Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1885-10-17

unpardonably, and need not expect tC
be pleasantly received.
If, however, he should come home
early, she might relax little toward
him. But the hour came and passed
without him, and Mrs. Tracy grew
angrier. If he was staying away to
punish he, he might stay as long as he
liked-she would never care.
But as another hour passed she grew
uneasy. With all his trying want Of
punctuality, Harvey never really miss
ed meal without sending her word
of explanation. 1t was already grow
ing dark as she pressed her face anx-
iously against the window pane, when
her little boy rushed in.
30 mamma there's such big fire
down town. Can't | 60 and see it p
She had heard an alarm an hour or
so before, but had paid little attention
to it.
"No, Of course you can't Willie, it is
too late for you to be out. But where
is the fire"
IL don't know, but it's great, great
big one l know. Hear how the
whistles blow-and see the folks are
running more and more"
She caught few words from some
passers by which brought look Of
dismay to her face.
"The Phoenix Block-and spreading
fast. Trouble with water freezing in
hose"
Breathlessly she ran into the house
and threw on her wraps. Then, with
a few words of direction to the servant
girl, she took Willie's hand and hur-
| ried in the bitter cold of the fast clos
ing winter night through the streets,
becoming more and more crowded as
they drew nearer the business precincts
with others, whose faces we're all turn
ell in the same direction.
Her husbands Office was in the
Phoenix Block. A chill, deadlier than
that of the Indictment air, struck to her
heart, as through her mind ran one
after another dread imagination of
what might be. She remembered his
worry about the safe-how little she
had needed him i'll her selfish resent
ment over little disappointment
Her steps quickened with wild fear
as she thought of the papers he had
spoken of-she knew the first instinct
of his faithful soul would be to peril
his life for the safety of what others
had confded to his care.
The crowd grew thicker as she near
ed the fire, until she could move only
with difficulty as she still pressed on
They had not lived in the place for
any length of time and the faces about
her were all strange, until at length a
familiar voice said
"You here, Mrs. Tracy? This is no
place for you"
She grasped the speakers arm.
"Mr. Brand-do tell me! Is it ser.
ious. Is it the the Phoenix ?--and
have you seen Mr. Tracy?'
His face was more troubled than he
wished her to see as he tried to lead
her away from the crowd.
"Well, large fire is always more OF
less serious, you know. 1t began in the
Phoenix"
81 want to hear about it" she insist
ed, as he paused. "How are things
there, now p
"The fire went up the elevator shaft
so there has been difficulty in getting
the occupants. But l do assure you
Mrs. Tracy, that no lives are known
to be lost. The last saw of Mr.. Tracy
he and the other lawyers were working
like beavers trying to get out thell
belongings"
"When was that" she gasped.
perhaps an hour ago"
I'm going to get nearer, she said
and, as her friend could not dissuadt
her, he took her arm and they slowl,
worked their way toward the large
building to which the fire was now
confined.
1t was strange and magnificent
sight. Winter had laid his pitiless
finger on every attempt to interrupt
the progress Of the fire-tiend. All the
noble enginery Of the fire department
was in full play, but many bursted
hose had been thrown aside, and ether
difficulties from clogging ice in every
direction were continually arising
The tall, partly fallen walls Of the
brick building were sheeted with Ice
which shone and spanked in the gas
light like the famed Russian palace
and against which many stream Of
water fell in rafting hail. Banks Of
ice, mingled with books, carpets, and
furniture, which had been thrown out
to the depth Of ten or twelve feet.
The fire was by this time, h owerer
well under control, and painful interest
was now conferred upon the perilou'
condition of man who could be seer
through the window of one OF the
upper stores.
That is the old Waterman Of the
building" exclaimed Mrs. Tracy's es
cort; "he is not in any immediate
danger, Dut IL VIII oo uiinoui' ~
reach him, and it is feared he may
lose his head and fall. Some othel
men are on balcony around the cor
ner, not far below him-they are posi-
lively in no danger as yet, but hear'
some one say they were refusing to b.
helped down until the old man is safe
are doing all they can to encourag,
him. Mr.. Tracy may be among those.
To Mrs. Tracy's eyes there must b.
danger Bricks and portions of tn
wall we're continually falling. An,
Harvey might not be there nobod.
could know certainly where he was
No lives are known to be lost-tha
was how her friend had phrased it.
The falling of portion Of the roo
drove back lookers-on and workers il
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