The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-10-23
GRACE LORD.
An Incident of the Great Chicago
Fire.


Fire.
''My God! how can l live and the city
burning up?" groaned Mr.. Lord, turn.
ing impatiently on his pillow.
But you ale insured said his wife,
with pale face, you will not lose every
thing
1T isn't the Office that care for,"
answered Mr.. Lord. "but package of
papers, very valuable, entrusted to my
care" and he groaned again.
'But won't the safe protect thems'
cried Mrs. Lord, eagerly.
That's the worst of it." said Mr..
Lord, in voice husky with emotion.
''They should be in the safe, but in my
half-dazed state on the day was taken
i'll. neglected to put them there; they
are in my desk. and the only comfort l
have had since could think was that
it was a good lock, and l have the key
but nowr'
Are they so very valuable then?"
$50 precious that if they are burned
shall be di>graced: it will be dishonor
if am unable to produce them. 1t is
objectionable that should not have Sc
cured them: il will kill me. Ifeel that
it will. Oh! if could only move! or
Heraert were here!"
Can't 1 do something's" eagerly
asked his wife.
mo indeed! From what Mr.. Brown
tells me the streets are filed with mob:
no lady would be safe in them for an in
slant She would be robbed, if not
worse. Herbert might perhaps find a
way 10 oct them, and to save his father S
honor, if not also his life. I'm sure he
would. o, how can l live and let them
burn,'
Listening breathlessly with white face
to this talk. stood Grace Lord. who was
just entering the room when her father
spoke. A thought had crossed her mind,
and q plan had grown in these few Sec
ondS.
why can't 1 save those papers?"
was the thought. and Il WILL" was the
conclusion. rs her father ended.
Softly turning away from the open
door. she stole back up stairs to her
room.
Il can 60 as we'll as Bert" she whis-
pered to herself. Il know where papa
keeps his keys. and know just where
his desk is in the office. lean run down
there before mamma misses me. and
how happy papa will be. He said the
streets were not SAFE" was the next
thought, but he said boy could 90.
I'll put on Bert's Clothes" flashed into
her mind.
Without stopping to think more about
it. she ran into her brothers room,
found an outgrown suit in his closet,
slipped off her outer garments and put
on these, snatched last year hat from
= shelf, and waiting only to get her
fathers keys out of a pocket in his
clothes which hung in hail closet, she
opened the street door and was gone.
1t was = noble and generous impulse,
but ii was fearful thing to do.
This happened in Chicago, during the
terrible fire that burned that city ,hir-
teen years ago. 1t was early on Mon
day morning; the South Side was al
ready aroaring furnace, and the North
Side, in which my story lies, was even
then on fire.
When Grace turned the corner into a
much used street she was appalled,, and
for an instant turned back. 1t was
filled with a crowd of people hurrying
by with fear, horror and other strange
passions in their faces. Some were
loaded with household goods or treas
ures they hoped to save, others carrying
screaming babies or dragging children
too frightened to run, and now and
then two or three holding between them
one too i'll to stand. 1t was a terrible
sight. a whole city flying for life, and a
girl alone, however brave, might well
be alarmed.
1t was only for moment, however.
Grace thought of her father, and
plunged into the street. The Office was
not more than half mile. and her feet
fairly flew, although every body else was
going the other way, and she had -
dodge between people and horses and
loads Of all sorts.
1t was well she had not far to 90, for
the roof was just bursting into fame IS
she opened the door with her father 5
keys. His desk easily yielded to the
peculiar key she knew so well, and
among letters and papers laid package
she instinctively knew was the precious
one, so carefully tied and sealed, SO out
of place it looked there.
Grace seized it and started out, care
fully locking the desk and putting the
keys in her pocket. when the thought
arose. Where could she hide the pack
age?''
You boys would say in the inner
breas: pocket of the vest. But there
was no vest. at any rate Grace had none,
and inner pockets were an unknown
mystery 10 her. She thought an instant.
then quietly slipped it down the back OF
her neck inside the clothes. The waist
band was tight for her, and she felt sure
it was safe, and hastily ran into the
street.
Things had changed greatly even in
these few minutes. The tall blocks on
both sides of the street were on fire, q
big building at the corner had fallen and
cut off her return that way. while the
air was full of smoke and cinders and
heat that nearly suffocated her. Instead
of the crowd she had seen, it was de-
serted, every one had fled for his life.
! Smothered. blinded. frightened. Grace
turned to run-alas! away from home.
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