Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-02-24

estimating the probable loss TO the own
or involved in its destruction, and de-
batting whether or not he deserved to lose
ii. Women with shawls thrown hastily
over their heads, and little children, with
treth chattering in spite of the furnace Of
ire near, cutching at their gowns, stood
in pairs, laughing and talking, and max
ing the most of show which the small
village seldom afforded, Tho fussy lit
tie engine, which camo rat.ling to the
scene, was of no avail, Its water was
only thrown upward to be sent back u
/ puff Of steam by the intense heat.
Suddenly, loud, hoarse shout was
heard in the distance and the crowd,
1 turning their heads from the dazzling
light, saw, coming down the long hill
which led to the mill, man who stood
upright in sleigh and lashcd his horse
ruriously onward. 1t WAS Mr.. Hurley.
Down the white, smooth slope came the
horse with flying leaps over the snow
lle reached the mill, and Mr.. Hurley
spraug out. While tho horse cureered
wildly past, his owner graspod by the
arm stout bearded man, who came to-
wards him, and said, in voice husky
with excitement:
Whore is She, Holmes Safe I"
Safe ?" returned Holmes. Who?'
"Is-" tho workman stopped his Jaw
dropped : white scared look crcpt over
his rough features.
Good God I" yelled MIR. Hurley,
dorcely. Ilavo you men stood here
and let the child burn up with the mill ?
Did you know Lilly was fast asleep in
the office ? Hero, this way /"
Only the forcible efforts Of Holmes and
others, prevented tho moddoned father
from rushing insancly into the blazing
mass.
Let me 60 !" no shouted, struggling
in the strong arms which held him fast.
- Let me go, | tell you. Would you
have mo stay here, and my little glrl
burning, scorching, dying there You
won't ? Then hore mon, look here to
the ono that will go in, and bring our
Lilly from the Office, pledge my word,
before God, | will give ten thousand dol
lurs I"
There's a fortune for bravo man,
at one stroke. I'd go myself if these
fools would let me. Come ara you
towards ? Ton thousand dollars ! ten
thousand to the man that saves her p
a few started forward, ard then shall-
ing their heads, shronk back into the
crowd again. The risk was too great.
Risk? 1t was no risk it was certain,
horrible death.
With the exception Of u narrow space
on the upper story, at the rear, tho whole
building was now wrapped in tamcs.-
Over door in this small dark spot, as
get untouched by the roaring, raging
Gend, which whirlcd and eddicd around
| il, and seemed every momont about to
engulf it in its red throat, II short beam
ran out, with pully fixed to its end. 1t
WAS used for hosting up the long bags of
wool in tho store-room up to the pckors
in the attic.
This door suddenly opened and a man
staggered to the threshold SO abruptly,
that he barely missed topping over. lie
appeared like vision to the astonishod
eyes of the upLurned faces below, who
surgcd round to obtain a full view OF him.
How did he get there by what mi
raculou3 power had human being been
able to pass through fire without being
burned For the man appeared TO be
unhauned, though evidently cholleG and
blinded by the sulphurous clouds OF
smoke around him.
With breathles5 interest his move
ments we're watched by the people be-
low. He was half carrying half drag
pinc, after him small figure whose
Golden hair lloated out over his shoul-
ders in wayy masses. A great deep
cheer was borne up to the mans ears,
through tho black smoke and cracking
aane, as the crowd saw he held Lilly
Hurley in his arms.
But was he not too late? Tho fire
above him, below, and even behind,
shot out forked tongues, as if reaching
out after him -maddened to think he
might escape its fury after all.
Can we help him ~ each man ask
ed his ncghbor eagerly. "A ladder !!
A ladder 2" Alas A ladder would not
reach half the required height.
Meanwhile tho man above was not
idle. Reaching out to the end OF the
beam over his head, ho drew in the
tackle towards him, and then after u
second let itswing slowly out. A thrill,
and then "a hushed and anxious muir
mur, ran through the crowd as they
saw he was lowering human freight
The man above hold tho rope in his
hand, and he paid it out swiftly. Low
or and lower, the golden tipped red
bundle camo down, till it reached the
level Of the hundred arms held up to
receive ii. Then another great shout
went up. The little girl was saved In
the general "nlIl Ol JVJ '"O ''"" ""9
forgotten for the moment. He was
quickly remembered, however; but as
all eyes were turning up to him again,
a gust Of fire swept from the crater be-
hind him, and hid him from view.-
Then the flame rolled slowly back, and
they saw him wildly, blindly clutching
at the rope. Then another molten hood
rushed over him, and shudder OF hor-
lor thrilled the crowd, as dark form
shot out Of the flame, and, descending
smiftlv. fen with sickenng thud on