Glacier County chief., 1939-02-24

tine and the two Chinese seemed like
a classroom argument at Wochiang-
Jap. He come, he GOMEZ"
The Jap flyer dropped in a long
power dive above the Yangtze, the sun
furnishing his wings. But he did not
come very close, pulling out around
1000 feet and circling the village
skittishly.
In the street. the Chinese huddled
up to Mrs. Tancill and Christine, al
though Lieutenant Chi-Mah and his
men dove for the cover of the ware
house. Mrs. Tancill was amazed at
their action and looked up at the Jap
plane for the first time. She saw it
dip a bit lower and roar almost di-
rectly overhead. Then. the ship made
off in Decline toward the southeast
Presently 1t was a pin-point in the
sky and then it vanished.
Mrs. Tancill handed the machine gun
to Mr.. WI Tu Flu. who had gained
much face among his townspeople by
not ducking to cover.
Return it to the lieutenant" Mrs.
Tancill said II am quite sure the
Japanese are not interested in this
village"
Mr.. WI Tu Flu bowed.
Il am not so sure myself, but
would not venture to question the word
of so formidable lady" was what
Mr.. WI Tu Flu replied, although his
manner of saying it was tactfully
vague.
Mrs. Tancill turned back toward the
big stone compound. Christine fell into
step with her.
Il suppose this will be japanese
atrocity story when they read about
it in the states" said Christine
Quite possibly" said Mrs. Tancill.
You handled those soldiers beau:i-
fully"
Thank you"
After 20 PAGES in silence, Mrs. Tan
Gill discovered that the crowd of vii
layers were following them. She malt
ed. puzzled to see Bob Chang. Wang
Ma. Min Ling and half a dozen other
household servants in the lead.
Tell them to go homer' she Or
dered Bob Chang. the rest of you
should be in the house working See
to it,"
The villagers reluctantly dispersed.
Mrs. Tancill shooed the servants
through the main gate of the COM
pound and pointedly closed and locked
it. Christine had picked up a squawl
ing little girl, left behind in the ex-
element, and she took the Chila 70
the veranda for something to eat.
That child is probably diseased"
said Mrs. Tancill as she walked into
the house.
Christine flushed angrily
oh, Ill risk it," she said
Mrs. Tancill was fixing her hair
when the JapS came. Her first warning
was a queer, slap-slap Of feet on the
road outside her window which null
tiplied so rapidly that it sounded like
nn nf loi 1etn II Il
iron gates of the courtyard ratified
timidly, without human clamor. Mrs
Tancill opened her shutters and saw
a great many Chinese pressing against
the gates Their silence was shocking
She looked at the cold. gray twilight
sky toward the southeast and saw the
Jap bombing planes. There were per-
hapS dozen of them in two flights.
They turned their noses eastward and
slid down frosty hill in the sky. The
rumble of their motors was like an
avalanche
Don't be afraid They're just bluff
ing"
Christine ran into the courtyard and
started fumbling at the latch on the
gates.
No, Christine, no! Don't let them
in!"
The first bomb struck while Mrs.
Tanclll was stumbling down the stairs.
The air was suddenly dusty and Mrs
Tancill coughed and the sound of the
explosion met her at the front door,
She CROPPED her way through 1t and
saw that Christine had opened the
gates.
Get outI Scatter! You'll all be"
A mighty wind hit Mrs. Tancill She
felt herself being spun around and
hurled to the floor of the veranda
She lay there and fought for breath
and shook her head, strange, ting
ling numbness gripped her body AS
through a fog OF dancing black and
gray patches she saw Christine crawl
ing up the steps toward her. Christine's
face looked as if it had been frozen
blue; her lips moved in question Mrs.
Tancill could not hear.
You'll all be-youT all be" Mrs.
Tancills mind repeated these words
and could get no further.