The L'Anse sentinel., 1922-05-12
THE WRECK
BY MyRA A. wiNcATe


A girl came swaying down the car.
slender and tall, In blue serge OF
pleasing lines, and paused with one
hand on the back of a seat to await
the clearing OF the crowded aisle.
Hamilton noticed the slim whiteness
Of the hand and the odd shortness Of
the little finger. Once, her eyes, clear
and impersonal, met his.
He glanced out at the autumn land
scape through which the road lay. and
again at his watch, calculating the
time of arrival.
A terrific shock and rending crash
and roar. Shouts, and sickening pain.
and darkness horrlblel From that
darkness Hamilton gradually emerged
to "a consciousness that some one was
groaning as II in pain, and later a
realization that Il was he who
groaned. With the effort to drag him
self clear of the wreckage came the
knowledge that his right leg was
pinned fast. He set his teeth to bear
the pain. Somewhere a girls voice
was saying:
STEADY, steadyw
She came crawling toward him, un-
der the wreckage.
Something to dig with" she said.
An interval and she was back with
a sharp flake of rock.
There" she said at last, 'now one
heroic effort, and I think you'll be
free"
Another effort, and they were clear
Of the wreck. In her, exhaustion she
dropped her head on her arms and he
turned his face and reyerently kissed
her dust-begrimed cheek. Again the
blackness descended.
II his friends had known how many
times in the next five years Hamilton
made the trip over that branch road
In the hope of meeting girl with
short little finger and contralto
voice they would have considered him
slightly mad. Although he was quite
as likely to find her In San Francisco,
he felt constrained to seek her In
that one spot. Travelling down that
way for the twentieth time he leaned
from the window to scan the platform
at the little station OF summer
colony.
STEADY, Steady!" said the sooth-
ing voice.
He could distinguish the short little
finger where tie hand rested upon the
collar Of wriggling small boys sailor
suit
Hamilton caught up his suitcase
and bolted from the car.
Her face lighted with recognition
'T knew you at once. Mr.. Hamilton.
How do you do? After all, you know
some Of the rescuers would have
found you, eventually. so you needn't
thank me except for being spared
some discomfort"
The tall man and two children were
fast approaching. Hamilton said
quickly: II can't help being everlast-
ingly GRATEFUL
"It's quite all right" she assured
him, and was swept away in the crowd
Of home-comers. one of whom saluted
the tall man with cheerful: How
are you, Hunt?" adding. "'evening,
Mrs. Hunt and Miss Page"
After a restless night. he was early
afoot for a tramp through woody
threw himself upon the sun-warmed
sands for a doze. from which he was
startled by the sound Of trampling
hoofs. As he sprang to his feet the
horse SHE'D and would have bolted
dangerously but for Hamilton's quick
hand upon the bride.
STEADY. Roman !" soothed the rider.
"Good morning, Mr.. Hamilton. We do
not often find fellow explorer so far
abroad" ~
He replied gravely: Good morning.
Mrs. Hunt"
'You make a strange mistake, Mr..
Hamilton" said the girl deliberately,
II am Jane Page. My sister Is Mira
Hunt"
81 thought you'd know I would
come" he said confusedly.
'.Tben there was a man. and some
one said, Mrs. Hunt I thought you
hadn't waited. II was q natural mis-
take"
"Circumstantial evidence and not
sufficient to convict" Miss Page as
sured him. Then suddenly she bent
and lightly touched the perplexed fore
head with her lips.
"Come down." he said masterfuIly,
holding out his hand. I'VE have SO
much to say to each other that It will
take all the rest Of the years to say
It."
"Please don't say II aii-yet." she
begged Remember. we really scarce
ly know each other"
We'll have all the rest Of the sum-
mer TO learn" he said decisively. "And
II you like it"
yes" answered Jane mischievous-
", 'if / like f."