The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-03-10
The RAINS CAME
By LOUIS bROMfIELD -
Copyright 1887 1888 1899 by Louis Bromfisld
Distributed by Ledger syndicate


dams quarreled among themselves,
that they had grown panicky and
hopeless in the face of disaster.
But it's not over yet" the real
istic Scotswoman said. TITS only
just begun"
As Ransome rose to go the
major said, Have you seen Lady
Esketh ?"
Eyes"
Does she still want to stay"
'Yes. She's determined TO stay"
The major was silent for a mo-
ment, looking at Ransome as If
( there was something he wanted to
say but was not sure that their
friendship was intimate enough TO
bear the strain. II was Miss Mac
Daid who plunged. Why? ?" she
asked. II mean, really why"
For second he hesitated, con-
sidering, and then said, Il really
don't know" He might have a
great many ideas, among them
even the idea that she wanted TO
stay in the wild hope of having a
love affair with the major himself.
But he was no longer certain of
that. even If he had dared to say
/ il. II don't know. She's a very
extraordinary woman. Quite hon
estly, has she been useful -
II was Miss MacDaid who an
swered him. Yes" she said, she
has. She's not stupid"
mo, she's never been stupid
Then he went away, out into
the rain, feeling lonely and oddly
envious of the two of them, left
behind in their satisfaction in the
majors office.
Twice on his way to the music
school he was challenged by tall
Sikhs guarding wells. Twice. as
they recognized him, they pre-
scented arms rs if he were an
important functonary. Halfway
along the Tank the faint hot
breeze which sprang up as the rain
stopped for a time, brought toward
him from the ruined silhouette of
the school. a faint. sweet, sickish
odor, not the smell of death now.
but the odor of cholera.
II was dark inside, and the hall
way which had once resounded to
the clamor of a hundred drums and
zithers and melodeons was silent,
but there was still the horrible
smell of cholera. Beyond the door
way the dead lay in rows on the
floor, waiting to be carried out
and burned.
Then just before him he saw a
faint light in doorway, and turn
ing. he came upon Henry Bauer.
The ex-swimming tea n had
taken this little room for his own
and contrived hard bed from the
school benches. He was dressed
all in white, and as he turned
toward the door the sight OF him
with his pale skin and blue eyes
and blond hair gave Ransome a
sudden shock. In the midst of all
the misery and filth. among all
the dark people. in the confusion
and cruelty of India. he seemed in
the dim light of the candle, in
credihly clean and young and pure.
He thought. suddenly, Like the
victim made ready for the sacri-
flee"
Bon jour" he said in his Swiss
French. "Entrez."
Ransome had seen the nurse
before. distantly, but had never
spoken to him. The Swiss pro-
duced miraculous packet OF
cigarettes and said, Will you
have one ?"
Next to drink. il was the thing
Ransome had wanted most for
days. He said. You're lucky TO
have them"
1--WE lot of them. You can
have a packet If you like" And
from under the bed he produced
neat square box containing shaw
ing things. toothbrush. a towel.
a pack of soiled cards, textbooks
on gymnastics, and a dozen pack
ages of cheap cigarettes. He held
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