The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-02-14

RauSomc felt the major snaklhs
him and saying. Miss MaeDsid
and I arc going 70 make try al
the hospital. You'll have 10 look
after the others. Bannerjee Is no
good"
"oksy." said Rsnsome. But
you're crazy. II can't be done.
And he thought. They mustn't be
lost. OF all the people in Ranehi-
pur, in all India, they arc the most
precious just now" And aloud ne
said. You've no right to take any
risk"
I'VE won't take any risk. Here,
give me a hand with Miss Murga-
troyd" Between them they lifted
her and carried her into a room
where there was no furniture save
cushions and an Indian bed. Ed
wilma followed them and Mrs. Ban
nerjee with the lantern.
Then. surprisingly, Edwina said.
I'll stay with her" and TO Ran
some. Get some water and some
brandy If you can find any
Mrs. Bannerjee still carrying
the lantern. led the way down the
stairs just as servant. shaking
and moaning, appeared in the hall
way. In Guierati Mrs. Bannerjee
told him to stop whining and fetch
some candles.
Water still covered the floor of
the drawing room to the depth
of a foot or more. and even while
they stood at the bottom of the
stairs. looking about at the wreck
age, a fresh wave. but tiny one
this time, no more than a foot in
height, poured through the door
way.
you can't make it," said Ran
some
We'll. anyway, we can have a
try at it," said Miss MacDaid.
IF it doesn't rise anv more.
think we can make the bridge
Miss MacDaid hitched her eve
ming dress above her knees and,
following the major, with Ransome
holding the lantern, they reached
the veranda. One corner of the
porte cochere had been swept
away so that the roof hung, sag
cling, above their heads. The ma
jor's Ford lay on its side in a
tangle of grass and wreckaee of
the veranda itself. The aspidistras
and rubber plants were gone, and
a large part of the railing.
The major looked at his motor,
erinned, and said, well, that's
that"
"1ll come with you" said Ran
some.
NO. you'd only be liability. No
special use and maybe lot of
trouble
Miss MacDaid said, sharply,
Don't be a fool" and Ransome
knew that she did not want him to
come because it was to be their
expedition-hers and the majors.
The presence Of any one else would
spoil it.
There's no special reason for
YOU to come along" the major said
to her. Nothing could make me
STAY here. A lot of good you'd be
without me-" and look OF excite
ment came into her lined and
painted face, and note of eXcult-
ance into her deep voice.
Ransome thought, The major
will belong to her alone" There
was no one else who could be of
the least use. She was indis-
pensable.
When he turned Miss Bannerjee
was still standing on the steps
with the whining servant. who had
found candles and another lantern.
AS he approached she said. You'd
better look for the brandy in the
dining room. If it hasn't been
swept away, it's in the cabinet"
He found the brandy, and when he
she said, You'd better
fetch the bridge cards out of the
secretary. They're in the top
drawer" as if there had been no
and no flood and the
evening was going on just as she
had planned it.
The secretary had been whirled
about by the force of
the water but it still stood upright
and in the top drawer he found the
cards. not too damp. and he
thought. Maybe I'm crazy. Maybe
we all are"
He gave the cards to Mrs. Ban
nerjee and took a lantern from the
servant. saying, I'm going to the
End of the garden. There may be
some one there who needs help"
Then as he splashed through the
water on the veranda, his world
began TO expand, no longer con-
fined to the people in the house
and what had happened to them,
but including all Of Ranchipur.
And first Of all he thought of Fern.
feelings thankful that she had
gone home instead OF to Raschid' s.
She would be safe if the quake
hadn't brought down the old stone
barracks of house on the top of
III of them. He saw now that Mr..
house had stood up
against the quake because it was
light and made of wood and there
ore flexible. A stone house might
lave collapsed. And all at once he
vas aware that he was frightened
or the first time. not for himself.
ut for Fern. The thought that he
night never see her again was IN
'earable to him. and suddenly he
.ould not picture life in Ranchipur
without her.
Struggling. he came at last 10
he spot al the end OF the COM
,ound where IN, hubble of houses
lad been. Holding the lantern
.boye mis- head he tried 10 find