The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-06-25
THROUGH The GAP
BY MARY ROBERTS RINEHART.

The train wreck had taken fire. The
first little leaping tongues, licking
their way through shattered windows
and chimney-like transoms, had given
way to solid sheets of flame, dazzlingly
white against the night, with sicken-
ing red edges which dissolved into a
dull, overhanging pail of smoke. On
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
fervously over his hair. which had
been singed into queer, irregular tufts
Of ydlowish 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
coasless, 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 it 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 it on me"
he babbled. You see if they don't.
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 were running through
now and then, sometimes with bur-
den. sometimes tottering alone. 1t
was here, too, that the doctors from
the relief train were working, their
coats off, in the blistering heat. Just
below, peaceful in the midst Of the
inferno, were the sheeted dead.
81 was clear back over the trestle,"
reiterated the trainman, as If his
statement had been questioned III
you don't believe it, look at this arm.
l fell through, tell you, fell through! !"
His voice trailed weakly into a sob.
God, wish it 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 COM
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. It. required 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
flames.
Hurt any?' asked the newcomer.
He was big man, in trousers and I'M
dershirt, one bare foot thrust into a
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.
Amy one with your" asked the
other.
This time the nod was affirmative.
The big man got up again heavily.
Who was it?" he asked IN go
and look"
But the other drew him down again
with a convulsive gesture.
Don't co. he said hoarseiy II
don't want to know"
For 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 hopelessnees. But the big
man tried to reassure him.
There's 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. Pm afraid to find
they're not. Who's that?" he asked
suddenly as woman emerged slowly
into view, a man supporting her with
his arm around her
It's 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 woman, rushing forward
wildly embraced the small, white-clad
figure of boy, who held out his arms
The man on the bank groaned.
Il haven't the faintest hope" he sale
drearily, covering his eyes. 81 wish
you would watch that gap for a while