The Washington times., 1933-12-30
By Robert w. Chambers

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broken her back or her wrist
or diSlocated her shoulder, he
CROPPED for the pockets in her
disordered clothing, found her
pistol and pocketbook and
fished out Of the latter bunch
Of keys.
Hands Free
The second key lie tried un-
locked the handouts, and de-
taching it and leaving it stick
ing in the lock, he tossed the
handouts into the swampy
sheet of water at the foot of
the stack Of marsh hay. Her
revolver, box Of caps and am
munition he prudently pocketed.
She had, in another pocket
deep in her voluminous skirts,
a thin packet Of papers. He
took these, also, professionally.
The girl was still unconscious
when he lifted her once more
and slid from the slippery
mound of marsh hay.
When he had climbed up the
embankment to the railroad
tracks above he caught sight
of the lights of the station
only a little way down the
track; and. what interested
him still more, saw the rear
lamps burning on a standing
train.
This must be their own train,
still held at the station. Their
own car, too which was the last
one. No other train had passed.
He was certain of that.
Now Juggling her in his tired
arms, he hurried over the Gin
derbedded Sleepers toward the
station.
q He could see a man in a cap
and railroad uniform lettering
on the dimly lighted platform.
A lantern dangled from his
hand. There was another man
there, too. seated on a bench.
Both were gazing northward
along the track toward the
painting locomotive.
The rear platform of the
sleeping car overlaped the sta
ton platform. Gailliard went
around to the river side of the
car. climbed up with his sense.
less burden, opened the rear
door and stepped into the empty
car.
Embarrassing Task
There were their valises, just
as they had left them. But the
negro porter had made up both
berthS of their section, and the
baggage stood in the aisle By
the curtained lower berth.
John Gailliard laid Operator
13 on the gray blankets of the
berth and placed pillow under
her head, which still wore the
Saucy little hat with it's tiny
blue blossoms. There was only
one thing to do with such a
dangerous youngster, unless he
left her at once without know
ing how seriously she had been
hurt. But he couldn't bear to
do that.
He heSitated; and his boyish
face was very red and his hands
unsteady as he drew off her
shoes, her garters, her stockings
her hat and her jacket, full OF
burrS and hay. But he had be-
come, by this time, thoroughly
afraid of the resourceful and
dangerous young woman; and
he determined to undress her,
with the prudent view of max
ing any immediate pursuit of
himself impossible when she re-
vived.
At last, horribly embarrassed,
he contrived to accomplish the
business in hand, pull sheets
and blankets over her, and place
her piled clothing in the upper
E2rth out of reach. Then he
drew from her pocketbook a
tiny crystal flask of hartShorn
which he had noticed there, and
which now he thrust under her
pretty nose.
Flaming Wrath
The girls reaction was so
prompt and SO violent that it
scared him; for she gave a ter
rifle sneeZe and sat bolt upright,
regarding him with wild sur
mise.
1t was, however, nearly a min
ute before she fully realized
where she was and in what out
rageous condition. He had been
trying, politely, to pull up the
blankets around her throat, and
was making sooth ,.:1g and timid
inquiries, when Suddenly the
full purport of what had hap
pened overwhelmed the girl;
ard he saw hell flaming in her
eyes.
"I-I had to do it," he fall
tered.
Impotent fury bowed her
head with it's touSeled curls,
and she buried her scarlet face
in both hands.
Here are btbUth tickets, dar-
ling" he stammered, casting
them on the blanket. II had
to do it, Gail. Please don't
hoto mo too Litton1xyID