Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1934-11-30
CHAPTER VII

the temperature had lowered pereepii-
bly,. He was able for the first time
to hear the conversation of people
around him.
He saw Peter Vanderbilt sitting
pathetically on a log, cup of coffee 10
one hand, sandwich In the other, and
his bedraggled handkerchief spread
over his knees for a napkin. The ele-
giant vanderbllt's mustache WIS
clogged with mud. His hair was
cake of mud His shoes were gobs OF
mud. One of his pant legs had been
torn OF at the knee. His shirt-tails
had escaped his belt, and yet as Tony
approached him, his urbanlty was un-
ruffled.
Vanderbilt rose. TONY, my friend"
he exclaimed. "What masquerade
What a disguised | recognized you
only BY the gauge in which heaven
made your shoulders. Sit down. Join
me in a spot Of lunch"
Tony sat on the log. "I'li have
snack with you he replied. .'Then
| must get back to work.
The quondam Beau Brummel Of
Fifth avenue nodded UNDERSTANDINGS.
Work never saw so many people
who were so avid for work. and yet
there's something exaltlng about It.
And the storm was certainly impress
siye. l admit that was impressed.
In fact, l proclaim that was i'm
pressed. Yet Its whole moral was fu-
tility."
"Futility7"
"Oh, don't think that for minute
l was being philosophical. / was
thinking of the many years had
spent as a lad in learning geography,
and how useless all that knowledge
was to me now. | should imagine that
the geography learned at twelve was
now completely out Of date"
Tony nodded TO the man on the log.
so ! should imagine. You'll excuse
me, but I'm needed"
Peter Vanderbilt smiled and without
a word rose and followed the younger
man. They found Hendron emerging
from the great hangar. He seized
Tony's shoulder the minute his eyes
lighted upon him. "Tony, son. have
you seen Evef"
"Yes. Shes all right. Shes work
ing over at the emergency hospital"
Behind Hendron stood number ~
men. He turned to them. "You go
ahead and inspect the machine shop.
I'll join you in minute"
He then noticed that Tony mad a
companion. Hello. Vanderbilt Glad
to see you're safe" And again he
spoke to Tony. "What was the extent
of the injury to personnel"
Tony shook his head. II don't know
yet"
yand.. Silt spoke. 81 just came from
the field hospital before l had my
coffee. | was making private check
up. So far as is known, no one here
was killed. There are three cases nj
collapse that may develop into pnen
monia, several minor cases of shock.
two broken legs. one broken arm.
sprained ankle; and there are forty
or fifty people with more or less minor
scratches and abraslons. In all less
than seventy-f1ve were reported so
far
Hendron's head bobbed again. lie
sighed with relief. Good God, I'm
thankful" He rubbed his hand across
his face. did you men say something
about coffee7v
with brandy in it." Tony said
Vanderbilt took Hendron's arm.
"May escort your You're bit rocky,
] guess"
"Just a bit. Brandy. eh1 Good"
Before he walked away, he spoke to
Tony. Listen, son" The use of that
word rocked Tony's heart This was
much more than had anticipated.
much worse. But the ship is safe,
although one side was dented against
its cradle That's about all. I'VE got
to get some rest now. I'm Just a few
minutes away from Inconsistencies
| want you to take over things, II you
think YOU can stand up for another
twelve hours"
"f'm in the pins," Tony answered.
Good. You're In charge, then.
Have me walked In twelve hours
Tony began the rounds again. In
the hall Of the women's dormitory,
Dodsoti and Smith were hard at work.
Their patients sat or lay In bed. Eve,
together with dozen other women.
was acting as nurse. She had changed
her clothes, and washed. She smiled
at him across the room. Had he told
her that her father was asleep.
Tony went next to the nlichlne shop.
A shift Of men was at work clearing
away the ihfltrated dust on the en-
gines and the mud that had poured
over the floors Another group or
men lay In deep sleep wherever there
was room enough to recllne. One Of
the workers explained: Nobody
around here can work for long without
a little sleep. 50 we're going In one
hour shifts. Sleep an hour, clean an
hour. Is that al right. Mr.. Drake7'
"That's fine,s Tony said.
At the power house a voice hailed
him. .
you're Just in time, Mr. prake.'
"what fotT'
"Cofne in." Tony entered the power
house. The man conducted him to
walled panel and pointed to d
switch. "Puli her down.
Toni pbiled. At once MI over the
eantonment uhsvurlts WAS annihllntsd
n ~ Essiasss VI epuntiaaa alsstslr