THE REFINING FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20891, 5 June 1931, Page 16

THE REFINING FIRE.

Bv DOROTHY SERGEN". -

•lark Bentley moved his ehai' back from the breakfast table and si nigged his shoulders with an impatient gesture. '• Well, what are we going to du about it ?" he (|iiestioiicd. "We can't go on in this bickering way for over." "There is no need for it," curie the quirk retort from his wife Dora, " but if you think 1 am going to remain quietly at home, trying to study your interests whilo you gu flying around Napier countryside with that Baxter grl and her car, then you arc mistaken." "So that s til" bone of contortion is it?" he drawled, "and who told you 1 was with Eileen in the car? Sono mis-chief-maker, I'll wager. ' "Never mind who told me; but if you are so fascinated with her fnd her car, then the best thing I can do is to go homo to mother." '* If you prefer your mother's company to mine, then it is tho best thing to do. It would be useless to try and convince you I was only trying jut her • new two-seater." Dora Bentley winced. Did ho really mean she could go home ? She had .bought 1o bring him to his senses; but—well, if he could part with her so oasil;?, then she would go. " She has her brothers to try siit" her cars," she retorted, " and she cm have You too, if she wants you, and may she study you as I have done. I know," she continued excitedly, " it's her dress and fine cm you are faseinatoc with, and mavbo if I Inul her money 1 could dress, too; but no matter! I fhall at least have peace with mother and not this constant, wrangling. There's been no peace herd since she came on the scene." "Oh, cut it out!" said her husband irritably, "if that's the attitude you take, you had better go to your mother and perhaps she will teach you better Reuse." And without another word ho donned bis hat and left the hotiso. Jack and Dora Bentley had been married a little over five years, anil until six months ago they had led an inruffled life; but at a party one evenirg they had'met Eileen Baxter, a fascinating, welldressed young blonde, who had taken Jack's eye, much to Dora's annoyance. Tho young lady was an only giT with three brothers and doting paret ts—one who usually obtained her objective. From tho beginning shfl reciprocated Jncks notice, fully aware of the young; wife 6 resentment, and decided he was wcrthy of a better woman than Dora, or at least a more up-to-date one, and so set her wiles to attract him. Thus began the bickering at meal times mid while Jack realised what a splendul wife Dora had been, studying lim bofore all things, ho began to he swayed by the other's attentions and wis soon finding faults where none existed, so that when Dora suggested going home to her mother, he snapped at. it as an excuse for his follies. It was n beautiful morning. A brilliant sun shone, from a cloudless sky and while his conscience pricked him for allowing Dora to go, his whole nature thrilled with a sense of freedom and the joy of meeting Eileen openly. Dora would come to her senses, then they would all be happy together again. A holiday ■would do her no harm. lie stepped out more briskly: bin it was indeed hot Not a breath of air stirred the trees. Beaching his oflieo he unlocked the door and went straight to bis room, taking the mail with him. His stuff had not yet arrived, but he would make an early start, before the heat of tho day. A long-distance call together with t.wo interruptions altered his plans, and it half-past ten before he made a definite start. The first letter was urgent an:l must be answered at once. He rang for his tvpis'e. - . ""Take this down, Miss I erkuis, please," he said curtly. A tap at the door interrupted him again. * , , . "Come in," he called irntah.V, but as quickly changed his voice. "J am sorry," lie apologised, rising to his feet. "I'had no idea it. was. you. 1 wont bother now," he added, dismissing the typiste, "you can continue with that schedule." , " Hulloa, Jack," said Eileen Baxter, effusively, when the typiste had "did Dora hear about last night?" ■' Sh" did." said Jack bluntly. "There's been the deuce of a row. She s clearing off to her mother's. " Oh, mv dear, is she really I had nn idea she would take it lik» that. She's tho wrong woman for you, Jack. You should huv" looked higher I ban Dora." " Not exactly that," Jack drawled, lamely attempting to shield liiis wile, "she's a good enough sort, bit —well there, sho isn't quite like you. Eileen sat on the edtre of hi* desk, swinging her legs coquet!ishlv. "You dear old tiling." she said, smoothjng his head caressingly. '1 do leally think we were meant for each other. " Do you really mean that?" lie leptied fervently, pressing her hand to I is lips, the memory of the morning's episode last fading from his mind, ' Ive been a fool. " 1 was too young. I thought I had made a right choice, until you came along. Now I can see mv mistake: hut jt's too late. 1 must not play false." And as if to emphasise his dccuion ho threw the hand roughlv biuH into her lap, pushing his chair away from the desk. .. Eileen uttered low laugh, as i: mocking hifi good resolution. •' You can't throw me away like that. Jack " she said. "Do you think I care what'the world says? I'd stick to you through thick and thin What was that Jack jumped quickly to his feet, and •was as quickly thrown oaek again, while Eileen was thrown face cjownward to the floor. Rending stTeums rent the iir and the thundering noise of collapsing buildings made hearing impossible. Hie eliaii into which Jack hao been thrown was swung back to tho wall. His desk came forward and eventually landed on its back strewing his papers about the floor: the fireplace and chimney came into the room, jamming him in the cban- wi:h one leg caught in a fierce grip- Eileen m >'■( several attempts to re-rain her feet: Out the rocking building made this impossible until she had been well bruised by fall incr debris. l'anic-stricken and witn eyes dilatorl ■with fear, she pulled herself up by t ie handle of the door and made a quick

