The Omaha morning bee., 1923-12-30

AftEuf fNdtDuiH nah ir"R0s
halfway down the car. Was becoming
for the first time aware OF her.
You're perfectly safe. Miss Dade,
he informed her instantly. "Wait'
He seemed suddenly a long way off.
But Laurian's. adjective came into
that daze Yes. his eyes were COM
manding. The sinister quiet Of the
world did not last Out Of 1t emerged
groans. quiet. smothered; low walls.
Patty huddled in her seat and clamp
ed her hands over her eyes. Raeburn
passed her; jumped out OF the car.
He returned In a moment; seized
her arm: Come he commanded
at the bridge. You're all right. Every
thing is all right" Patty felt this TO
be professional optimism and resented
it: yet she clung TO 1t. She clung to
him, too. as gently he drew her by
the back entrance out OF the car and
onto the road.
The engine had not only jumped the
track but 1t had jumped the bridge. It
lay sprawled below across the toy
canon of the Micanac. On its side
half resting on the bank, battered and
smashed-lay the first car. Their own
car. partially off the track had been
pushed back onto the bridge by the
violent uncoupling which freed it from
its fellow.
On the bank below, face down
blue. .shirted arms and overalled legs
in a strange crumple-lay one human
thing. without movement. Not far off
another human thing was stirring in
feeble uncorrelated way. AS through
dizzying numbness Patty stared.
door of that PROSTATE car in the end
which lay over the bank opened
feebly A uniformed man appeared in
the aperture and with a nightmare
locked slowness threw 1t wide-push
ed before him a.
"Oh don't leave me-" Patty breathed
as Arthur Raeburn darted from her
side back to the car.
Come he called peremptorily.
Come al oncei | need you
He sped her back to their car-to
his seat Take that bag and that
suitcase-and. here. this box. Yes.
you can carry it-and this" And as
she whimpered. Yes. you can. tell
you This ones the last He
loaded himself up. by heaven. this
is luck / brought all this stuff down
by hand-Now. follow me. Stop that
crying"
She managed to inhibit her sobs.
She followed him blindly. He man.
aged under his burden to give her
three fingers Of assistance off the
steps. Then he made towards the
steep embankment
II can't" she sobbed, II can't"
shut up. you little fool" he called
crisply. "Of course you can. Wait
until | get down" He started his own
bundles over the sandy incline. They
slid with a clatter OF stones 10 the
bottom He took hers, one at time.
dropped them down.
Out Of the chorus OF groans that
came from below. a masculine voice
disengaged itself. called with rau-
cous hoarseness. For mercy's sake,
kill me somebody. ! can't stand this.
Can't anybody get a doctor?'
Instantly Raeburn answered the
voice. The doctors here. my lad
You're all right. Keep stiff upper
upl I'll be with you in an instant.
He turned to Patty. Come here.
he ordered.
But involuntarily Patty had given
glance in the direction Of the voice.
Six strange folded things-brought out
of the car apparently by the conductor
lay side by side-and the conductor
himself. in a bloodied collapse beside
them. was trying feebly to move an
arm. II made an unnatural angie
from the elbow An enormous gray
void came swooping down upon Patty.
"Sit down. you fool, and slide.
Raeburn called.
She followed him from one 10 the
other as he made his first examina.
tions; followed him. for she did not
dare to be alone; followed him with
averted eyes for she dared not look
at what he touched. He said things
To her: things that at first she clung
10.
Two hours before we can get help
no roads across the marsh-the SIX
ltrain-lucky / brought supplies for
the hospital-ether-sp -splints-gauze-
she knew now that he was turning
over that first strange human huddie.
The engineers dead, poor fellow.
and then, you jumped?" to the sec
lond one, You're the fireman.?
Yes. but I got it. Look. my leg $
broke and torn. To think l went
through the Argonne 10 have-Docter'
| won't lose my leg. will L.
Sure not, That's nothing-elean
break, Well have that all fixed up
in no time. my boy. I've got splints
and bandages with me-.
He approached the groaning, bloody
line that the conductor had rescued
Lucky. too, you're with me- Rae
burn was now saying TO Patty. i II
need YOU. Take off those gloves ana
your hat and veil. Well. conductor,
you did a good Job getting six out Of
the car with that broken arm"
The conductor apparently under,
stood. but he did not speak, his glazed
ewes vaguely followed Raehurn'
movements. One by one. Raeoufn
looked over the six. who lay silent or
noaned In increasing agony. Patty
kent her face turned the other way
GO back TO the car. Miss pade, ana
get me some water from the tank
DR.. Raeburn ordered next in his crisp
tone of command. handing her metal
drinking cup. and don't spill II.
Patty oheyed.
He ran to the foot Of the emeahN
ment: brought down some Of his bags
and cases, ran swiftly gaok. When