The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-02-23
The Rains
Came
Continued From Page 81

blue taffeta. and al the sight ~
her Fern felt assured and conf
dent. for the appearance Of Miss
Murgatroyd at that moment would
have brought confidence to any
woman.
Miss Murgatroyd cried out Gag
erly, How did you get here ."
And when Fern answered. I've got
a boat, Miss Murgatroyd turned
and ran into the house crying,
Mrs. BanneJee, Mrs. Bannerjeei
We've been rescued"
While Miss Murgatroyd was
bearing the tidings TO the Banner
lees, Ransome and Lady Esketh
asked for news. Fern told them OF
the death Of her father and Hazel
and the wiping out OF The Bows
when the barracks collapsed on
them. and the grin died cut of RAN
some's face. He took her hand
and said, Tn sorry. my dear. and
again her heart warmed and again
she felt little stab of shame that
she should be ~ happy when her
father and sister were lying dead
beneath the ruins OF the Mission.
Lady Esketh asked. The sum-
mer Palace? What has happened
to it"
81 don't know"
And the hospital ,"
The hospital is standing. Rasch-
Id Ali Khan said so"
Then Ransome said. Where il
Raschid -
He swan out from the house.
He's gone to get the elephants"
And his family >"
They're all right. They're still
at his house"
And the Smileys ,"
Il don't know. Aunt Phoebe il
safe"
Suddenly Lady Esketh asked.
Are the people in the hospital
alive 80
Il don't know"
And Ransome. divinine what Law
beneath Edwina's question. asked.
The doctor and Miss MacDaid %
II don't know"
They tried To get from here 10
the hospital when the flood hap
pened."
Then an odd silence occurred
again. and the sense OF excitement
died away. Fern. awkward and
shy. was again aware for a mo-
ment of the horrible reality of the
tragedy. She thought. Tomorrow
it will be real and the day after
that and the dav after that but IL
isn't real now. II never happened
Ransome said. I suppose we
ought to get away from here on 10
dry land, at any rate. If there wa.
another quake the whole place
might come down" He turned 10
Fern MY house You must have
passed it
The veranda and the eookhouse
have fallen in. It's half under wa
ter like this. but it's still standing.
Your boy was sitting on the roof
So John the Baptist hadn't run
away. He'd been hiding there In
the house all the time. You'd
better go TO the Smileys' Aunt
Phoebe said TO tell you. She's sw-
fully good at looking after people.
Momma Is there with Mrs. Hog
gett-Eg bury"
I'm take the boat" said Ram
some. Wen only be able 10 go
off one al a time. There isn't room
for more. Have you had any
sleep ="
Not much"
You ought To lie down for hit
and I'll come for you after I've
taken off the other women"
II couldn't sleep"
mo, but just lying down for
bit would be a help" He took her
arm and said. Come along. Do
as say 1t isn't over yet-it's
only begun"
In one Of the rooms she Law down
on the hard Indian bed. and Ram
some said, Your clothes are wet.
You ought 10 take them off"
Not much. The canopy kept of
the ram,
IN fetch couple Of shswls."
He went away. leaving her happy
and full of peace. and when he re-
turned he was carrying two Kssh-
min shswls which he wrapped
about her carefully and gently.
Then casually he laid hand on
her forehead and said. You've had
a tough time. nv dear. Try and
sleep a little" Without knowing
what she was doing. without will
inr H. her hand reached up and
touched his. but n, drew II away
quickly ss II N. touch hurt him
and said. Now 70 to sleep hk. .
good girl" as II sh. were . child.
To Be Continued