The Wilmington morning star., 1947-12-19
Secret t.8@n&{2YINOON
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CHAPTER TWENTY-SK

CHAPTER TWENTY-sIx
Cathy caught her breath on a
little gasp as there was a haro
pounding on the front door, ano
then a mans voice called loud
| " "Miz Westbrook! Hi, Miz West
brook-are you all right?
Cathy stumbled to the front
door and opened it upon their
next : door neightbor, Wilbur
Krantz, in shirt and trousers
| his feet bare, his face white with
excitement. :.
"Must a hit somewhere ir
town. There's fire-see
there? he babbled swiftly
Wanted to see if yall were all
right. I'm going in to town to
sec if I can be of any help
must be bad there. Reckin they
cot the full force. Wasn't that
some wind?
Cathy and Maggie stared, as
the man raced away, at the red
dish glow toward town that was
deepening and growing more
onninous every moment.
lightning! said Maggie in g
SOFT. terrified breath. rs M e
Il 'ngs been hit.
Cathy said swiftly, eyes, anc
I'm like Mr.. Krantz, Maggie -
I'm going in to see if ! can be
of any help. If that storm struck
the town in full force, then
there's work there for every
body that can lift his hand.
The thought that there might
be people who needed her help
rallied Maggie as nothing else
could have done.
eyes, of course. Ill get my
first aid kit, Cathy. and get
some clothes on. Can vou start
the Betsy-Bug? she painted
Cathy assented and ran out in
to the darkness.
The rain was still falling, but
more gently now. the sort OF
rain that farmers and people
cherished gardens had prayed
for for weeks; a slow gentle
soaking rain that would revive
i thirsty flowers and vegetables
But it would not be of much
service in putting out a stubborn
fire, Cathv told herself soberlv
as she swung open the garage
door and coaxed the sleeping
Betsv-Bug tn reluctant life.
All up and down the little sub
urban street lights were flash
| ing on, and peonle in all stages
of dress and urdress were hud'
died on verandas and at open
windows. There was the sound
of many faithful cars of the tvpe
and vintage of the Petsv-Rug be-
ing broupht to life. Excited
voices called to each other for
news: rumor grew in a breath
and advanced at leaps and
bounds. Mr.. Krantz roared off
in his reconverted ieep as Mag
gle and Cathv drove out Of their
driveway and into the road: and
bv the time they had turned to-
ward town. thew had become
one of a rapidlv lengthenine row
of cars. ell heading toward town
where the angry red glow in the
skv was growing more and
more ominous.
"Mv saints and stars
breather Maggie. as they
reached the edge ot town. 'That
fires in Frog Hollow, Cathy.
Those shacks will burn like tin
der. and two and three families
all scrouged up in each one OF
them!
BY now they could guage
something of the extent of the
storms havoc. 1t had cut
through the town sideways,
catching the main part of the
business section. the modest
middle-c1ass homes on its edge.
some of the finer homes, and
cutting a wide swath through
the very heart of Frogtown.
which was Cypressvilles
equivalent of the sluns of a
larger city.
Because of their sturdied con-
struction, the more substantial
buildings in town had suffered
only broken window lights and
shattered electric signs; some
fine old trees that had been
carefully preserved by the civic
minded Garden Club had been
uprooted. But smaller, older
structures Law in ruins. Homes
were crushed as though by a
giants fist. Here and there
among the ruins fires smolder-
ed: defective wiring had
yielded to the storms fury; a
gasoline tank. struck by light
ming, had added its own horror,
and everything within a wide
radius of it was In flames
There were people scurrying
about like animals. stunned by
the unexpectedness and the fury
| of the storm; men and women,
some in night clothes and bare