Air Wonder Stories, August 1929 — page 89: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AIR WONDER STORIES 183 Beyond Gravity (Continued from page 131) have to wait wntil we have observed his condition before you can see him: Will you please wait in the anteroom? We will call you after the examination.” “That’s right, Joan: dear,” I said, taking her by the arm, “Perhaps Bob should not be disturbed now. Let us. wait.” As we walked toward the end of the Jong ward, I noticed signs of lifé in the forms laying between the sheets on the cots. Nurses here and there were holding glasses of water to the patients’ lips and I felt en- couraged, But Bob Allison had been injured, I re- membered. These men, I presumed, had not. That much out of his favor, yet I could not suppress a feeling that he would live. For what seemed hours, we sat in the anteroom of the government hospital nestling almost under. the rising dome of Point Loma. Joan stared_ straight ahead of her in stony silence, I toyed apprehensively with my helmet. Occasionally the door opened: and nurses entered the room and departed; saying nothing tous. Presently the knob on the door leading out into the field opened and I was surprised to see the portly frame of my- dear friend Senator Allison, enter it. With a stride I was at his side, gripping his hand. Joan sat unmoved. : ; “Jim Holdon!” my friend said, surprised. “Where’s Bob, Jim? Don’t tell me he is—————. Have you seen him,, Jim?” “Well, Frank,” I said. “I cannot say. Joan and I are waiting until he has been examined. But I have a feeling that he'll get along.” “You've seen him, Jim? He asked, staring at me questioningly. Py yee Fane I answered, evading his eyes, “I- T-have seen. him.” "Is that Joan sitting over there, Jim?” he asked, suddenly. : “It is, Frank,” I answered. “She’s taking things pretty hard. Bob stopped to see us in Denver just before the Annihilator took off and was drawn. into the up-draft.” I turned to Joan and nodded. She came forward falteringly. . es “Joan, dear,” I said, placing an arm around her waist. “This is Bob’s father, You remember him, don’t you?” ; “T’m pleased to see you, Senator Allison,” she said, “and I am very glad you are here. I was wondering if you’d come,” “I came as soon as I could,” he said. “You've grown to be a beautiful woman, Joan, You were just a little child when I saw you last back in Washington.” “Thank you, Senator,’ she said, hanging her head modestly, “I’m getting impatient waiting for them to tell me that we can see Robert. Can’t you do some- “thing? This suspense is terrible!” I winked at Senator Allison. His brows went up in understanding surprise. “T want to see him too, Joanie,” he smiled, anxiously, “But I think it best to wait until they call me.” “T think so, too, Joan.” I put in. “Well, alright I'll have to—#—_—”" Before Joan could finish her resigned sentence, the door- opening from the ward swung wide and.a nurse stepped in, smiling. We stared at her questioningly. Her smile made my hopes race high. “Lieutenant. Allison is doing nicely,” she said. “You may see him now.” She beckoned: us to follow her. Not knowing what to expect, we walked tensely through the door and into the ward. The cots were filled: with sitting and-reclining men, some smoking and chatting with their friends. How quickly they had cast off the death-like embrace of unconsciousness, I thought as-we walked between the: rows of cots. Finally the nurse halted in front of a door beyond the ward and stood by while we entered. I held Joan back just inside the room, while. Senator Allison walked noiselessly to his son's bedside, Bob lay motionless and pale and_I was: suddenly filled with fear. Joan sobbed softly. Senator Allison bent over and kissed his son’s white forehead, sudden tears streaming down his cheeks, A lump rose in my throat and I-looked away. I felt tempted to take Joan by the arm and. hustle her from the doorway. -It-would be very hard to. look upon the death mask that I felt had closed Bob’s eyes forever, and in reverence I wanted to depart and leave his father alone with him. I lifted my hanging head and looked out into the hallway for an instant and then Joan tugged at my arm. I turned. There was a movement under the bed coverings as Bob lifted a hand out of their confines. His eyes opened and closed weakly as his hand met his father’s shaking palm. “Dad!” he said, weakly. ‘“You’ve.come!” “Yes, son,” his father whispered. “I flew here as fast as I could. How do you feel, Bob?” “Oh, Til get along alright, dad,” he managed to smile. “My chest pains. a little, but that’s to be ex- pected. Have you seen Joan Holdon?” “T have, son,” Senator Allison replied with a happy grin. “She’s here waiting to see you.” Joan flew from my arms to the bedside and kneeled down beside it, sobbing. “Joan!” Bob cried, softly. “I’ve been hoping you would come.” “Oh, Robert!” she sobbed, “You don’t know what I’ve gone: through——with you hurt and beyond my reach. It’s been so terrible!” “Everything is alright now, Joan,” he whispered, placing a hand on her head and lifting her face up to him. “T think it was rude of me to get hurt after asking to take you to a dance with me. Perhaps. you will dance with me later, Joan——will you?” Senator Allison motioned me to follow him out of the room, We stepped out as Joan kneeled closer. “Yes, Robert,” she said, blushing, “T’ll dance with he through life if you will hurry and get well. “T can’t help but get well now, Joan dear.” Bob smiled happily. THE Enp Aes a rye Purr r