The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-08-05

n6dTu SOME OuG soy ne pulllH5
out the brakeman that was on the
platform when the crash came"
A purl of blue-gray smoke, with a
flicker of red in the middle, rose out
of tagged hole in one of the windows
of the car she had left.
as on fire now" spoke the same
voice with unnatural GOODNESS. It's
possessor evidently was fearless, proof
against excitement, and lover of a
spectacle. I'VE amt unlucky to be
out here" he continued.
Henrietta's legs stiffened and her
feet tried to strike root in the ground.
But she bit her lips and jerked her
forces together with toss of the
head. Why should she hesitate? Not
a minute to lose!
Crazy woman!" commented the
outrageously calm voice. Coin into
car ats on fire. Ought to be stop
ped. These ERE modern females is
the limit
AS she flew back into the coach,
Henrietta felt OBTAINING hand or two,
which she impatiently shook off,
The car proved to contain more
smoke than flames. She dropped on
her hands and knees, and crawled
along with her mouth to the floor.
Once her finger-tips touched some
thing smooth and cold like a dead
cheek; she sickened. But on inspec-
ton she found the object was only
the polished side of traveling-bag.
A slight moan rolled into her ear.
You're all right" she said encour-
agingly and-coughing-cried, showing
the bag aside. Stretch out your
hand, if you can. This smoke blinds"
Another moment and she had found
him.
Are you much hurt?" she asked,
more to make herself forget the queer
thrill that went through her at the
eager clutch of his hand than any
thing else.
"Foot's wrenched, or something, |
guess" His voice was good to hear
like a silver bell in fog.
Cant you stand at all?" This was
merely formal; she knew he couldn't.
| VERY we'll; I'll get you out somehow"
He saw her face for the first time
as it peered close through the hot
cloud. Ardor had turned her cheeks
to roses and her eyes to stars. If she
only knew it, she looked very we'll in
deed!
"Why, you're a woman, aren't you'll"
he exclaimed.
well, what of it?" she snapped.
Why should man find it strange that
she was a woman? Didn't she have
a right to her sex?
81 didn't know that woman would
do this"
Then you don't know women"
I'm learning"
| And there was an unmistakable note
of admiration and awe in his tremolo
voice.
She pretended not to pay any atten-
ton but her cheeks got redder, and
her eyes brighter softer.
| Wrapping an efficient arm-more eff
ficient by it's late experience with the
stout playground his waist, she bore
or dragged him., staggeringly and
stumbling, through the suffocatlng
haze toward the end of the car
flames darling out at them here and
| there.
Just as they neared the goal, there
came a deafening din of swapping
boards, falling glass, and breaking
iron. The center of the roof heaved
up cross-Wide, and the floor behaved
like an earthquake. Something shot
painfully into the arm that was shield
ing the mana sharp corner OF a
piece of the flying glass.
A cry escaped Henrietta.
You're hurt-on my account" the
man complained intensely. Il ought
to be saving you, instead of you me
and by George, l will!
He tried to stand alone, but only
succeeded in showing how helpless he
was by kneeling back on the one he
would succor.
BE reasonable and keep STILL" she
commanded unnecessarily.
And with that she managed to push
him along through the door, Keeling
out after him into safety. Some ready
hands caught them.
A third train, unwarned of danger,
had run into the wreck. This was
what caused the second terrific crash.
The fire now took on fury. It's tongues
sprang out of every available crevice
of the ruined coaches and hungrily
wrapped themselves about whatever
was in reach.
She became more vaguely conscious
that some people we're lowering about
her and the man. She now knew that
he would be well attended to-that
her task was finished. She could hear
him say, as if from afar off, Pm al
right-attend to this brave woman
she's worth million like me"
She collapsed.
But something kept turning like q
knife in her brain, and would not lei
her rest in the soft languor that en-
meshed her senses. Her body de
manded repose, but thoughts, as insis
tent as they were subtle, urged her tc
renew the activity of which she was
incapable
} At length, she was able to force
open her lids. Queenly night in {
guazy blue mantle, spangled will
stars and caught up with brilliant
| orocoor+ b~oo,;Ixy frailnd ahouo hnr