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Bates, Arlo, 1850-1918

"The Puritans"


"Take him away from me!" she shrieked hysterically in mingled terror
and repulsion.
"Gently, gently," said one of the men who held her. "He's got killed
tryin' to save yer."
"If this cut in his arm was in your back," remarked the other, who was
unlocking the hands so strongly clasped behind her, "it'd 'a' been a
finisher."
Her head reeled, and she nearly swooned again; but somehow she found
herself released, and passed down from the car into the arms of more
men.
"For God's sake, hurry," one of them said. "It's getting too hot to
stand here."
A blistering puff of smoke enwrapped her as she went down. She saw a
face blackened and ghastly advance in the flaring light of a lantern.
Hands that seemed to come out of a cloud and a great darkness helped
and sustained her, until she was out of the instant press beside the
burning car. When once she was free and stood upon her feet, she
regained something like self-possession. Her head swam, but she
realized the situation and felt that she was able to help herself.
"I am not hurt," she said to those who would have assisted her. "Don't
mind me.


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