Rhondda Leader Maesteg Garw and Ogmore Telegraph

Our Short Serial. The Doctor's Diagnosis. CHAPTER III. Jack had risen and was going to expos- tulate, when the room was lit up by a blinding brilliance which dimmed the light of the lamp, and instantly followed by the crash of thunder, through the loud boom of which they could hear a rending, tearing sound as of splitting timber. What was that? cried the old man, alrruptly sitting up in his chair. The lightning! exclaimed the girl. What an awful flash." "I am afraid it has struck something," said Jack. The old man said he was going out to see, and proceeded to put on his coat. They were still discussing the strange sound, when there was loud commotion in the kitchen, and the next instant a native servant, wild eyed and breathless, dashed into the room. Baas, baas," he cried, the stable is Baas, baas," he cried, the stable is on fire The. lightning has fired it." With a cry, old Jan rushed from the room and out of the house, followed by With a cry, old Jan rushed from the room and out of the house, followed by Jack. When he saw the burning build- ing, he shouted, The horses, the horses The building was one of mud and wattle walls, with a thickly thatched roof of grass, from which the flames now leapt into the air. Some time previously, old Jan had bought a few valuable stud horses, and had temporarily lodged them in this build- ing while he made an extension to the stable to accommodate them. Jack, when he heard the old man's cry, sprang ahead and up to the door. This was shattered and burning, and with a few vigorous kicks sent it flying off its hinges. Snouting to Jan and Louise, who now followed, to keep clear of the doorway. he went in. Opening a large clasp knife which he carried at his belt, lie set about cutting the thongs of hide with which the terrified animals were tied. SNAP-SHOT OF THE SCENE OUTSIDE THE C.M. CHAPEL, TONYREFAIL. LOCAL GENTLEMEN BEING PRESENTED TO H.R.H. PRINCESS LOUISE. Inset—MISS HILL-MALE, WHO PRESENTED H.R.H. WITH BOUQUET AT [Oop.;rigllt, TONYBErm^ Bailey> Tonyrefail The roof burned fiercely and the shed was already full of smoke. As lie cut the first horse free, a piece of the blazing thatch fell with a shower of sparks at his side. The flames leapt up and caught his shirt sleeve, and before he could put it out, had burned it right off, tsearing his arm from wrist to shoulder. But although nearly suffocated with smoke, he pluckily .Y went on liberating,1 the horses, realising the imminent danger of the whole roof collapsing and burying them under the burning mass. As each horse found itself free, it wheeled round and dashed through the open doorway. One had just dashed frantically out, and he was liberating the last, when he heard a piercing scream from the girl. Running out behind the horse, he saw her kneeling; on the ground near the door' beside the prostrate form of her father. What is the matter? lie cried. A horse knocked my father down," she cried. "He is unconscious." Old Jan, thinking that Jack would not release all the horses before the roof caved in, was going to his assistance, and had just got to the door, when the last horse but one came racing wildly out, and before he could get out of the way, hurled him violently to the ground. The last horse had galloped over him. Jack bent over the old man and saw he was bleeding profusely from a cut near the temple. Summoning one of the to hisi assistance, he carried him to the house, where he laid him on a couch, and asked the girl to bring him those things which were necessary to render first aid. He soon stopped the bleeding, and proceeded to search the body for further injuries. He passed his hand inside the breast of the old man's shirt and gave vent to an expressive Ah! "Oh," Mr. Woodcourt! cried Louise, who had been frightened by Jack's word and action, "he is not dead? No, no, Miss Maritz. But he has an injury on the left side. I am afraid he has a broken rib." Oh, my poor dad! moaned Louise. What shall I do? Dear Miss Maritz. don't be alarmed. It is not serious, I hope. We must get your father to bed. and I will then saddle a horse and fetch the doctor." Lifting him in his arms, he carried him to his room and laid him on the bed. With a few sympathetic words and instruc- tions to Louise, he went to the kitchen, which was full of native servants, ex- citedly discussing the event. Singling out the cook or house-boy, lie told him to look after his mistress until his return, and ordered the others to catch and saddle the fastest horse. By this time Jack's burned arm pained him severely. However, throwing on his coat he was soon astride a big, bony horse and urging him along the road. j The storm seemed to have culminated with the terrible flash that struck the stable. Although it still rained heavily, it showed signs of cessation and the sky becaiiie lighter, which enabled him to see the road ahead. Fortunately, there were no drifts to cross, and keeping the horse at a sharp canter, he soon reached the slumbering little town. Jack's knock was answered by the doctor in person. Hullo, Woodcourt," said the doctor, when he saw who it was; what in the name of the furies, who hare been abroad to-night with a vengeance, brings you here at this time of night? Nothing wrong, is there? Not with me, doctor," replied Jack, at the same time thinking of his arm. Briefly he explained what had happened and promised to tell him all about it on the way to the farm. Ah, then you are going back; asked the doctor, wondering what took him back to the faun at that late hour. The doctor's remark surprised Jack. Now that he thought of it, there was no reason why he should go back; but ever since he had started out he had thought of the return journey as a, matter of course. But the fact was, though scarcely conscious of it, he was impelled back to the farm by a mental vision of Louise's beautiful, trouble-clouded face. He decided to make the horse his excuse—for he really sought an excuse. "Yes, doctor," he said, hesitatingly; I am going back. I've lost a horse in a drift and I am anxious to recover my instruments, which are in the saddle-bags. Hurry up, doctor," he added, to stop further questioning. Dr. Campbell was. the first person with whom Jack had become acquainted in the little town. They discovered they had much in common, and a firm friendship quickly resulted. They spent many long evenings together over their pipes in the doctor's retreat. He was Irish, about forty-five years of age, and a bachelor. He was universally popular, and his round, good-humoured face and short, portly figure was irresistibly cheerful. Like Jack, he had been a rambler, but had now been