Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-01-23
We'll, I thought something was the

|
his stupid presence pom anybody again
that dav. He hoped to be in better trim
in the morning.
So a servant was called to conduct him
up stairs; and then, after very delici-
Gus little repast, which Miss Mortimer
(Heaven bless herD had no doubt pre-
pared with her own hands, he flung him
self on the bed, and fell asleep.
| The bedroom was front one, and the
windows were open. Our hero was
awakened once, a long while after, by a
mans voice outside, and then he heard
Miss Mortimer say
| "Wby father! how late you ARE; and
where is Bertie?'
And Mr.. Mortimer's reply,---
! 81 haven'1 seen him for some time. I
thought he was home; he was down at
the works with Harvey's boys at FIVE
o'clock. He'll come along wien he gets
ready, l reckon"
Then the young soldier fell asleep once
more.
1t must have been an hour or more af-
ter this that he found himself suddenly
wide awake again, with the impression
that there was something unusual going
on. TWAS quite dark in the room now.
There were hurried footsteps outside his
door, and confused anxious voices below.
He went to the door and asked what
was the matter. A servant answered,
with quivering voice.
The works is all afre; and Master
| Bert he can't be found nowhars!"
He put. on his coat. and went down
stairs. A carriage had just drove off, and
there was no one there except two fright
ened servants. Over the trees he could
see glare and smoke, and he hurried
off down the path.
Down at the Mortimer Works an ex-
cited crowd OF men and women were
| standing about, looking up at the dark
windows of the large mill. The doors
had been opened below, and an attempt
made to reach the uppermost story, where
the fire was; but no one could get above
the third floor. The smoke drove them
| back.
Meanwhile, away up ander the roof the
flames were now showing themselves g.;
and then, at the window of the corner
room, Master BERTHE suddenly appeared
at the window and held his head far out
while the smoke, though as vet in no
great volume, was all about him.
The room had been used as sort of
lumber room, and was generally kept
fastened. The boy had been hiding
there from his playfellows just before the
works closed, and had fallen asleep.
There was but one room between him
and the fire, and this room was now 80
full of smoke that it would have been
certain death by slffocation to enter it..
There was no way of escape but by the
windows.
Within a dozen feet Ct the window
where BERTHE had made his appearance, a
stationary ladder ran up the side of the
building, connecting with one eff the win
dows Of the adjoining room; but the boy
could not possibly reach this ladder, and
there were no movable ladders Of suita
ble length anywhere around. Great
Heaven what was to be done? He could
not remain where he was long; the fire
was already at the door of his room.
Presently carriage drove up, and Mr..
Mortimer and Elsie got out. The great
man seemed to take in the whole situa-
ton at glance. The crowd made way
for him, and he came through, with bis
daughter, pale and beautiful, by his side
They stopped close under the burning
walls.
lis there no way to get the boy down.
Mr.. Mortimer cried hoarsely. "Grsat
God!' why haven't some of you been up
the ladder3 Here,--stand aside!'
Aud he would have gone up himself;
but nimbler and younger man was be-
fore him. Yet what use could there be
in that? The man reached the window OF
the room next the lumber room, and
broke in the sa3h; but the smoke came
rushing out. and nearly overpowered him
There be was, within a few feet of the
child, and yet powerless to reach or help
him. He came slowly down the ladder
again, and the poor father groaned aloud
He looked up, and called out to the boy
but BERTHE did not hear him.
The smoke was all about him now, anc
it was plain that he would soon be smoth
cred where he was if he did not jump
The old man turned to the crowd abou
him.
You all know me-" he said:" II do a:
say, do not? will give you, any O.
you, everything,-yes, all have, If yor
} will bring me down my boy"
But they looked at him, and said not /.
word. They loved him in their way, ani
pitied him as ey had never pitied them
} selves in their hardest trials, but the,
could not do what was Impossible. Only
; God could give back the boy"
Suddenly the crowd parted again to lie
a new conner pass through.
He was young mau in a military cap
} and he walked swiftly and straight IL
saw it all at glance too,- saw the DO.
get out Of the window silently, at last
and hang by his two weak arms. Their
} was fire as we'll as smoke behind hin
now.
Elsie Mortimer recognized the young
man at once; and something in his stern
} resolute look gave her hope.
20 Mr. Smith can't you do something
for hims'' she s,sked eagerly and beseech
ingly.
He looked down into her face--a fac
} to himself to be wonderfully beautiful
Do anytbing? ay every thing for her.
He made her no answer whatever, bn
called out for light strong rope. Some
, how as if even inanimate things came a
2 his determined call,--it was in his hand
: at once, pliable and soft and strong; jus
what he wanted tor his purpose. Hegav
it a dextrous twist, and formed the en-,
into loop like lasso. His life on tn
l plains half military, half Indian -ha'
we'll fitted him for an occasion like this
/, Then he cooled the rope over his left arm
e and went rapidly up the ladder.
There was great hush now upon th
t crowd below. Every eye was fixed o.
n the brave young fellow who was far u
: the ladder livery heart was beating fo
: him.
He was atthe upper story at last, paus
). ing just below the window where tn
t flames were bursting angrily forth. The
g saw that he was saying something to tn
child, and then they beheld Pertie sud
denly change his position. They ma
3 thought for an instant that he was fall
Q ing.
1 The young stranger siezed firmly holt
of the ladder with his lett arm, and swun,
f himself far out, with the rope in his 9th