boulevard, four-lane
highway running straight across the
city. At first she had thought of using
Western Parkway, which wound
through the suburbs and was less con-
gested, but it was a much longer
route and she had little time to spare
In addition, she would have felt dis
loyal to Ray and his teaching if she
didn't trust herself on the Boulevard.
i HE traffic was fairly light between
Wendover and the city line, and it
was pleasant to ride along in the SUM-
shine. just a little bit proud of herself
and the car But after she passed
Warrington Avenue. everything was
different Heavy trucks rolled onto
the Boulevard from the factories and
warehouses along the river, and the
road began to swarm with passenger
cars and delivery wagons. To Anne it
seemed as if they we're crowding in on
her from every side. bent on taking
away the final inch or two in which
she had to maneuver. She frightened
her fingers on the wheel and spoke
under her breath
Keep away from them, puss. They
re jealous of. your fur. and they want
to maui you"
A coal truck swung around her and
cut in, missing her front fender by
half an inch. She instinCtively slowed
up. and there was a squealing of
brakes from behind her. Immediately
another truck pulled out and passed.
The driver yelled from his cab: Don't
let it throw you, sister. Them things
is dangerousv
Anne's cheeks burned. She was
driving too slowly, of course, but the
tightness had crept from her fingers
up into her arms and shoulders. She
stared down the long boulevard. She
hadn't even reached Broad Street yet,
and there were miles of traffic after
that, with hundred chances in every
block to dent a fender or lose wheel.
81 shouldn't have brought you into
this, puss," she whispered. Ray will
hate me if let you get hurt, and he
won't polish you any more. l should
have gone the other way"
SHE kept on for another half mile,
but that was as much as she could
take. Her heart was beating like
riveters hammer, and there we're cars
everywhere, swooping past in night
mare procession. She knew that Rib
lett Street was just ahead. Once onto
that, she could drive across town and
perhaps find Western Parkway. She
could telephone Ray from Elmvale
and tell him she would be late getting
home
She edged towards the curb so as
to be ready to turn right. When she
got near the intersection, however,
she found herself blocked by a large
gray sedan standing in front of the
bank that dominated the corner. The
cars engine was running, as she could
tell by the exhaust and by the vibra-
ton of the battered rear Tenders, but
the driver gave no sign Of moving.
IIo xy,o f,cinu touarIc tho hapk with