The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-09-27
CATASTROPHE

Published by Special Arrangements With The
Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate.
incorporated
Copyright: 1885: By ETHEL LIMA WHITE
GIN TWO PARTS-PART TWO
So Stella danced and tried to forget
her fears. She told herself that it was
hopeless to try to control the Situa-
ton. In any case it was not her bus
mess. In two days time she would
never see any Of these people again
:. Life went on.
On her way up to bed she met Ivan
on the narrow staircase. He was car
rying a suit case and his face was white
and his eyes glazed as though he had
"Are you going away" she asked.
EYES," he replied thickly. 1--WE been
kicked out Of the hotel by the blasted
millionaires."
what do you mean?"
IT complained to the proprietor about
their filthy behavior. And he had the
damned insolence to tell me to go -.
Mel"
The triumph of his laugh and the
bravado of his Swagger told Stella that
the ultimate disaster had happened.
He was now a martyr to his cause.
She tossed sleeplessly in bed, q prey
to every kind of %foreboding fancy, and
when at last she dropped into a doze
she had horrible Nightmares of dark
places. She was drowning into the
darkness. Choked in the darkness.
Crushed by the darkness: Sinking down
into the bottomless CULTS of darkness.
It was a relief to wake up and see the
rare sunlight streaming through her
window and to remember that she was
not going t O the caves.
But ali the same she could not shake
off a sense of her own responsibility.
During cafe complet she felt a paAg
whenever she looked around the restau-
rant. The young people were In the
highest spirits and their shouts of
laughter tore at her heart.
She told herself that they were going
to their doom like sacrificial lambs. It
was true that they were graceless, noisy
lambs, but they we're so unconscious
of any overhanging fate. Their faces
had the bloom of youth; some OF the
bows had only begun to shave; they
were merely spoiled, reckless babes.
She alone was forewarned and a
any influence over Ivan. At a critical
able to control a mad machine. one
word might mean all the difference
between life and death. If she stayed
safely at the hotel and later heard
Of some catastrophe in the caves she
would never be able to forgive herself
or to forget.
Presently Lewis crossed to her table.
"Change your mind and come to the
caves" he pleaded. 1T is our last eS-
cursion together. Come Tor me.
AS Stella looked at his clear eyes and
the clean cut corners of his mouth she
Suddenly realized that he meant more
to her than she had guessed. In that
moment she changed her mind:
"AIl right" she said. It'll 60"
Although the rest of the party were
in the highest spirits, Stella felt as
though she we're in the tumbril on her
way to the guillotine as the car tore
through the sunlit countryside. n
they arrived at the village, which was
the starting point of their expedition,
the little train was already waiting. by
the side of the road. But Mitzi and her
crowd, with whoops of glee, rushed to
get drinks al the hotel, outside which
Stood the usual painted iron tables
Stella seated herself beside the two
English school teachers. One was tai
and rather gloomily handsome; the
other was a little, pale girl in glasses
with a vivid face and ar ASTOUNDING
store of information.
"What are we waiting for?" COM
planned the tall teacher.
Those BOYS who are drinking" re-
Piled her little friend. People like that
spoil things for every one"
Stella mentally agreed with her. A.
though Ivan was not on the tram slle
held her breath with suspense, fearing
every second to see him hurry down the
street. But at last, to her JOY, the
train began slowly to move. It joltec
through the town and then ran under
a tunnel of shady trees. An amber
river flowed beside the avenue. bu'
gradually its water cleaned beioW
them as the engine chugged up the
hillside. ,
AS they climbed higher and higher
through the gaps in the rocks they nae
visions of the country spread out below
poppies and yellow of mustard mace
bright splashes, amid the multi-shades
of green, while the shadows of racing
clouds swept across in tremulouS blue
and purple patches.
The tourney was short and soon the
conductor came and took Stella's ticket
Thinking he had made a mistake she
held it firmly as she explained that she
wanted it for the return Journey.
"Pas de retour," he said. ,.
sounds ominous," laughed the little
school mistress. ""No return HI
means we don't go back by train. We
walk back inside the mountain to oul
starting point"
Although the explanation was SOUND
Stella felt absurdly depressed by the
incident, as though the conductors
words were prophetic. mo return" The
phrase rang in her head as she got ou1
of the train. The rest Of the tourists
were crowding to look over the lip OF 6
Danteesque gorge at the source OF the
river, which foamed in a dark Dol
through the rocks far below:
Turning away with a shudder she
followed her companions down a slip.
perry path which zig-zagged along the
base of the mountain until the entrance
to the caves was reached.
She looked nervously around her a.
she passed through the turnstile
dreading to see VANS white, sneerlne