St Genevieves Academy - Le Flambeau Yearbook (Asheville, NC)

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., ,-ff' .' t-fx-f ! .mxvzf c ' .,,fT1?1Lf',- 3't7- , . ,f .f . - f 'fv'fwL24fg7.C fy, -t7fm7,m'.fwffw,. -flfff, 11 .-1fwfff.frff1W . f I I ,f .. ff ,ffwfffzffzf , - 4 . f' ff! f I f z:M'?iz ..MMZiWZ.f.'if.fff' -ft . Turn the wheel, then-quick I But it was too late. Before Jack realized it, there was a curious crowd standing around the car, and he could hear Nip- pie's excited voice, Get some water, can't you? Move aside, please, and let this child breathe. Meanwhile, a po- liceman had roughly elbowed his way through the crowd, calling out gruffly, What's the trouble? Move away and give the kid some air! Jack, who till now had remained si- lent and motionless, jumped up and drew the man aside. It wasn't our fault. Just as we got almost on the child, the brakes broke. , - Even if they did, you were speed- ing. I want your number, young man. We were not speeding. Ask my friend here-ask these people. They saw us, answered Jack, aroused. Then he dropped his voice again, My father is J. A. Boyd, the steel merchant. He wouldn't like a thing of this sort to get in the papers. The stalwart fellow looked surprised, and moved aside with some deference, as he heard the name of the well-known millionaire. I didn't know it was you, sir, I- Well, said Jack, slipping some- thing into his hand, suppose you don't say anything about this at headquar- ters ? ' I won't, sir, it wasn't your fault, replied the other, a bright smile illumin- ating his face as he saw the size of the bill. One of the ragged youngsters offered to guide them to the child's home if they would take him in their toy. Jack turned on the motor, the crowd dis- persed, and the boys started off. Their little guide was most obliging. At each corner he called out in a loud voice and pointed a dirty finger in the direction which the car was to take. Meanwhile, Jack sat erect, looking ahead, his thoughts away from the little fellow beside him, yet taking in the directions and mechanically obeying them. It was several minutes before he looked around, took a firm hold of the wheel, and for the Hrst time noticed Where he was. On each side of the hard white road were stretches of bare lots, with houses few and far between. He realized that they were in the suburbs, not far from the fraternity house. And just a block away was the tumble-down home of Mrs. Hogan- Turn right in here--slow down, 'cause it's hard on your car. With a horrible contraction of the heart, Jack stopped at the door, and, getting down, took gently into his arms the child whom he now knew to be Denny Hogan. The poor woman inside, not knowing what to make of this excitement, came running forward just as he entered the door. What's the matter-what's been happening to my Denny? Unable to speak, Jack turned abruptly and carried Denny over to the bed. Nippie came to the rescue. It was an accident. The brakes on our car broke, and before we could stop, we hit your little boy. He seems better now. I don't think he's seriously hurt. Oh, it'll kill my baby, she sobbed, running over to the bedside. Please don't be alarmed, said Jack, pushing the hair from the child's tem-

