The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-09-03

doors it vas pitch dark He knew they
must be out towards the shore line
somewhere. People were rising around
them. Instinctively, he too stood up.
but felt her hand on his,
what Is it,"
Il don't know yet. Stay here and III
find out"
Il won't leave you" He felt her rise.
and move slowly behind him. The yes
tiDuled doors It the end were closed.
he knew. Up at the forward end OF the
car woman shrieked suddenly in ner-
vous suspense. Yolande's hand crept
into his palm, and stayed there. And
suddenly from somewhere there came
the smell OF burning wood. Crosby
caught it first and made for window.
He smashed the glass out with his ell
bow. The gust Of cold fresh air seem
ed to revive them both.
Il will go first, then you follow" he
told her. She obeyed implicitly. He
pulled himself through the aperture.
and dropped to the ground below.
She was beside him In another min.
ute. The train curved on the sharp
bend like wounded reptile in agony.
Up forward the baggage car was IN
flames. The engine rose in the air,
ramming the train ahead 1t had COL
lided with. Two cars lay on their sides
in the steep gully at one side Of the
track with the flames breaking
through them.
Great heavens" muttered Crosby,
Hinging off his coat. There are men
in these cars. One in the smoker. with
Elliot"
Yolande's arms reached for his neck
and chung there. Don't leave me.
Allan, don't leave me- she begged.
And there In the darkness lit only
by the distant flames. their lips met
for the first time. AS he held her
close in the strange awakening mar
vel OF her love, he felt her arms relax.
and knew she had tainted. Lifting
her, he bore her along beside the track
until the blaze showed him the sand
embankment at one side. Gaining this.
he laid her down, and covered her
with his coat. Then he joined the
men who were working like demons to
get out the living creatures from the
burning cars.
In the gray dawn that morning,
hours after. they stood in the little
shore bungalow at Bennington. The
rescue train had carried the survivors
on, and Kusick had waited faithfully
at the station with the car until their
arrival.
Elliot was dead when We reached
him. he told her, YEARLY There
were letters in his pockets. have
them all, and made arrangements to
have him cared for. He had orders
to shoot me, and send you back
home"
She leaned away from him, sup
porting herself ag.,nst the table, her
eyes wide with horror her face white
and tired
Il viii stay with you If you do not
mind until noon. There is a train l
can get back then"
Her hands reached toward him. DO
you want to 60 so much, Allan?"
she asked, little break in her voice.
You are too willing to let me co.
He leaned forward, looking into her
eyes. Can you truthfully say to me
that you mean every word you spoke
back there in London? Can you. 70
lander"
Death was near tonight. And l fol.
lowed you, did ! not?"
There was tap at the door. 1t
was Kusick. hat in hand. his face anx.
ious.
There is an earlier train west, sir.
at seven, II you wish that one"
Crosby nodded his head. Yolande
was looking down at the blaze Of drift.
wood on the wide old rock hearth.
Il shall not take it, thanks. kusick,"
he answered. Send to town for my
luggage, will your
Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa.
per Syndicate.)