The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-03-03

1t was not until after the rail-
way bridge that Bates lost him.
self. Through all the nightmare
of pie dogs and vultures, dead and
dying and desolation, he made his
way along the smooth metaled
road. A half dozen times people
seeing him dressed in the costume
European officials wore 10 the
Durbar ran out of wrecked houses
or sprsng up from the bitches be-
side the road to throw themselves
on their faces in the mud and ask
| for food and protection, but Bates,
understanding none of their glib
berish, only went on his way
doggedly. freeing himself with a
kick when some woman grasped
his knees in historical supplica-
ton.
He was weak now from hunger
and exposure and the morning
coat. soaked by the rain, seemed
an intolerable weight, but he could
not bring himself to throw it
away. Lord Esketh's man did not
appear wa king through the
streets, even of ruined city in
the midst of disaster, clad only in
shirt, trousers and braces. And
so he bore the weight, stumbling
along. frightening flocks of vul-
lures who only rose and tapped
little distance. to return to their
feast as soon as he had passed.
He moved in a daze, uncertainty,
from side to side of the road, be-
yond horror, in realm which bor-
dered upon delirium. There were
moments when he felt wild de-
sire to fall beside the road and
remain there, but he kept being
driven on by habits and instincts
stronger than his own body. He
had to find Lady Esketh and de-
liver into her hands the tin box.
Then, and only then. would he lie
down and rest, sleeping on and on
and on.
And then when he woke perhaps
all this would only be a night
mare and Lord Esketh would not
be simply bloated corpse but
alive and red-faced and irritable.
Then Lord Esheth would take him
back to England. and he would
give notice and 60 to Manchester
and live for the rest of his life
in semi-detached villa with his
sister And never again would
he leave Manchester, even to go
as far as London.
For a moment on the railway
bridge, with the flooded river rush.
ing along beneath his feet. he had
come near to falling, and slipping
to his knees he remained for
long time, dizzy, his head going
round and round. clinging with
one hand TO the tin box and with
the other to the rails. After
time he regained control of him.
self. but he had TO make what re-
manned of the journey to the other
side on his hands and knees.
But between the distillery and
the Sikh barracks he could go no
further. Slipping in the mud, he
fell on his side and tainted. There
Mr.. Smiley found him. the tin box
still clutched in his hand. On a
window shutter Mr.. Smiley and
two Of the Untouchable boys car
ried him back TO the mission.
There was no brandy to revive
him. but Mr.. Smiley stripped the
soaked clothes from the skinny
body and Aunt Phoebe wrapped
him in hot sheets and in a little
while he opened his eyes and drank
a little hot goats milk.
When ne was able TO speak he
asked for his clothes. and taking
from a pocket of the trousers
some keys and the two damp
notes, he asked Mr.. Smiley 10 de-
liver the one to Fern. and then
asked TO speak to Lady Esketh
alone. Before Mr.. Smiley left he
asked TO have the tin box set on
the bed beside him.
When Lady Esketh came into
the room. still dressed in Mrs.
Smiley's calico dress, she saw at
once that he was shocked by her
appearance. Strong. he might
have concea the expression
which came over his face. but in
his weakness the disapproysI was
as clear as If he had spoken il.
She thought, He would rather see
me wearing the evening dress and
all my jewels in the middle Of the .
afternoon"
But in ner turn she was shocked |
by his woebegone appearance. As
she entered he sat up on the army |
bed and clutched the cotton sheets |