at Maripstadt for three years, and tired of roving, had settled down "to gather moss." They were soon on the road and put the horses to their best pace. Jack related the night's adventures, laughingly concluding that he had been through fire and water." "By jove. Woodcourt," commented the doctor, it is almost as good as your j best! In answer to Jack's inquiry, the doctor told him all he knew about the Maritz's, with whom lie was well acquainted, amusingly commenting on old Jan's idiosyncrasies. In fact, the genial doctor was the only Englishman the old man would tolerate. He always spoke Dutch to him, and his high good humour and Irish witticisms seldom failed to bring a broad smile to his face. Jack's arm became exceedingly painful, and his horse's every stride sent the pain shooting through it with a stab that made him wince. Still, he did not complain, and urged on the horses. It was past one o'clock when they got to the farm, the doctor going immediately to attend the old man, while Jack sat near the fire in the room in which he had talked to Louise. He was completely tired out. The long day in the saddle; his exertions at the drift and the stable the ten-mile ride to and from Maripstadt; and his burned arm, began to tell on him. In about half an hour, the doctor came I in, accompanied by Louise. All that was possible had been done for the patient, and the doctor said he must remain until he recovered consciousness. Louise then came forward to Jack. Allow me to thank you, Mr. Wood- court," she said, with a grateful look, for your kind assistance to us to-night. I don't know what I should have done if you were not here. It seems as if, through your unlucky experience at the drift, Providence had sent you to our aid. I fear I can never adequately express my thanks." Dear Miss Maritz," he replied, ple,ase. do not thank me at all. What assistance I have been able to give> you is the outcome of your own kind hospi- tality." And now, doctor," he added, turning to Dr'. Campbell, if you are, quite dis- engaged, I would be glad if you looked at my arm," and he pushed back his coat- sleeve. Oh, Mr. Woodcourt, you are hurt! exclaimed Louise, as she saw his seared arm. You are a brick. W ooclcourt," said the doctor. Why the devil didn't you show it to me at the house? I wanted you to attend to Mr. Maritz first. He required your assistance much more than I did. It is merely a singeing," he added, as he saw tears in Louise's eyes. "You are brick," repeated the doctor. Off with that coat. A mere singeing, is it? Dbn't think you'll use this arm for a few weeks, Woodcourt." Oh, I am so sorry," said Louise and she looked it, too, as she raised her beau- tiful soft eyes to Jack's. She assisted the doctor to dress his arm, and as she stood near him, her hands sometimes touching his blackened rskin, he became almost oblivious of the pain which the dressing necessitated in the contem- plation of her beauty. He noted the round iN-Iiite throat, the peachy com- plexion of her skin, the long, dark eye lashes drooping over her compassionate eyes, and felt he could bear a hundred dressings to have her" so near him. There you are," said the doctor, as he finished. "You will have to see me again to-morrow." "Mr. Woodcourt," said Louise, "you must, of course, stay here to-night. Mrs. Myers, a friend whom I sent for' while you were away, will prepare a room for you. You need a rest badly, I'm sure. I hope your arm won't pain you very much. I must go back to my father now. Good-night." She exitended her hand, and as he held it and looked into her eyes beaming with gratitude, Jack felt an indefinable sen- sation steal over him. Her touch, seemed to enter every fibre of his being, and they responded to it. Good-night, Miss Maritz. Thank you. You are-too kind," he stammered. "Now then, Woodcourt," said the doctor, who had been watching them in a very interesting manner, "off you go, and you will be as fit as a fiddle in the morning." Jack was glad to retire, and slept soundly all night.

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Porth Chamber of Trade. There was but a moderate attendance at the monthly meeting of the above Chamber on Wednesday evening last, over which Mr. D. M. Jones (Gladstone House) presided. Owing to the unavoidable absence of Mr. Williams (secretary), few matters of importance were dealt with. Apropos of the endeavour of the Chamber to enforce the Shop Hours Act at Porth, the Chairman stated that the consent of nearly all the representatives of trade had been obtained, and it was felt and deemed advisable that the, Act should at once be put into operation. It was therefore resolved that the Secretary should write Mr. W. P. Nicholas, the Clerk of the Rhondda District Council, requesting him to put the Act into force at Porth as soon as possible. The Porth Carnival Committee having requested the Chamber to close the shops on Tuesday in consequence of the carnival, it was thought inadvisable to accede to their request, owing: to the large number of people that would be in town during that day. However, it was decided to leave the closing to the discretion of each proprietor. Mr. John Thompson moved that a letter from this Chamber be written to his Grace the Duke of Argyll and H.R.H. Princess Louise thanking them for so kindly breaking their journey and making a stay at Porth in response to their request." True." the Chairman said. the idea originated with our Chamber, but inasmuch as an independent committee had been appointed, and had very success- fully seen the work through, he thought it their duty to acknowledge his Grace for his kindly consideration in this matter." A motion to leave the matter to the Presentation Committee was carried un- animously. Re Territorials for Porth, Mr. J. T. Jones desired to know why the effort to raise a company had been allowed to fall through. He expressed the opinion that some explanation was due to them. Mr. D. M. Jones concurred, and said it was due to the town as well as the Chamber. "Through some unexplained reason," said Mr. John Thompson, the promise given by Colonel James that a separate company of Territorials would be stationed at Porth has not been carried out, and the recruits who had given their names with a view to becoming members of the said company have now been enlisted at Pontypridd, whilst other recruits have been allowed to cancel their declarations as an alternative to joining the Ponty- pridd Company." Mr. Thompson was of the opinion that the committee originally formed for the purpose of carrying it into effect should again be asked to wait upon Colonel! James; for an explanation, and a resolution to that effect was carried.