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'ff-N--.X g,,f ' fsfulf , ' ' I 'V , f ill, fl ,li f' f ,X I , I ' f 'xr----. ff? 7- 'fP77Tf7XxxXbXr ,ff ,,f f ,,V ff! ' , , ,V ,V fX4 1 pa, , f f Mx, H, , , - yy fry . 'f I ,ff I X 'iff fifff ,fi f f lf y' 1, . , , i f I 'ff ,lf 'ff' 'ff . r f X . expectedf' He turned in his chair, crossed his legs, and began to smoke. His face wore a satisfied expression, for he was going over the events of the evening. But. in the midst of his happy musings, his brow contracted and he frowned. He was thinking of Dutch's question, Why don't -wif get a car- your governoris got money to burn. True-why didn't he? Why couldn't he, 1111-Iv Him' Ill' fum' flu' IIEUIIL'-X21 But then came the thought of his father: Dad-he'd find out.', Why should he '?-I can keep it downtown somewhere. The boys- they'd know.', No, they won't. They'll think Dad gave it to me. And Mrs. Hogan-7 But he pushed that thought away with resolute force, and jumping up quickly, began to undress. Each time he tried to avoid the idea, it returned with more poignant force. He could not escape it. All that night, his dreams were haunted by visions of a shining little red car. Once he drove it over the tables, While the boys were try- ing to play. They were furious-Nippie especially was enraged. Then again he saw Mrs. Hogan, beckoning to him and calling out in a hideous voice, as she held the empty sock up in the air. The next morning the sun was shin- ing brightly, and the light was stream- ing in at the east window. Looking out, he thought, Think I'll put off going till tomorrow. Nobody'll know. Besides, she won't need it today. Don't guess she'd even think of that roof in such fine weather. So he waited until the next morning. Tlimz it was raining, and he said again, Well, even if she does want to have it fixed today, she can't, so what's the use? I'll wait till tomorrow. And by the next day, he had decided to buy the much-coveted car. Jack, this car's a daisy! what made your governor get generous so sud- denly? I wish mine would be affected like that. It was about three weeks later, and Jack and Nippie were driving the new racer through a crowded thor- oughfare. lt was rather sudden, wasn't it? How about getting out of here, Nippie -it's too slow. And with that, Jack turned the corner. Was it a birthday present- began Nippie, but was cut short by Jack's ex- clamation, Oh, say-look there, quick I Where ? asked Nippie blankly, looking to see what was so exceedingly interesting. Right there. Jack had turned al- most backward. Following his gaze, Nippie finally saw, on the near side of the street, a large crowd of girls. One, a handsome, well-dressed brunette, par- ticularly attracted Jack's attention. Oh, I say- he coughed loudly. Both boys were so intent upon the situa- tion that they were unconscious of a crippled newsboy, who, while trying to get a paper which had blown away from him, had hobbled over in front of the car. Luckily, Nippie turned and called a warning. Jack, still absorbed, did not turn. Look-look in front of you l Nip- pie clutched at the wheel. Jack turned, saw the child and attempted to put on the brakes. There was only a hollow thud when he moved them. Good God, Nippie-they won't work Z g

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, X ,ZX ,pg Y-' X X flff' ff X ff iff? fl f I fn W, Nw-V Q W, f--- ki Q-X..---Ku X -fXf f , -W W ' I, , ly pu. I ,f f. fV f I , I A lu. A -I .fffi-X- , I , 4' , ., l,f' i' v.i,f - f!ff !'4 ,1 , uf :H!7!,..!'i f f, mat ' -f w z, I I .. i f f ples, and revealing an ugly gash, Won't you get me some hot water? Nippie, hurry off for Dr. Hardy. Don't waste any time. After it was over, and the dcotor had left, Jack, too, turned to go. I live at this address, he said, putting his card into her hands. If you need me before tomorrow, call there. I'll be back in the morning. Unable to say any more, he went out, leaving Nippie with the weep- ing mother. Don't worry, said Nippie, every- thing will be all right, I'm sure. Re- member, we're ready to help you at any time. I'll drop in soon to see Denny. Thank you, sir-thank you. Gee, wasn't that hard luck? said Nippie, after they had Hnally started. Jack made no answer. Say, it'll be tough for you when your governor finds this out. He won't. I shut up the policeman. Now, don't 'l'UlI blab ! Me? Don't worry. Funny, wasn't it, that her name was Hogan? Wasn't that the name of the lady without the roof ? Yes-same name, said Jack, with an inward throb of relief that Mrs. Ho- gan had apparently not recognized him. Going into the house one morning about a Week later, Jack hurriedly took off his coat. But in quite a different manner did he cross the hall and ap- proach Mr. Boyd's study. He put his hand up to knock, then stopped and turned away. But Mrs. Hogan's words of yesterday came back to him, as they did every time he tried in his mind to avoid this scene: Denny will die unless I get money to take him South. He stood still, rubbing his hands together, and trying in vain to think. Even if he sold his horse, his watch, the car, he wouldn't have money enough to keep Denny in the South for a year. Then, there might be extra doctor bills. He might ask Nippie and the boys-but nog that would be imposing on them. They had already given him so much. He had to tell his father-it was the only thing left to do. He kicked aside the rug impatiently, and came back to the door. A deep, gruff voice bade him en- ter. Jack did not give his usual cheery, Hello, Dad! but stayed by the door silent till Mr. Boyd, a large, middle-aged man of rather stern countenance, spoke. Well, what's the matter now?-more money, I suppose. Yes, Dad, I- Jack, said his father, this has got to stop. You spend entirely too much at that fraternity with those- But, Dad, that's not what I want it for. It's important and I need it badly. Well, what do you want it for, that's so very 'important ?' I suppose it's some silly- No, Dad, it's for-for Denny Ho- gan, answered Jack, his face flushing. Who's Denny Hogan ? He's the son of a poor woman, sir, and I have to give him money. I-I ran over him while I was out driving about a week ago. Jack dared not look at his father. I What ? demanded Mr. Boyd. How did that happen? You weren't driving, were you? Whose car was it? It was-mine, sir. Already he was