survey. ''Jack! .Jack!" she screamed, where tre you ? Quirk, trot me out of this. In'a frenzy slip torp at ill" door which refused to npr A gap in the ceiling revpalpd 1110 blue skv abovp. with tin* liright sun disioloui cd )>l<if><! led and black lipyond. wliilp nolhing could lie dificenipd lliidiirrli (110 window. a : •:> 11 'if d'ist rn shrouding 1 li" nticpl. 111 i nii■ vz. another crv pscnppd her. " .Tnck ! Jack !" Hut a groan and 1 tip pclio of li'T hysterical fry was all Hint answered her. Again she torp at the door, which this liuic yipldpd lo lipr frenzied efforts suflificntl'v to allow lipi - lo squeeze tV rough: hut tlip sound of a muffled voice caused 1,,-..- io hesitnte. It was .Tnck. ' Don't go Eileen," bp pleaded ill an pp-onised voipp. not reahVng lo what ex•ton( tlipv were endangered. "On try to shift this off tny leg—oh li half turnpd. " Where arc you, Jack? 1 can't stay. J ltii'st get. out of tliis. What s will we r 1 " jf T am found here ? Are you nuicli 1 ii|"t *" * flint crv of anguish camp from the ]);>'' 1 nr'Pfl "Mill. " Vol ' rn"- I. " hp said faintly. " You fpi '"'iv ""I I-1 v. Somebody will find than—"

A NEW ZEALAND STORY.

icorrniGßT.)

Another rumble and the building shook again to its foundations. Before Jack had finished his sentence, he heard Eileen's screams above the din, grow fainter and fainter as she flew down th 6 corridor to seek safety. The weight on his leg was unbearable and when he attempted to move, the pain was excruciating. If only sho had given hi in a helping hand! Ho could forgive liei fear, but to leave him helpless like this—Dora would not. have done so. The noiso of falling bricks with tho cries and groans of the wounded, still rent the air making it impossible for anyone to hear his cries for help. Had his clerks got out safely? Would they remember him and send help? He could not bear it much longer and what was that horrid smell ? Surely something was burning. He tried to collect his scattered thoughts; but the pain —would no one come to his aid ? What was that roaring noise ? He stirred again. Was that a flame shot past the window? f'f.ricken with fear, he tore at the lapel of his coat. In an agony of mind he closed his eyes, overcome with tho heiit which was penetrating tho walls. As if in a dream, he heard a voice. It was Dora's. "Quick, quick! In this room here. Jack, Ja.:k, answer mo. Jack, it's Dora hero. Yes, hero ho is. Quickly! His leg's jammed. Oh God! Give us time." Thinking it but a dream amid the surrounding turmoil he opened his eyes and there climbing over tho debris was Dora with two firemen. " You, Dora," ho panted, his brain going round in a whirl., " What are you doing here? Go back. You'll get hurt." She took his head in her arms and placed a flask of whisky to hifi lips. " Don't give way, jack. These men will help and every minute counts. The flames are gaining on us." Strong arms removed the terrible weight and he was going up—and up—and up—. It was night, and a bright moon illuminated the countryside, throwing into relief tho hospital beds and stretchers littered about, tho park which had been commandeered by tho relief party to accommodate the wounded from the stricken area. Nurses in their comely uniforms flitted to and fro giving the best of their skill to tho unfortunate sufferers who lay helpless with nought but the stars to shelter them. Iri ono corner apart from the others, a woman was keeping u lonely watch, flitting on u box by tho side of one sufferer. With anxious mien sho watched, aided by the bright, white moon, for the first signs of returning consciousness. Jnvftin did sho strive to keep control of her emotions; but the weird rumbling proceeding every ensuing earthquake coupled with the moans of the sufferers, made it well nigh impossible, and brave as she was, her tears fell. N T evi r was night so lop" or dawn so tardy to break! Earnestly she prayed for .some sign from I lie sleeping figure to show lifo was not extinct, and as if in answer to her ptayer, as the first streak of dawn appeared across the hazy horizon, the man stirred and half opened his eyes. It was Jack Bentley and Dora, his wife, who sat beside him. A faint smile blending with her tears, the young wife bent and kissed him. " Hulloa Jack dear." sho said tenderly, gently smoothing tho fevered brow, " it's Dora here." The man opened his eyes a little wider and frowned as if trying to penetrate Iho gloom. His expression changed to ono of bewilderment when he saw the Other be?ls and tin naked sky above. " What i.oes it all mean ?" ho whispered. Quietly sho told him of tho previous day's happenings, how she and the firemen found hini half buried in his office and saved him before the building was destroyed by fire. In silence ho listened and his faco became drawn with mental pain as his memory returned. After his despicable manner at the breakfast table. Dora risked her life to savo his. whilo that other woman refused him help—. When Dora finished her narrative, he closed his eyes as if to blot out the memory. After a long pause, he squeezed the hand that held bis. " Don't go away Dora," he said with an effort, "Me go away!" she said in surprise. " whero should 1 go?" '■ Bui 1 thought you were going to your mother's." he stammered. She laughed a little miilhless laugh, " So T am going." she rejoined. " but not until they give me leave to lake you too."