Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-09-18

UdldIlCeu. II BeC Out dlOle heep
away"
The last words we're as peremptory
as her own had been. Mollie retreated
instinctively. The driver was already
backed against the cliffs bank. The
passenger spoke to Mollie.
Listen. I've got to save my breath.
I've got my right leg and left arm to
fall back on. Stand back against the
cliff-and don't move whatever hap
pens
The next five minutes seemed to
Mollie Pearce the hardest and certain
ly the longest she had ever known.
The passenger was right about the
cars balance 1t was flimsy thing,
travel-worn, mud-stained, and five or
six years old. The drivers exit from
it had been merely the effort of an
active and uninjured man who had
only to make a long step from his
seat through the door and up three or
four feet to the roadway above him.
1t had been hastily and without much
caution, and it must have loosened the
cars precarious perch against a tree
whose trunk was none too strong at
best and was now badly weakened by
the recent impact.
The passenger, who had been sitting
at the right of the driver before he
was thrown forward, was now back in
his place on the seat. He edged his
way with infinite care and difficulty
along the seat, under the wheel, and to
the cars open left door. And, by some
miracle Of patience, caution, strength
and will power, he eaSed himself out
of the almost lettering car and
reached up toward the roadway. Even
the cars late driver left his safe ref
uge against the cliffs bank and took
a step forward as he watched this
maneuver
But he stopped there as the injured
mans words came to him.
keep back! I-know-just how
can-do this"
Even in that moment Mollie was
glad the driver had made the effort
though he had checked it so soon. He
had at least experienced and obeyed
one decent impulse. He was not wholly
bad. He was now proving that again
by the unWinklng gaze with which he
followed the passengers slow, lnfln-
itely careful movements. He even
edged a few inches closer to the car, as
if to give hand at the crisis. But the
passenger needed no hand till he lay
painting on the road. Then the driver
took the remaining steps to him, and
with surprising strength and efficiency
got him to Mollie's car and into its
front seat. That job finished, he pro-
duced a battered flask and another
grin.
"Swig some of that while I change
the tire he said to his companion as
casually as if nothing unusual had &C.
CURED; and then added under another
humane impulse, Il bet you need it!'
1t was very clear that the young
man in the seat did need it. His face
was livid and wet with sweat. He took
a long pull at the flask, handed it
back, slumped into the right corner of
the seat, shut his eyes and set his
teeth. Mollie turned to the driver.
Can I help you with that tire?"
Nope. Better get in with him and
sing him lullaby"
Mollie got into the roadster very
carefully. Its front seat was wide and
she was small and slight. She would
sit between the two men and let the
older one drive. There would be plenty
of room.
Anything I can do" she asked the
younger man anxiously.
mo, thanks. -whisky-helps a
lot"
Mollie looked back through the rear
window. She had been conscious of the
lacking up of the roadster, of the rat
tie of the tools as the man behind her
emptied her tool chest on the road. He
was working very fast and was evil
IDENTIFY skillful. In an incredibly short
time he replaced the tire with the
spare that had hung on the back rack,
and restored the tool chest to its
place under the seat.
In another moment he was in the
roadster beside her, his hands, stained
with the oil and dirt he had not
troubled to wipe off, grasping the
wheel. He was an expert driver. Mollie
realized that with relief, as he ma