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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1939-12-21, Page 21| WINGHAM ADVANCE-TIMES Round eyes to Jan’s face. “May 1 play Rvuh your kitty t" R Jan drew the youngster down be- Ricie her and, opened (the basket. Pus- Rypuit obligingly stood on his hind Regs and waveu two tat paws, 'Helen Raughed in childish delight and tried ■to pronounce “Pussy-puit” after Jan. ■They roniped contentedly for. the next ■hour. ■ With maddening slowness the time ■dragged on after that. Some time dur- ■ing the afternoon —- Jan had given up ■looking at, the clock — a motherly ■looki'ng woman came over and sat be- ■side her. Jan looked up and smiled, ■and htey talked a while. The woman ■seemed perfectly calm, only 'her hands ■twisting' a handkerchief, showed her ■restlessness. She said finally: I “This waiting is so terrible. I was ■hurrying <to my daughter. They told ■me her baby is expected tonight." I Jan, ashamed of her own impa- Itience, said softly: ■ “Born on Christmas Eve! What a ■lovely birthday. You mustn’t worry.” ■She returned the tired Pussy-puff to Ihis basket and patted the broad ■shoulder next to her own. I After a while the woman moved ■away and Jan tried walking up and ■down in front of the little station. ■The snow seemed to. have lightened, ■although the sky was still grey. The ■wind was rising, Jan thought, as she llistened to its shrill whistling. She ■was glad enough to get in out of the I cold again. I “Doesn’t that telephone ever ring?” (somebody asked, when it seemed that I the silence in the little room was be- | coming unbearable. I “It’s getting dark,” muttered some- I one else. “Be here all night, folks, I guess,” the boy -behind the counter said cheerfully. “Can’t work on that bridge after it gets dark.” The telephone rang. Everybody straightened as the bus driver.took down the receiver.I “Yeah . , Good . . Okay . . I get it." , He hung up the receiver and start ed for the door. “The bridge is safe. Come on, folks. Step on it. Got to make up for lost time.” Everybody, relieved and laughing, scrambled into the bus after him. It was like getting home to be settled again - in the soft seat. Jan leaned back contentedly. The stout mother ly woman was in the seat ahead;.Hel en and her mother and father were well up toward the front. The bus was making good time. It was quite dark now. In the path of light, made by their, headlights, Jan could see that the snow was still sift ing down: Apparently the road was covered with drifts; the bus lurched occasionally and once, as it swayed around a sharp’ turn, ithe red-faced man muttered a protest under his breath. The driver did not slacken his speed, however. Looking at his broad back, Jan’s sense of security deepened and the heavy purring of the motor gradually lulled her into a. sort of waking dream. tor,” he said grimly. “Don’t crowd her,” someone put in, get back, all of you,” “Keep your seats," the driver ord ered. “i’ll get out and put flares on the- road.’’, “How far are we from Moose Riv er?” asked the middle-aged man. “About fifteen miles," said the driv er, “and it’s ten miles back to Val- leyville. Can't walk either way in this snow.” “Young man, do we have to stay here all night?” The mother of Helen sounded outraged, “Maybe they'll look for us,” the motherly woman put in. “Unless the storm gets worse,” said Helen’s mother, gloomily. The driver clambered out and they ’saw him, presently, floundering through snow up to his k'nees. He disappeared in the darkness rbeyond their lights, but after a few minutes they saw the flicker of a match and suddenly, as the kerosene caught, a wavering flame shot up and silhouett ed his bulk against the snow. They followed him with fascinated eyes as he lit another flare beside the bus, and craned their necks to look through the back window as he strug gled for about ten feet behind them, where he placed a third signal light. They were all quieted when he re turned, puffing and shaking the snow 1 from his clothes. The young husband stroke his wife’s tear-stained cheek as her head rested against his shoulder. The eerie whine of the wind seemed louder, mocking them, blowing the snqw in fitful gusts against the win dows. Helen began to cry. “You said we were going to visit Santa Claus,” she said accusingly to her mother. Jan sat silent, feeling helpless in the face of thi^ disaster. Pussy-puff mew ed plaintively and Helen, hearing the faint sound, made her way ^slowly along the slanting floor. , “May I play with the kitty again?” she asked in a subdued voice. Jan made room for her beside the basket and gave her a handkerchief to dangle in front of the little wire-cov ered door. In a few minutes his an tics had the child laughing gleefully. “He likes me,”-Helen said shyly, looking up at Jan. “Of course he does,” cried Jan warmly. “We all like you — you’re such a good little girl.” But she sigh ed as she turned back to the window, now frosted over in grotesque pat terns. In must be-freezing .outside, A shriek from Helen sta'rtjed her and she turned quickly to. discover that the child had unfastened the bas ket door and that Pussy-puff was leaping in his new-found freedom from one chair back to another. “( .................. away.” . “Oh, please—” Jan turned < to the other passengers. “Help me catch him."Glad of something to relieve the monotony, the occupants' of the bus, for the most part, joined in the pur