The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-10-26

two months; "seven whole weeks, and
nothing to vary matches but picnicking
off of ones trunk"
'sThey, too, shall pass away" quoted
Margaret, to comfort her.
Slowly, but surely, the week did roll
by, and tho four met in Uncle Johns
office and watched with glistening eyes
as he counted out the money due them
nine shining gold pieces, all their own,
the fruit of their patient, faithful labor.
This means moonlight sails on the
Sound, girls, think of it," said Margaret,
patting the gold with loving touches,
'sand clam bakes and sea bathing and no
matches"
'Give it to Belle. Her purse is the
emptiest and largest" laughed Elsie.
''and we'll act as special police on the
way home"
Mr.. Crashaw spoke to them at that in
slant, and they turned to answer his
question.
There, I've left my penknife on the
work bench" said Belle. "I1l just slip
up and get it," and she ran lightly back
to the now empty room.
A hasty search on the bench, the floor,
in every corner failed to reveal the miss
ing knife, and Belle was forced to give
up the search. She walked slowly back
to the door. looking on either side as she
went. Upon reaching it, she found to
her amazement that it was locked. The
janitor had come in and, not seeing her
as she stopped under the work benches,
had locked the door and gone away for
the night, and here she must stay, pos
sibly until Monday morning, who could
tell.
The three girls waited until tired for
Bellies return, and then, concluding she
had gone home without them, sauntered
slowly back to Mrs. Blake's, rejoicing
that it was for the last time.
Belle, left alone in the gathering dark
ness, paced the floor of her prison with
impatient steps. Here was the adven-
ture Elsie had hoped would come be-
fore they left, and Belle defiantly wished
she was here to enjoy it.
Surely the girls would become anxious
about her and come to seek her, espe-
cially as she had the precious money in
her pocket. At that remembrance her
heart gave a faint throb of fear. What
if something should happen to thatl She
walked to the window and peered down
into the narrow court below, but not a
soul was to be seen.
AS she turned back a slender thread of
smoke caught her eye coming from the
window of the dipping room. She
watched, first with curiosity, then with
growing alarm, as puff after puff came
faster and faster. The sickening truth
that the factory was on fire and she was
alone flashed upon her!
She watched the ever increasing smoke
with a fascination she could not throw
off. Now the flames could be seen. Was
there no help? Must she die alone?- And
the money! The precious money, the
girls had worked SO hard for. Must
that, too, be lost2
She flew from door to door and
window to window, beating them with
her fists and calling aloud in her
agony. At last, after what seemed an
eternity, she heard the sound of voices
in the streets, and cries Of fire and calls
for water. The room she was confined
in had no windows facing the street,
and she could not venture zeal those ON
the court, as the smoke rolled in in
clouds.
Must she die? Life was Sc sweet! She
must make one more effort to save it,
and picking up a heavy wrench, with
the strength of despair, broke the lock
on a door leading into the next
With a cry of joy she darted in, only to
be met with such volumes of smoke that
she nearly lost hope. Burying her face
in her apron she crawled to the window
and fell more dead than alive across the
sill.
There on the street below was the en-
tire village watching the flames roar and
leap from story to story. Among the sea
of faces she could barely distinguish
those of her friends.
"Margaretl' she called. Margaret,
a me. Oh, won't some one try to save
me?'
The faint cry for help reached Marga-
ret's ears and her eyes met Bellies figure
darkly outlined against the wall of fire.
''Save her! Save her!' she cried in
agony, and all eyes were now turned to-
ward the crouching figure, whose white
face and moving lips prayed for help.
The cry, "a woman in the buildingF'
was taken up and passed from lip to lip,
and a dozen brave hearts offered to scale
ladders and try to rescue her.
In the midst of her greatest peril Belle
did moi forget the gold pieces she held
firmly clasped in one hand, and hastily
tying them in her handkerchief she
tossed it far into the air and it fell at
Margaret's feet. Ladders are soon in
place, stout hands are stretched to the
fainting girl, and when she opens her
eyes she is safe i'll Margaret's arms, with
Elsie and Lizzie questioning and crying
all in one breath, while the crowd
gathered around to congratulate her.
$40 think" sobbed Lizzie, 'that you
should have thought of the money in all
your danger"
Within a few short weeks, four happy
girls started on their summer holiday,
and in all that merry party it is safe to
say none enjoyed it more than the four
who had so hardly earned il