Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 16, 1921 — page 58: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BRASS BUTTONS. now to the police station and see Captain Corrigan yourself. He’s Irish, like me, and perhaps you can fix it up with him. Lieu- -tenant Lawton’s too hard-boiled—but Cor- rigan’s all right.” “Youre a sweet angel,” Ruth an- nounced. “I’m going to Kentucky— you'll see,” she promised with a friendly wave to the unbiased exponent of jus- tice. Miss Chester, in her dainty shoes and silken gown, walked into the dingy dirty corridor of the police station between rows of heavy-footed detectives who eyed her ap- praisingly. Heading toward the most imposing figure behind the fencelike enclosure, Ruth smiled designly and said, “ I’d like to see Captain Corrigan, please.” “He ain’t here, miss,” the burly giant assured her. in there. Perhaps he’d do,” and he waved a pudgy hand in the direction of an inner office. Still clutching the offending summons, with a demure lift of her violet eyes Ruth advanced beyond the door. As she stepped within ‘his line -of vision a man, young and firm of lip, straight of limb, and broad of shoulder, rose quickly to his feet. . “Take this chair, madam.” He motioned toward the one by the side of his desk, and, closing the door on the interested listeners in the outer office, seat- ed himself before her. “And now what can I do for -vou?” he asked, leaning forward and clasping his fingers over his knees. “JT just knew I’d come to the right place,” Ruth sighed thankfully.“ None of those men out there would have the ‘east sense, I’m sure. It’s just this, captain,” and she thrust the paper into his hands. “ H-m! I see,” Lawton smiled. ‘“‘ What did you do?” ‘Nothing, absolutely nothing! I could not park my car, and I only ran in a min- ute to get my new hat. When I came out that horrid traffic officer told me I’d have to appear in court to-morrow morn- ing. And he was really mean about it, too!” 4A “But Lieutenant Lawton’s: 49 ‘“Not rude, I hope!” Lawton cut in quickly. “Oh, no--I don’t suppose so—just cross and stern and dreadfully persistent.” “Did you shut off your engine?” he asked. ce No.”’ \ “Ah, my dear young lady, that’s where the trouble comes,” Lawton explained re- provingly. “‘ Yoy are far too clever a wo- man not to realize, I’m sure, that cars must. be handled cautiously. We have had too many accidents Nately. You knew the rules?” i 5 “Yes.” She hesitated, and then with a quick smile added, ‘‘ But I, was only there a second!” ‘“‘T’m sorry,” Lawton smiled back, ‘“ but we have to tighten up. Rules and regula- tions must be enforced. Anyway, since this is your first offense, you won’t get it too hard from the judge in the morning.” ‘But I can’t come,” Ruth persisted, opening her blue eyes wide. “I’m going down to Lexington for the races, and I must be on my way by nine to-morrow.” Lawton shrugged his shoulders and looked at her quizzically. “What about.this?” he queried, smooth- ing out the rumpled summons. ‘“ This is as binding as the laws of the Medes and Persians, you know.” “ That’s just why I came to you.” Ruth smiled again. ‘‘ Don’t tell me that a man like you, loaded with all those brass but- tons and things—a big, strong man—can’t do something with a scrap of old paper that will let me go on down to Kentucky!” Lawton watched the sunlight stream through the dust-smeared windows and bring out the golden crinkles in the hair ‘that shone in soft little puffs over her ears. He noted that the cornflower-blue of her that matched the violet eyes, and realized that the fresh pinkness of her cheeks was only outdone by the richness of her curving lips. He took in all this, and listened as she went on: : “You see, captain, it isn’t as though it were just an automobile race or a boat race, or anything ordinary like that. This is a horse race—the famous Lexington Trots, COnlCclooo S (©