The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1906-08-08
u Ell -
TERREMOTO
BY HoNoRE wILLSIE


crammed with anxiety each moment
that otherwise would have been wretch.
ed with inconsistencies.
But now. with the leisure that came
with jacks returning health, homesick-
hess was beginning its inroads upon
her This made doubly hard TO bear
the fact that Jack was developing tho
Righteousness of the convaleScent and
that an ordinary pacific disposition'w was
becoming 50 irritable that ii taxed even
the devotion of this most devoted sis
ter. On this particular afternoon he
had expressed an inordinate desire for
Il certain brand of cigars.
"But. Jack dear" objected Eleanor,
the doctor says that you must not
smoke"
.'Who says want To smokef" growl,
cd Jack Il just want To look at them
and sniff of them and feed them. And
want them today"
Eleanor sighed patiently. It's five
miles 10 town, Jacky. And though it's
1 o'clock, its frightfully hot. Don't you
want 10 wait until tomorrow"
oh Of course, II you don't want To
do the favor for me" replied the in.
valid, walking feebly across the tent 10
pick up Il fan
Why. certainly I'm going. Jacky."
she cried The heat won't last much
longer and she disappeared toward
her own tent. leaving her brother look
ing bit shcepish.
,a,,,- IsI,,1,r ,,+ns, ,.i.II..r aInu.I,,
along the blistering trail toward the
sleepy little adobe village which boast
ed single Yankee store, at which she
thought she could get the cigars She
was II beautiful girl. slender of body
aud lovely of face, with the refinement
OF good blood through many genera
lions showing in every lineament. Her
dark blue eyes. Swallowed by the heavy
lashes. looked tired. and her figure
dropped n little aS If In utter wear
ness
ITS getting pretty hard" she
thought. Its spring up there, with
the snow melting into little rivulets,
aud the pussy willows out, and the
wind flowers coming. Only the thought
of Jacks getting we'll keeps me from
going mad"
She started Il little as a CHEEKY hal
loo greeted her, and she saw riding
down the trail toward her broad
shouldered, jolly chap In cowboy at
tire. lie wheeled his mustang and
rode beside her.
Il WAS taking Juunt out to tell you
that ! have almost finished my work
and must fly eastward again"
"Oh, that is too bad" cried Eleanor.
The mans fine brown eyes beamed.
Eve only known you week." he an
swered, but it's been n mighty pleas
ant week"
Jack will miss YOU" said the girl
The man eyed her silently. "She's
wearing herself out" he thought Il
wish | could take her away from
here. Burwell's nearly strong enough
beauty
Eleanor W the alkali dust from
her face ana Told him the reason for
her trip TO "a l.
Rather hard on you" commented
Hartley.
Eleanor smiled. but said nothing,
and they rode for some distance in 81
lence, Hartley's gaze scarcely leaving
for an instant the dropping profile be-
side him.
Il wonder" he thought, "lf she real
ICES that she's never told me word
of herself, who She Is or-by the Lord
Harry. If she'd have me I'd marry her
tomorrow even If they both came from
founding asylum"
BY this time they We're riding up the
street of the dirty little Mexican village,
whose inhabitants were too absorbed In
the sight of the Americanos to move
from beneath the horses feet until
that made up in vigor what II lacked
in lucdity.
The Yankee store was the only frame
building for miles around. 1t was
owned by an enterprising VermOnter.
who was making small fortune In the
lazy little town, where money went
faster than it came.
Hartley tied the horses and they en-
tered the store. Just as they stepped
within the door 1t slammed shut VIC
lently behind them and the tremor OF
its impact shook the entire building.
The storekeeper, the only other person
in the dusky room, looked up In sur
prise that quickly changed to alarm.
The tremor instead OF ceasing In
creased.
Whats the matterf" he cried. run
ming TO the front of the store.
Il don't know" replied Hartley. III
| were up north I'd think It was "A
dynamite blast. but
Here the crockery in the window clat-
tered and roll of turkey red fell to
the floor
Its an earthquaker cried the Yer
monter Come on. get out Of here
quick" and he made dash for the
knob. But the door was fast and i'm
mediately the floor was rocking so VIC
lently that the whole room seemed filed
with flying articles from the store
shelves. Hartley suddenly pulled
Eleanor toward him, as IL trying to
shield her with his body. Then great
rumble, with continuous shocks like ex-
blossoms, fearful crash and darkness,
1t had all happened in so short
space Of time that Eleanor had scarce
" realized that she was actually en-
couhterIng an earthquake. She had
been thrown violently to the ground.
as the final shock came, and now she
felt out in the darkness and encoun-
tered Hartley's quiet form. Almost
hysterical with fright, she called TO
him and chafed his hands feverlshly.
Then came the voice OF the store
keeper:
Hello, you Two in there.
yes" called Eleanor weakly. I'm
all right, but Mr.. Hartley seems badly
hurt
THE whole dinged front of the store
has fallen in" called the Vermonter,
"but | got out through hole. Can