suit — at least they made futile grabs for the cat as he flitted by. Pussy puff thought that they were playing and entered into the spirit of the thing,-flying through the air when a hand came too close, eluding a too- confident gesture with feline facility. Helen’s tinkling laughter was soon echoed in guffaws from the men and finally everybody, even the bride — now lying quietly in her husband s arms — was smiling. . At last Pussy puff was caught0and put back into his basket. „ , . ,,, “The child’s right," the middle-aged man said suddenly, “What are we so downhearted about? It’s tough, of course, to be marooned hefe, but it won’t be forever. After all, we’re warm and can 1b© comfortable for a tUIn the silence that followed, Jan impulsively began to sing. Just the chorus of her gay Jingle Bells song, under her breath. Then, as she finish ed, she was startled at the burst of applause. She looked around diffi- ^“That’s the ticket, sister,” cried the bus driver. “Give us a little Christmas cheer."“It is Christmas eve,” said Jan. “Come on up here," invited the bus driver, “where people can see you. Take my seat.” Laughing, Jan made her way to the front of the bus ’and leaned against the back of the driver’s, seat as he made way for her. She did not know iwhat a picture she made as she stood there, hatless, her dusky hair loosened a little and lying softly against the collar of her green coat. Her golden eyes were dark with excitement. “I won’t sing alone," she laughed. 111 UllC Uli Uli IMUA vu auuuivi. . ' ’ . * 2, <Ooo-h!” shouted Helen. “He got . he began, trying to ignore the obvi- _ i, . .. 0 OUS interest in the vounsy man’s eves. Chapter XXVI .With her eyes closed, Jan pictured the scene when a few miles further on she would reach her destination. She would phone Brad immediately. It was heart-warming to think of his pleasant voice, of the .way he would take command. She co'uld almost hear his admonition to stay right where she was until he .could come to her . . The bus with a sudden lurch slid sideways; ;the bride screamed.' In-. stinctively,Jaii felt for the arm of the seat with one hand and braced herself o as she reached for Pussy-puff’s slip ping basket With the other. The bus seemed to hang suspended for a second as if undecided whether or not to turn over. Then, slowly, so that Jan felt she could almost see the wheels sink gently into the snow cov ered ditch, the bus tilted to one side and lay there, panting. The driver cut his engine and turned around to face his passengers — a discouraged sag to his shoulders. “Well.— that’s that. Of all the rot ten luck I” Through the sudden babble of voic es the middle-aged man made himself heard."You mean we’re off the road?”( “In a ditch,” said the driver wearily. The Bride gave a low moan. “I — I think ply arm’s broken," she whimp ered. Immediately the bus was in an up roar, The travellers Stumbled and fell over each other as they tried to make their way to the girl on the. tilted, floor. The . young husband tried to keen them back. “No one touches her except a doc- “Everyone must join in,” In the embarrassed pause, that fol lowed, the motherly woman began softly in a }varm contralto: “We Three King of Orient are,” Jan nodded, raising her hand to mark the ryhthm. “Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field-and fountain, moor and moun tain, Following yonder star . . O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright—” Jan’s valiant young voice drew the less confident voices in its wake. Those who did not know the words hummed, and even the bus driver, catching the tune, bellowed loudly: “De-da da-de da-de'da!” ■until the bus was filled with sound. When the old simple tune had come to an end everybody felt better. Jan, looking around at the brightened fac es, thought a minute. “Let’s try ‘God rest ye merry gen tlemen,’ ” she began, and the others chorused heartily, “Let nothing you dismay,” After that they tried “Silent Night” getting some really good harmony from the middle-aged man and moth erly woman. Everyone was pleased with the effect and with one accord began to sing it again. The little bride smiled from the cir cle of her husband’s arm. The moth erly woman spoke for all of them when she' said: “It’s going to be a real nice Christ mas, after all.” Chapter XXVII Surprisingly enough the lights of the village did not seem to come any closer. Tony tried desperately to, see if a road led off from the main high- ' way, which, evidently, ran some dis tance from the town, but the soft un broken snow effectively concealed any such road, even if there were one. He went on more slowly, fearful that he had failed in his mission. . The little wayside stand before which he finally drew up did not seem firm enough to withstand the fury of the wind that rushed at him as he op ened the door. He ducked his head and plunged through the snow, burst ing into the brilliantly lighted room, propelled by the gale behind him. “You’d better shut that door, mis ter,” the young man tending the coun ter said brusquely, “it’s one freezing night!” Tony, still blinded by the light, felt his face tingle with the sudden warmth. H6 found a stool in front .of the counter and took off his snow laden hat. “You can give me a cup of coffee," ous interest in the young man’s eyes. “It certainly is bad weather. Do you suppose that the buses try to get through on a night like this?” “Oh, sure. Nothing stops them,” settling