Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-01-08

Corporal Trim was waiting, in
strained silence. And very soon came
what he had been waiting for, the
ominous chug-chug of enemy raiders
overhead
Il wonder if we ought to go to that
shelter, Gertie? 1 mean the one that's
just round the corner?"
He spoke in a low voice, almost as
if he thought the Nazi airmen could
hear him.
Il hate shelters! I went to one once,
and that was enough for me. If I
have to be killed, I'd much rather die
comfortably up here"
She spoke SO lightly that he felt a
bit ashamed His little Gertie was a
sport, and no mistake!
Il expect you're right" he said
quietly
And then she gave cry of surprise,
for great white sheet of flame was
slowly floating down just over the
geological gardens.
Hardly knowing what they were
doing, they leapt off the chair. and
retreated automatically further into
the room The huge flare lit UP the
whole of it, making it as light as day.
1t threw into sharp relief, against the
silver papered walls, the heavy mahog-
any furniture, and caused the sub
stantial brass rails of the bed Just be-
hind them to CLEAN like gold.
After few minutes they moved for
ward to open the window
They could see every building. every
cage. every path. in the gardens far
below. Shadowy forms hurried hither
and thlther, and piteous plaintive
cries. and deep roars. made a terrify-
ing accompaniment to what were still
distant bombs.
A few automobiles began running
along the broad roadway, and Here
comes those horrid tiger killers!" cried
Gertie
The brilliant glaring white light
went out as quickly as it had appeared,
leaving the room in semi-darkness.
Then. all at once. and as if just below
their feet, came a shattering explo-
sion. A huge high explosive bomb had
fallen in the center Of the ZOO.
The two closed windows blew in.
each pane of glass shivering into
hundred pieces. The door of the room
was flung open as if by a giant
hand; and the house shook.
Clinging to one another. and while
each unconsciously waited for death,
the girl-wife's mind began working
quickly. painfully. OH why hadn't
she been kinder to her darling Tom?
Why had she waited SO long. all that
first dreary winter of the war, before
she had consented to be married? She
thought of their two short times to-
gether, the weeks honeymoon in a
cheap hotel at Brighton, and two days
here, with Auntie Crabtree watching
~ IN 1., IL.
selfish and unkind both times. while
Tom had been so kind and unselfish.
She told herself that if they got
through this fearful night alive she
would be quite different.
At laSt-it was only a few minutes
the barrage started. bringing comfort
to the heart of Corporal Trim, for
not even in France had he heard such
. heavy firing as was produced by the
London barrage tonight.
On to the geological gardens itself
fell II more bombs. and hundreds Of
incendiaries, setting fire to everything
that would burn. Terribly near. now
and again. would also come the sound
of house crashing to the ground.
At last the All Clear sounded. and
ominOus hum OF the enemy planes died
away, and Gertie lifted her fair head
from the broad breast on which it had
been resting
She looked round. Look" she CRIED.
oh, look. Tom? A lot of the ZOO Is,
burning-oh, how awful, how terrible
it looks!"
They both moved forward timor-
ously. And then half to herself she
muttered, Il wonder what happened
to Mr.. Green's tigers?"
as frightened as I was" he said
Simply.
At last they went across to the wide
open door. Through the high window
giving on to the staircase they could
see the glare caused by great fires,
one seeming to them both most peri
lousy near
And then Corporal Trim. flashing
his torch on to the walls and ceiling of
the large room, was astonished to see
no assures or cracks anywhere on
the smooth silvered surface. That
London house. built over a hundred
years ago, during the gay days of the
Regency, stood four-square as solid,
he told himself. as was old England
herself
The aWesome fear and horror which
had filled this soldier who had lust
been decorated for a conspicuous act
of valor left him completely. 1t was
as if he was filled with eXultation, and
! the strength Of Hercules. All the same,
and all the more, this was a funny
KIND of leave, wasn't it? His Gertie
had been as brave as brave. Still, she
must be feeling bit queer now it was
all over Sadly, ruefully. he remem-
bered how he had longed for tonight
cl, T;++
thing. and he was a tall chap Look
here. ducky, I expect you're wanting
bit OF rest after all this hullaballoo?
So III make myself scarce"
She threw herself into his arms
Why Tom. I'll feel awful lonesome If
you go away from me- Her voice
grew low and tremulous, II want you
with me every second of your Sc hours
leave. You don't know how I've lain
wide awake night after night, just
pining for you to be there"