The Washington times., 1937-10-01

1OugnL Cne coupling OF Cne trailer.
In the black dark he knelt his
hands tearing on the hasps.
The stream was already rising.
Overlapping its banks with suck
ing fingers, Johnny noted wild.
eyed! The water from the stream
swirling, sucking around his
ankles.
SLIPS IN WATER
And in his panic, Johnny
slipped in the swirling waters. He
lurched on the muddy floor. Wild
ly he flung out his arms to grip
the car. But he careened down
into the water. And his head
struck the running board!
Bewilderedly, gripping his head,
he sucked himself to his feet,
clutching the fender with one
hand. Lord! He could hardly see
his eyes were blind with knife
sharp stabs of pain.
And the flood was up to the
running board!
He ripped open the trailer door.
There was a wobbly feel to the
trailer; gosh, she was trying to
float! Gently he lifted the sick
woman in his arms, cocooned in
blankets. Laconically to Beth,
You'll have to drive, hit my head,
bunged my eye"
Light as a shadow she was
splashing ahead of his stumbling
burdened form. She helped put
Maud in the car, then clambered
over the engine hood.
THE trailer?" she questioned
briefly.
mo use cutting her loose. She's
going to break the coupling any
second" Johnny gripped the
hand brake while she Steered. The
big young rancher was glowing.
Beth's voice chanted in his heart.
In a second Johnny was right.
With car-shaking jerk. as a ter
rier waving a rat, the trailer
worked loose and went cracking
among the trees into the stream.
AS she drove Beth's breath was
coming in small gasping sobs. But
she drove steadily. Johnny's
strong hand warm on hers.
Suddenly there was a bolt Of
fear in Johnny's stomach. A blaze
of lightning cracked and mir.
rored the black water climbing up
the engine hood! They must be
going through a dip! They'd be
drowned like cattle
Johnny grabbed the wheel.
showed Beth's foot off and kicked
the gas to the floor. The car
shuddered, sputtered as if dying.
Then bolted like a spurred horse.
REACH SAFETY
They jolted like a wooden ball
over creviceS of the road, snapped
rock ruts. jounced against great
rocks. And then they sputtered
to the top of the hill. Where the
heavens had faint-mantling glow.
At the highway Johnny's tall,
brusque m3ther snatched the sick
girl from them. And drove off,
vigorously ShoWering orders which
every one Ieaped to fill.
There was no time for argument
tried to stick with her sis
ter, but was ordered to drive
Johnny home for repairs.
AS the big car disappeared over
the hill and the mountains plumed
their SUBMITS in nantes of rain
bowed rain, Beth collapsed. And
dug her head into Johnny'S soaked
shoulder with a Shivering wall.
Johnny gripped her hard. His
own voice rather tired as he
crooned comforting love, his face
against ner cold wet cheek. Were
safe now, my Beth. Honey"
Hungrily his fingers pressed
under her chin till she raised her
face for a kiss.
"Oh, Johnny! They told me at.
terward that it was in freshman
year you distributed Frat pins,
right and ieft!"
With a relieved sigh Johnny
kissed her more firmly. Then
murmured. dazzled, But. Betty,
honey, now did you know where
="
THE poStmark of this town was
on your letters, my Johnny"
THE END
Copyright, 1887, News Syndicate
Co, Incl