The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-10-20

THROUGH The GAP
BY MARY ROBERTS RINEHART.

uuli, OV0rnAnBlnB pall Oh bmOko. Ou
the bank beside the track, full in the
glare, a man was sitting, his night
clothing torn and dirty, with little
scorched places here and there which
told of the struggle he had made with
death. Now and then he ran his hand
nervously over his hair, which had
been singed into queer, irregular tufts
OF yellowish brown. His eyebrows,
too, were gone, adding to the strange
ness of the desperate eyes which were
fixed upon the track.
A trainman ran past, holding bat
tered red lantern. He was hatless and
coatless. and one arm hung limp be-
side him. AS he came abreast Of the
man on the bank he stopped suddenly.
looking at the lantern with fear-haunt-
ed eyes. Then he gave 1t a fling
toward the flames.
What's the use of a lantern in
hell?" he muttered, catching at his
broken arm with gasp Of pain. Then
he became conscious of the man be-
side him. They'll blame 1t on me-"
he babbled. You see If they don't
l went clear back over the trestle, but
that cursed fool on No. As wouldn't
stop!"
| The man on the bank didn't notice
He sat quite still, his unwavering eyes
fixed on the spot down the track where
a gap had been left by car which
had gone down the embankment
Shadowy figures we're running through
now and then, sometimes with a bur-
den. sometimes tottering alone. 1t
was here, too, that the doctors from
the relief train we're working, their
coats off, in the blistering heat. Just
below, peaceful In the midst of the
inferno. we're the sneeted dead.
Il was clear back over the trestle,"
reiterated the tra1nman, as II his
statement had been questioned. eff
you don't believe 1t, look at this arm.
l fell through. tell you, fell through"
His voice trailed weakly into a SC
God. wish 1t had killed mel"
But the man on the bank never
moved, never heard. The trainman
went on, lurching like drunken man,
down the track. A volunteer fire con-
pany was throwing a feeble, Kissing
stream into the midst of the fire with
out effect
A man, partly dressed, was coming
along up the track. He passed the
trainman with glance and kept on,
but abreast of the man on the bank
he stopped suddenly and looked at
him. 1t required a second glance to
recognize the altered face; but, ap-
parently satisfied, he touched him on
the shoulder. The man on the bank
shifted his eyes from the gap in the
f1amea
Hurt any7" asked the newcomer
He was big man, In trousers and un-
| dershirt, one bare foot thrust into
low shoe, the other unprotected from
the cinders. He sat down beside the
other and looked at him closely. Hurt
any?" he repeated.
The man on the bank shook his
head without speaking.
ANY one with your" asked the
| other.
Lib LILLE Tic LkOQ WAS
The big man got up again heavily.
who was itf" he asked. I'll go
and look"
But the other drew him down again
with conclusive gesture.
Don't CO." he said hoarsely. Il
don't want to know"
| For a minute there was silence
Then the big man raised his voice
again, above the cracking Of the
| flames.
Who was it?"
wife and baby
The voice was calm with the quiet
Of absolute hopelessness But the big
man tried to reassure him.
There's a crowd of people on the
other SIDE" he said She may-they
maybe there"
That's It," The man on the bank
put up his hand to shield his face
from the glare. I'm afraid to find
they're not Who's that?" he asked
suddenly as a woman emerged slowly
into view, man supporting her with
his arm around her.
Its an old lady. think" said the
big man.
The other sank back again.
Il was knocked senseless," he said
with difficulty. When came around
1t was too late toto do anything"
Two more figures came through the
gap. and a woman. rushing forward,
wildly embraced the small. Whitehead
| figure OF boy, who held out his arms.
The man ON the bank groaned.
Il haven't the faintest hope" he said
drearily. covering his eyes. Il wish
you would watch that gap for while.
I I've looked for 30 long that can't see
anything now but dancing specks of
fire."
The big man affected cheerfulness.
They'll come, sure" he said. his
eyes on the gap between the cars.
There's another old lady now, and
man. There must be others working
on that side. too; the woman has a
bandage on her head"
The other looked up, then covered
his eyes again. Beside them, on the
track, Pullman blanket lay smoking.
| The big man brought 1t over and
threw 1t, toga-fashion, around his dis
traught companion He looked up then,
only to cover his eyes again.
You'll know them" he said, "if
they come. Margaret was@is-tall
and straight, with great coils Of brown
hair. and the baby has yellow curls.
My God!" he repeated. those little
yellow curlsl"
| The big man stirred uneasily.
Il have two children at home my
SELF" he said bit thickly.
why have been saved?" went on
the hopeless voice. I've been fool.
and worse. Why. this very trip was
fight. that's all Flight" He sat up
and stared at young woman who had
come across the track and was sob
bling Historically that she had lost
J her jewels. Il forged mans name.
We needed money, and hoped to pay
1t back, of course. But 1t was flight
or arrest" He paid no attention to
the other man, who was leaning on his
elbow, his eyes still fixed on the mo-
mentous gap. Il should have left
them and gone atone." went on the
dreary voice. but Margaret wouldn't
allow It. I'd have gone to Jail. for l
deserved It; but there was the baby.
How was Margaret to bring her up
alone, and what would 1t be to have
her grow up to think of her father as
felon?"
Down where the missing car had