Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-10-30
Hope Finds a Family


AsAas ASA " @aaassA s~aaa
E OF the plane and stood supporting he
5 as She tottered on her feet.
That's good he repeated as sh
} staggered forward q step or two. Thin
7 you can look after the kid while / re
her mother and the others?"
: Bur there was nothing to do for tn
Others. John Allen Cary, Hvid In tn
5 glare Of the flashlight he carried, re
ported this while his companion trie'
7 TO take it in
"All dead, he brought out in shak
ing voice. BY a miracle you and I ant
the youngSter we're flung clear OF tn
machine. That's what saved us"
Hope tOttered back to the scattered
wreckage. "You're-you're sure they'r
, all dead?' she whispered.
Ny God'-the young man choked-
were looking at them, aren't We
One look is enough"
Her knees gave way He caught anC
Steadled her She pulled herself TO-
geiher
Please look more carefully-awfu
as j is. I'll go to the baby"
He nodded. I'll go over them all
individually, with this. Thank
God for il" he repeated, with another
boylsh gulp.
Hope repeated. II must go to the
/ baby" The one thing she knew She
I could not endure, in this hell she was
| in, was another look at those bodies.
''Will that flashlight last?"
| Yes. It's self-charging-th kind
! you wind up as you use 1t. Keep steady.
The worst is over. put the baby under
that tree over there-see ?-and ordered
her not to bulge. don't think she
has a scratch. I'll be with YOU in
few minutes"
What time is it?" she brought out
as she turned away.
7 don't know. My watch was
smashed, of course. But it must be be-
tween 2 and 3 o'clock. It's all guess
work but I was awake all night. ]
think the crash came about 2 You and
1 have been unconsciouS-perh five
or ten minutes, perhaps an hour"
The baby's voice had galvanized Hope
again and she caught his last words
as she ran. Wandas cries were not
so close. She must have moved must
be wandering away. Hope tripped over
a tree stump, fell, got up. and ran on.
calling to the child. She fell again and
ran again, following the sound Of the
voice somewhere off in that darkness.
At last a pathetically exhausted wall
came from the darkness very close to
her For an instant the fog seemed to
thin and part. In the clearing she
saw what might be a little figure, and
heard again that choked and deSpairing
wall She reached the figure and
clasped it wildly. Woman and child,
both silent now after Wanda'S ecstatic
mammal" shook in each others arms.
Hope felt the child's clothing. The
hem Of the little bathrobe was wet,
under it the short-legged sleeping suit
was warm and dry. One tiny foot had /
on a bedroom slipper. The other was
bare. Both feet were swollen, and stiff |
with cold. Hope took off the remaining /
slipper and rubbed them well. Then I
she turned back to the wet hem of the /
robe, settled the child on her lap as /
as she could, and held her (
close to keep her warm. Wanda spoke. I
i want my mummy. I want to go |
home"
She knew then, though she could /
not see that this was not her mother. I
Hopes heart sank.
wen go soon, darling. But I must I
call out first, SO Mr.. Carey will come I
and get u.s."
Il want mummy"
"She can't come just now, Wanda.
But you and are together. We're
having adVentureS-and we're such |
7riendSl You came and sat in my lap
n the airplane and told you story.
You remember, don't you?"
YES" Wanda admitted slowly.
The panic had gone out Of her voice
md Hopes heart rose again. The little
hing was utterly exhausted. Now that
her terror was over and she was re-
stored to her familiar setting Of a lap
md pair of arms she would probably
all asleep and remain asleep until
heir fellow passenger found them.
This he would surely do. The newly.
rim young face had shown great
readiness and resolution in the light
4 his electric torch But she must
VIide him as Wanda had guided her.
First III show you what a loud
loise can make" she promised Wan
la. after that III sing to you, and
on must try to go to sleep till Mr..
;arey comes for us"
win ne come soon? I don't wike
here" Wanda, 1t was becoming clear,
lad serious trouble with her rs and
S.
He'll come very soon. Now listen
ard. Perhaps he'll answer when
all. Well make it a game"
Her throat was already raw from
a1ling to the child, but she drew on
II her reserve and sent forth long
that cut the fog Ike q
nife. They listened for a response.
here was nothing but silence and the
nveloping fog around them.
ut was a big noise" Wanda said,
lmoSt drowsily.
I'm do it again" Hope called again
this time louder. There was no reply.
hey might not be found till daylight.
ope Mayo did not let her thoughts 90
asst that point. If she didn't he would
OF find her, though she was as sure
) she had ever been Of anything. that
e would search all night. He was not
lie type to fail a helpless child and
4 almost equally helpless girl in such
crisis. She must listen at near inter-
his, for of course, he would be calling
%. The woods were so quiet she would
ear his approach If he drew near.
Sing"
wanda's voice was definitely drowsy
Jw.
Hope sang lullaby and stopped to