The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-10-21
CHAPTER XVII.

0N HE knew 1t! That's why she
jumped. She was in on it."
~ Jim gasped to himself over
and over as he ran. "She
knew It was coming"
He stumbled over something and fell
forward very hard. When he got up
he noticed long shadow before him
from some light behind. He looked
about and saw the headlight Of an.
other train coming from the west
undoubtedly another troop train from
Chicago. Jim scrambled up on the
grade and ran up the track toward the
headlight. waving his arms. The train
slowed and stopped. He screamed his
warning to the engineer. The train
crew and armed MERLIN saw the
crossed sabers Of Mart's cavalry regi-
ment-crowded about him. Jim told
them what had happened, and the
armed men ran down the track ahead
Of the engine. which now slowly pro.
ceeded. Jim refused their invitation
to 60 aboard the train. BE stepped to
the side of the track and waited till It
was gone.
It was all dark again about him, but
he was near the spot where Marion
Marlatt had leaped from the car step,
and he had seen something huddled in
a heap on the soft ground a little
away from the track. He went to the
heap and knelt beside 1t. That was She
he sat down and pulled her over into
bis lap.
She was slight and little and very
limp now as he held her. Was she
dead? Her cheek lay quite cold against
his neck. He pulled of her clumsy
gloves. and her hands were cold and
limp. How soon after death did one
stifen? Jim did not know. He had
never touched dead person, except
Ingouf, the minute after he was killed.
There was no pulse in Marion Mar
latt's wrist; there seemed to be no
breath between her lips. Jim unbut-
toned the blouse Jacket and felt for a
throb over her heart, There was
warmth there. at least-yes. and life.
He tried to rise. holding her. and
could not. He laid her down, got to
his feet and picked her up. There was
house a couple of hundred yards
away. The windows had blazedsinto
light since the wreck. Jim staggered
toward the house, carrying Marion. He
laid her down twice to rest himself.
Then he gained the house. The door
stood open and lamp was burning
within, but no one was about Every
one had run down to the wreck. There
were three bedrooms on the first door
of the house. Two had been occupied.
the bedding used. The third room was
spare room with clean linen on the
bed. Jim bore Marion Marlatt to this
bed and laid her down. He took of
her little boots aud her puttees. He
loosened her blouse further and was
looking about for water or brandy
when he heard some one running. A
woman. breathless and excited. entered
and saw him.
"They sent ME back!" she explained
to Jim her return to her own house.
"They sent me back to get the beds
ready and make bandages. There are
hundreds dying. they say. oh. ita
awful"
Have you brandy?" Jim asked.
The woman found 1t, and he led her
to the spare ROOM
"a grill" the woman cried. "Oh, the
lovely, sweet thing! Oh. sir. is she
yours?"
Jim shook his head. mo. 1 Just
found her beside the track"
The woman touched Marion Mar.
latt's cheek with awe. 1.-THE lovely
thing! oh. thc sweet. lovely little
lady"
"she's only tainted, l think. I'll leave
her with you now" Jim said, and went
unsteadily out Of the house.
The wreck was burning, or the res.
cuers had lit great bonfire near It TO
give light for the work. Jim turned to.
ward the glare, and found road
which led to the fire. 1t was the