Evening star., 1932-07-29
IN5TALLMENT XIV.


her eyes. Why was this man bending
over her? Who was he his face
blurred E. Tom. A trickle of water
on her face. U-u-gh, it was cold
Drops of ice. Now her vision was
clearing. She could distinguish the
outlines of the mans face. His fea-
lures were congealing.
Il don't think she's badly hurt. She
must have tried to break the fall with
her hand. Hold the arm in place. I'll
bandage the wrist so it doesn't swell
Easy now"
She pressed her teeth. her lips tightly
together so a moan would not escape
them. What had happened? She was
having a holiday, riding on rolling
coaster. flying with Donald Kemp e.
a great dark body hurtling toward
them The moan escaped after all.
Tony, darling. you're safe. You're
fine, Tony. Just the shock. There,
that will ease your wrist. Now, then,
how about opening your ewes. 1t will
help you to concentrate. Don't try to
sit up. Rest a while"
Donald Kemp. He had taken charge
of her. She was all right, or she would
be all right as soon as this giddineSs
passed.
Did it miss us, the juggernaut in
the road?" Her lips were stiff and cold.
Kemp's arm. under her head, raising
her ever so gently.
yes, dear. We managed to dodge
It"
And, how you did it is too much
for me" voice behind her added.
'I never see the likes of it in all my
truckin'."
That would be the man who drove
the juggernaut. Then he was alive,
too.
THE Lord looks after fools and
drunkards. Kemp said significantly.
Il moved over to make that turn,
the voice was keyed to whine. You
shoulda blowed your horn"
I'VE won't go into that. Run the
car back alongside the young lady.
Well get her in and drive to the near
est town. She may need doctor"
Tony felt stronger. She sat up. The
world stopped swaying. Down the ROAD
the maroon car was nosed into ditch.
"It wasn't smashed?" she said, star
fng with unbelief.
Nothing to speak Of" Kemp depre-
Gated "A fender crumpled. Wen
treat her to a new one. She's sturdy
little craft to carry us through tnat
jam" -
Tony was bewildered She said, Il
thought was thrown from the car.
I felt myself flying through the air.
hitting something"
You did The latch on the door
must have been open. When we hit
that curve and I had to make sharp
turn your momentum carried you right
through the door. Lucky the grass
grows close the road here. You landed
In a soft spot"
TT didn't feel very soft" Tony
smiled weakly. She was struggling to
her feet, with Kemp's help.
THAT truck driver ought to have his
neck twisted He was driving on the
left side of the road. If anything Sc
rious had happened to you----' Kemps S
smouldering eyes watched the truckman
maneuvering the car backward. CorGS
stood out on the back Of his hands
where he clenched them. L ought 10
give him a good sound thrashlng just
for luck"
Tony pleaded. please don't. I'm
fine, only had the breath Joned out oI
me for a minute"
we must see a doctor about your
wrist"
"Oh. no. it won't be necessary. LOOK,
I can move it and it feels much better
already with the bandage on" Her
wrist did pain when she Wriggled 1t,
but she was not going to spoil her holi-
day for sprained wrist. She was
causing a great fuss to be made over a
near-accident. Donald Kemp, by his
unerring judgment and quick courage,
had avoided nasty smash and now ne
was calm enough. He had not been SO
calm a few moments ago when she was
coming back from the borderland. His
nIeading Tony. sweet echoed in her
consciousness. There had been love in
his voice, love and passionate fear. He
dropped the role of lover with her re-
turn to normalcy. He was again the
kind, the thoughtful friend.
He asked solicitously. Shall we go
on? Or would you rather return to
town and rest up? 1t may have been
more of a shock than you realize.
Lets 90 on by all means" Here
was the car alongside. She stepped to
the running board.
grade" Kemp agreed. Its like rider
being thrown by a horse. II he picks
himself up. mounts and rides off again
he banishes fear of the animal. Flyers
do the same. After crash they take
of again at once. / believe your going
on would tend to lessen any shock you
nav have suffered"
The truckman was still whining eX-
cuses when they drove away. Half an
hour later they began a long climb
toward the top of the highest hill.
There's the Port of Missing Men at
the top" Kemp pointed out Nesting
In the trees. I'm glad the place didn't
happen TO be Journey End"
What a stunning location" Tony en-
thu9ed- Just right for the cottage"
"A hillside would be better. Close,
10 the valley. When We 60 too hief
We lose all contact with people below.
Il suppose so. One wouldn't want
to be forever coming down-hill to meet
them"
The Port itself was treasure. Low
and rambling and primitive, without
being crude. Fires blazed in stauncf
stone chimneys, their ruddy warmth
reflected from old blue china and
polished copper on walls and in oper
cupboards Gay hooked rugs were
scattered over woven rag carpets anC
natural pine tables and chairs wert
mellowed with time and usage. Tn,
air was redolent of hickory logs, o
pine cones and of savouries. Food wa
served country style in the old blu
dishes and in pressed glass such as wa
relegated to the top shelves of cup
board in Centerville. friendly sette
came In and watched with melanchol
eyes for tidbits from the table. H
proved his skill as a beggar by ad
vancing and putting his head in Tony
lap.
Tony forgot the throbbing pain IL
her wrist. The Port Of Missing Mel
>yed her to memories, to anticipa
tlop Her grandmother had prized
set of these bike dishes. When tn
cottage came true q goulo have ra
carpet on the floor and a scatterin
of hooked rugs. The fireplace woul
be as big as this one and she woul