The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-05-11

Into yks Soleg u our boStsl 8At tfs hs1d
sof the stairs thsta was " second door thicker
md stronger than the hrss but nearly charred
]. !. q 81, loonlS ss,pea welstsad swing
Don't do Il, sir, Z, cried . stslwart fireman,
SELLING him by the wrist; s'shere's flames on
the otler side Of that door" \. n.
Let me go!" roared Charley.
"We're dead men IL You break i'll" III
Drop It, cir; drop it IA
Thore was momentary struggle, and the
axe clattered down up the stone steps. II had
hardly ttme to fall before some one caught 1t
up. could not see who for the dense blue
smoke. "A man dashed past the fireman, there
was the crash Of o parting lock, and great
lick Of bame, like q hound unleashed shot out
and enveloped us. I felt its hot scar as It
ooiled around my face, and remember MOTH
Ing more until found myself leaning against
the doorpost breathing in the fresh sweet air
struggled furiously with the fremen who held
him back to prevent him from reascending the
staircase. which was now solid sheet of fire,
"Hold back. sir" heard the honest fellow
growl; "aln't one life thrown away enoughY
That little cove--him with the gaiters-the
same that broke the door-he's gone. seed
him jump right slap into the middle Of it. He
won't never come hack no more!" n
Together we led Welstoad round to the front
once more, all three staggering like drunken
men. The flames were higher than before. but
the upper story and the roof still rose above
them like q black island in sea Of fro. There
was Miss Cissy's window dark and unopened,
though tho woodwork around it was in glow.
There was no sign Of the dutter of female
dress. How terrible it was to stand and wait
FIJI k1n and vHnSn laos 10 Ata n4nl,
ing hand. Poor Welstead leaned against me
sobbing like child. A CHASTITY longing came
| into my heart that Knight see flames in that
room. that might know it to be all over, and
the pain and trouble at an end Then heard
the crash of glass falling outward, and bent
my head to avoid seeing the very thing that
had wished for; and then there broke upon my
| ear q shout from 10, 900 voices, so wildly ex-
ultant and madly jubilant that never hope to
hear the like again.
the narrow ledge outside the window had
| been watching there was standing mxp,
framed as it were in fire. His clothes we've
hanging around him as q few tsttered charred
rags, and his very hair was in blaze The
draught caused by knocking out the window
hung behind him, while the ground was fully
seventy feet below. Yet there, on the thin slip
| Of stone with eternity on each side Of him,
stood Joe Smith, the uncouth and ungrammati-
cal. tying two sheets together, while women
sobbed below and men shouted, and every
hand was raised to bless him. He staggered
and disappeared so suddenly that we feared
he had fallen, but he was back again in an in-
stant not alone this time, for the girl he had
come to save was slung over his shoulder.
The brave fellow seemed to have doubts Of the
strength Of his impromptu rope. for he rested
his own weight upon the nearly red-hot water
| pipe during those twelve perilous feet support
ing Miss Newsome by the arm which clutched
the sheet Slowly, very slowly they descended,
but at last his feet touched the topmost rung Of
voice high above me say, "Hsll right, Missy"
before . burst OF cheering rang out which
drowned every other sound
Miss Gssy, more frightened than hurt, was
delivered over into her half distracted fathers
| care, while helped to lift Gentleman Joe from
the escape. He lay painting upon the ground,
| burned and scorched, his sporting coat Iattered
and charred, while, strangely enough, the pris-
matic necktie and horseshoe pin had escaped
the general destruction, 80 as to present an ab-
surd oasis amid the desert around. He lay
without speaking or moving until Ciesy New
| some was led past him on her way to cab.
Then he made feeble gesture with his hand,
which indicated that he wished to speak with
her, and she stopped over him. No other ear
but mine caught tnat whisper.
| the wrong boss came in. He's good TELLER
deal better than me-and did as much but
hadn't the luck"
Avulgar little speech, but Cissy's eyes got
very moist as she listened. and Pm not sure
| that mine didn't, too
The Office was sadly reduced after that
With Welstead and the Gentleman on the sick
| list there was only four of us at the desk, aud
the reaction from the excitement had left us
anything but lively. can remember only one
remark ventured upon during that first day.
The dreary scratching Of pens had lasted un-
brOlk6n for honr Suhon 1itfIo Era rri ne
looked up from his ledger.
II suppose you would call him gentleman
after ali, he said.
IA very much better one than you will ever
! be-" growlei DulIall, aud We relspsed into tho
scratching of pens.
Twas present at the wedding of Charley
Welstead snd Cissy Newsome, when, after a
long delay, 1T was finally celebrated By the
| original arrangement was to have figured as
best man, but my post of honor was handed
| over to certain very ugly young man whose ap-
| pearance suggested the idea that he had spent
| the last few weeks in mustard poultice. IN
romantic as it may seem, this youth not only
| went through his duties with all the nonchal-
ance in the world, but danced ut the sub
sequent festivities with the greatest vigor aud
grace. It is commonly rumored that this
activity of his, combined with sundry interest
ing anecdotes concerning horses and dogs,
have SO prevailed upon the heart of sus.
ceptible young lady, that there ia every prob
! ability Of our having repetition of the
marrlge ceremony. Should it be 80, trust
that may at last revert to my original position
as best man.