himself for a long and, to Tony, unwelcome monologue. “You see, they’re so heavy they can hold the road when a car like yours or mine miight go into a skid. Say, I’ve seen them go by this station forty- five miles an hour on a road so glas sy you wouldn’t believe it!” “Make it short,” Tony interrupted. “Just tell me if the last bus went through.” “Sure, about two hours ago. But, as I wds sayin’—” “Two hours ago?” “Yeah. They was late on account of the bridge bein’ unsafe—” “They had to go over a bridge that wasn’t safe?” “I’m try in’ to tell you. The^bridge got fixed.” Tony gave a sigh of relief. “But they never did get to the next station. Had a call from Moose Riv er an hour or so ago. Must have been some sort of accident.” As if there’d been a bomb under it, Tony leaped from his stoOl, sending both cup and saucer flying to the floor. His steel grey eyes seemed to bore straight through the young man, whose smile suddenly disappeared from his lips. “You fool!” Tony shouted. “What do you,mean by standing there grin ning like a hyena? Why didn’t you tell me there’d been an accident When I first came in? Where was the ac cident? How badly were they hurt?” “Say, mister," the young man Said aggrievedly, “I’m no receiving set! Just an accident, that’s all they told me. Somewheres along the road . But the last words were lost on Tony as he slammed out oj the sta tion and flung himself into the car. The next minute, careless of drifting snow, He was driving headlong ar ound, hairpin turns arid down the steep grades of the mountain road. Just in front of his headlights he could’ see Jan's face, framed m soft waving hair that reached her should ers. , Sometimes she seemed to be smiling and at other times he could swear her golden eyes were looking, pleadingly at him. Accideint! Why had he ever allowed her to think foj a minute that he was not in a position to take care of her? Even on that last night, why hadn’t he turn ed to her and begged her forgiveness? He had talked’like an idiot, Tony told himself bitterly; he .had allowed her to think that he really wanted to be mistaken for his own chauffeur, when actually he had just found it amusing for a while, Well, it was amusing now, wasn’t it? If only he could see her, speak to her, just once more! Above the hum of his motor, labor ing through the heavy snow, an alien sound reached his ears, A moan? A cry? Tony slowed down for an instant, straining to hear over the roar of the wind, Perhaps it was just that he had heard. But no, it was something else. It sounded like music . . . but of course that was impossible in this lonely waste! He topped the next hill and saw the road stretching out emp tily- before him. But now the strange sound carrie through more clearly Singing! The gratitude that enveloped Tony made him realize how miserably sure he had been that he would come upon a silent and frighteninig scene. Of course Jan, brave as she was, would .sing in the face of disaster. But as the chorus swelled louder and he heard many voices joined with hers, he was definitely resassured. “O come, all ye faithful, Joyful tand triumphant—” As the beautiful old hymn rolled forth toward him Tony felt that he wanted to sing, too. He could see the bus now, like a small lighted ship, outlined by its three flares — a warm spot of hope in that vast snow-cover ed waste. “Hello, there! Are you all right!” The color left Jan’s face as she real ized whose voice it was that hailed from outside the bus. Before the driv er could move she had flung open the door and reach out her hand to draw him into the little friendly circle of peopl who had kept the long, lonely vigil together. “Tony!” For a few minutes questions and answers flew thick and fast from each of the passengers. Tony finally held up his hands helplessly, and explained that he had only heard of their trouble a little while before and had not yet had time to discover whether or not the reserve crew was already under way. But, he assured them, his car was there. Moose River was only a few miles away and he would go for help at once. He and the bus driver discussed it briefly and it was settled that this was what he should do. Tony had not dared look at Jan since that first searching glance for fear that he would take her in his arms. But now .he turned to her. “You will come with me?” he ask ed. “You’re going on to Moose River?” was all she said. Tony nodded. Jan, walking back to get Pussy-puff’s basket and her own bag, saw the stricken look on the young bridegroom’s face. Immediate ly she turned back to Tony and ex plained to him that the bride's arm was broken, and that the quicker she had medical attention the better. Tony agreed at once to take them along too. ‘“Do you suppose that they have a doctor—” began the young husband. “Oh, yes. I'll call Dr. Curtis as'soon as we get to Moose River. He’s at his winter camp near there,” Jan ex plained. Tony looked at her, the sudden re alization that she had been going.to Brad Curtis darkening’his eyes, He scarcely heard the driver’s admoni tions as he helped transfer the lug gage and put the honeymooners in the back scat. . So Jan had not been running away from him; she had been running to Brad Curtis. He, Tony, had lost out after all! s Chapter XXVIII The air had cleared, now and from somewhere behind the clouds a brill iant silver of moon''illuminated their path with sudden glory. They drove on in silence for a while, Jah’s