The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-10-31
The Manager Of
the B. & A.
~ VAUGHAN kESTER
Copyright, 1901, by Harper q Brothers
ny VAUGHAN KESTER
Copyright. 1901, BY Harper q Brothers
Continued from Last Week.
CHAPTER XXlv.

mother, waiting quietly in
their home. heard the cheers
when the noise from Dams
shrieking engine reached the crowd Of
desperate men OH the square. Then
presently they heard the rattle and
clash Of the fire engines as they were
dragged through the street and were
aware that the relief train had arrived,
but 1t was not until the doctor came ir
some time long after midnight that
they knew who had been the savior OF
the town.
Its all over dear. The fire is under
CONTROL" he said cheerfully. address
ing his wife. II guess we can go to
bed now and feel pretty sure we won't
be burned out before morning"
Constance put down the book she had
been trying to read and rose tiredly
and stitily from her chair beside the
table.
''Then the train did come. after all?"
she said
Yes. but not q moment too soon. !
tell you we can't be grateful enough
I've been with Oakley and his father
That's what kept me-" he explained.
Oakley" Constance cried in amaze.
ment You don't mean
Yes. Didn't you know that it was
Oakley and his father who brought the
relief train? The old man is dead. He
was killed on the way. It's a miracle
that either of them got through alive.
Hadn't you heard?"
Constance put out her hands blindly
for sudden mist had come before her
eyes.
"Father, you don't mean that Mr.
Oakley has returned to Antioch-that
he is here now?"
"Yes, it seems no one else would
come. Oakley was in Chicago when he
first heard of the fire and started i'm.
mediately for Buckhorn. where he
found the relief train. Oddly enough
he found his father there too"
Then there was something to the
old man after ALL" said Mrs. Emory.
whose sympathies We're as generous as
they were easily aroused.
"a good deal. should say He must
have known that he was coming back
to arrest and almost certain convic
ton"
Constance's glance searched her ia.
theirs face. She wanted to hear more
Of Oakley. Her heart was hungering
for news of this man who had risked
his life to save them. All her lingering
tenderness. the unwilling growth Of
many days was sweeping away the
barriers of her pride. Mr. Oakley was
not hurt:" she questioned breathlessly.
pale to the lips.
HE is pretty badly shaken up, and
no wonder. but he will be all right in
the morning."
Where is he now?" she asked.
Her father turned to her
Oakley You look tired out, Con-
stance. Do go to bed. I'll tell you all
about it In the morning"
where is he now, papa?" she ques-
toned, going to his side and clasping
her hands about his arm.
Down at the shop. They carried his
father there from the train
why didn't you have them bring
him here:" said Mrs. Emory quickly.
AFTER this | won't listen to word
against either of them. | would like to
show the town just how we feel In the
matter"
II suggested it, but Oakley wouldn't
hear TO It, But don't worry about the
town. It's gone wild. You should have
seen the crowd on the platform when
ii tn, l. II
went stark mad"
Again Constance's eyes swan with
tears. The strike. the murder OF Ry.
der, the fire, had each seemed In turn
part of the tragedy of her life at An
tioch. but Oakley-s return was wholly
glorious.
Her father added, 81 shall see Oak.
ley In the morning and learn If we can
be Of any service to him"
A little later. when Constance went
to her own room. she drew forward @
chair and seated herself by the win
dow. Across the town. on the edge OF
the flats" she saw dimly the long
dark outline OF the railroad shop, with
its single tall chimney She thought
at the side of the grim old murderer
who had so splendidly redeemed him
self by this last sacrifice.
Great clouds OF black smoke were
still rolling over the town. and the
woods were still blazing fiercely In the
distance. Beyond her window she
heard the call of frightened birds a.
they fiuttered to and fro In the dull
red light. and farther Off. in the norti
end. the muffied throbbing OF the fir,
engines
If she had had any doubts as to he
feeling for Oakley these doubts wer,
now a thing of the past. She knew
that she loved him. She had been pet
ty and vain. She had put the small
things Of life against the great, ant
this was her punishment She tried t,
comfort herself with the thought tina
she should see him in the morning
Then she could tell him all. But wha
could she tell him? The time had gon
by. when she could tell him anything.
II waa ImoSf nornfn0 uhan she M,