The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-06-05

NOdh ulOW JAIN anu atlCAhRtCo "
look out into the car, but the curtains
were jammed tight by some heavy
object which had fallen against them,
and she could get no idea Of the stu
alton on that side. When she at last
succeeded In pulling the curtain away
enough To- look she saw only a
dark precipice below, with with
ing. forms and jumbled shapes. No
orc seemed to have thought of any
way of escape for the passengers, or
to be making any attempt 10 get them
out before 1t vas too late. The shouts
and cries that came from below had
no authority among them. 1t was plain
that the only hope OF escape was
through the broken window and down
into that abyss of water and fire be-
low. 81.
Jean drew back and Eel. carefully
around for her shoes. She could not
take much with her, and she must
work rapidly. The shoes and little
handbag were almost under her, and
she drew on the shoes, fastening a
button or two. She hesitated a sec
ond with her hand on the precious
bag. All her money, her trunk check
and her little bits Of jewelry were in
Il. She must save them IL she could.
Those papers that had been trusted to
her were there also. Quickly she
stuffed the bag within the breast Of
her garments and fastened 1t there
with q large safety pin, with which
she had fastened the berth curtain the
night before, when a refractory button
kept coming undonc. Her heart gave
a leap Of excitement. Now, In her
need, she remembered it, and, cropping,
found it there in the scmi-darkness,
big enough TO be found when wanted,
and to hold the bag In safety.
She gave one frightened look out
the window at the growing; widening
horrors below. and then began slow.
~, cautiously, to creep through. feet
first. It was a dangerous and painful
task, as there a much glass still ad-
hcring firmly 20 the window frame,
and she found that sho had to draw
back ut first and hunt up her hair
brush with which to break away the
sharp edges and make the opening
large enough.
&c seemed an hour, though in reality
1t was but a moment or two, before
she finally succeeded in getting out Of
the window. so that she chung, sus-
pended, both arms still inside the
berth, hut her body hanging over the
abyss of black depths mingled with
flames. ~47g
Dark shapes we're moving about
down there, dark, moaning creatures
were dropping with sickening splashes
into the water. She dared not look
to sec il they rose. Her head grew
light. and shc felt her fingers slipping.
Her strength would not hold her long,
and she was almost on the point of
trying to creep back inside the berth
when a long cry as of the lost. min
gied with monas and screams Of wom-
en- and children. arose from below.
and she saw a great sheet Of fire leap
up AID lick the lower end of the very
car to which she chung. She could
feel the heat OF it where she was, and
but for the slight inclination Of the
car it would have been between her
and the water.
With a low aoa Of horror she
closed her eyes and let herself drop.
Down, down. she felt herself falling,
through acons os time and space, and
knew that she was wondering how her
mother would bear IL when she heard.
Then the shock Of the water, and
darkness closed ove- her in a smoth.
ering chill.