Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-07-19
Ne HIoIotOv BreadBosket9F4q '*fsL'"'4-

I say. There are plenty OF good shell.
tiers hereabout"
Jock Benson went up to him, Il hav.
come on business, officer"
"All right, sir Come this way" ant
he was hustled into a corner, behind
table Nov then, what Is your bust.
neSs?"
There is young woman lying dead
at 10 Peter Place" He began his dread
/ statement in a hard, breathless tone
How could he tell his story here, amona
a lot Of terrified people who were talk
ing In loud distraught voices?
us that all?" said the policeman
drily. (Then this young gent, too, was
a coward, who had Just lost his nerve
Business indeedD.
All? Jock stared at him.
The other went on: There's MANY
woman already lying dead near to
the Strand, sir, and likely to be more
babies and children, too-before we're
through with this hellish night. AS for
yesterday which was said to be a
nice, quiet little raid, my own daughter
-" and then he stopped
It was in his official voice that he
began again, IF the person In Peter
Place is dead, poor thing, there's moth
ing to be done. But If you think there's
any life left in her, youn find plenty
of ambulances, as well as doctors and
nurses down in the Strand. All the
same, If was you, I'd wait a bit be-
fore going back. They're still about;
why"
There came long drawn-out Whin-
ing scream. He flung open door be-
hind them Jock had not seen was there,
and pushed him through 1t right into
another room.
Then they heard the same screaming
whine again; and through the half
open door Jock saw with establishment
the small crowd of men and women
who had been in the front room fall
down In strange poStures, some on their
knees. some sideways, some full length,
onto the grimy floor.
Feel all right, sir?"
III think So"
Yet he felt daZed and as If no long
er standing on solid ground
Twas a mercy we got in here be-
fore that happened"
What do you mean?"
To his surprise and, yes, discomfi-
ture, he found he was shaking all over
Because of the blast, of course"
The speakers face was now glistening
with sweat. without knowing it, he
lowered his voice, for there had come
q lull Those folk out there are all
stone dead, and there won't be found
a scratch on any Of theml"
Ill L.. -
seemed to Jock Benson but moment,
four nurses and two white-coated sur
geons were bending over the bodies
seeking in each the breath Of life
which In no case was there.
And then-how ironical it seemed
there came the can Clear"
Nov look here, sir?"
Was the police officer looking at him
now? SuspiciouSly?
He heard himself mutter, "Yes?"
eff I was you, I'd go back to Peter
Place now, and pick up a nurse on the |
way"
II can't do that There are certain
connected with the death
Of the person I've come to report"
The other man came closer up to
him. He shouted, you do what say,
sirl Give in any particulars you feel
ought to be known tomorrow morning.
You can see for yourself that I've no
time to attend to you now"
And as he uttered the word now"
Jock Benson saw an inspector come into
the police station. The man stopped
short at the sight which met his eyes;
then he had short conference with
The two doctors. But when in the far
sher room, taking no notice of Jock
Benson, he plucked the sleeve Of the
police officer, ''See here, Stout? I think
he best thing can do, now, it to
make my way to Villiers street, for
we've got to get this place cleared Of
III those" he hesitated and instead
# the word "corpses," he substituted
creatures"
Then this gentleman can go with /;
vou, inspector, for he comes from Peter (
Place." and the speaker made sign
which he hoped the other would I'M {
lerstand to mean that the young man