Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-05-28


II know no more what's the matter
than you do"
And the childrenl Where are
they3" cried Bill passing his hand
over his eyes.
'In the top-front room" Stonlake
replied. mechanically He was not n
person gifted with presence OF mind
but the idea struck him at the time
how cid this man know there were
children in the houseP He had not
seen them, and no one had told of
them. But Sangster had not stopped
to think. He had rushed upstairs.
and Griffith going after met him
coming down again. The fires in
there he exclaimed; the doors
locked My God. they'll be burned
alive-the poor little children!
Where's the key?"
II don't know. We lock them in
for safety. don't know where my
wife put it,
clasping his hands In evident anguish.
you're not their father-you don't
care; but at least she's their mother
she must love them little after all
and-Janem he yelled. rushing into
the kitchen. "a hammer. a Ratchet or
something to burst the door open with,
for the love of heaven!n
! Jane was not there. She had fled
up the street to give the alarm but
Sangster soon found a kitchen chop
| per. armed with which he ran upstairs
again. On the landing he met Stem
lake, who had tried to ascend but had
been beaten back. choked and blinded
/ By the dense volumes OF smoke.
'I'li 60 up again. he said in gasps.
'1ts very good of you-but don't at
tempt tits simply Madness
Let me passr' cried the man in
possession. authoritatively, and disap-
/ peared into the darkness.
Griffith Stenlake, although not such
a bad sort OF an easy-going. weak fell
low in the main. was not the man TO
actively prevent other people from
making heroes Of themselves.
Meantime at the top OF the house the
/ agonized cries OF the children could be-
heard and the determined crash!
crashl crash against the panels of the
door. That is like a human sound.
4 too 1t seems to say: Il will con.
/ quer or dier'
Quick quick! or ii will be too late.
The devouring flames are fast gaining
ground. Oh heaven help that brave
/ heart! Yes just one more vigorous
blow. The door is flying in splinters
The smoke and flames burst forth. but
he is inside.
I All this happened in a very few
minutes, and by that time the engines
were there playing on the house
They lose no time when they are
summoned. that gallant brigade.
which for true heroism can beat all
-yov.r soldiers from Alexander down
ward ------>----.--------- -.
.Quick!' cried Steulalze. .the es-
cape. There's man and two chill
dren in the top room"
In twinkling the ladder is set up and
one of the men is ascending it. At the
window he can see a sort OF demon-a
blackened form illumined by the glare
OF the flame holding in either arm a
terrified little girl; they were safe and
sound. The fireman caught them and
babe their preserver descend But
his only thought had been for them.
Somehow his foot slipped and he fell
backward. Then there was an appaII-
ing crash. The flooring OF the upper
story had given way AMI brave Bill
Il Sangster WIS buried beneath the ruins
The first gray streaks Of the dawn
are lighting up the sky. The fire has
been mastered The damage was con-
fined 10 the two upper stories. and the
ruins are still smouldering After in
finite exertions Sangster has been OK
tricated and carried into Steulake's
den. where they passed the evening.
His face, where il was not scorched,
was deadly pale. Great drops wrung
out by agony stood out upon his brow,
for both his legs were broken. The
first words he uttered we're 10 ask for
the children. They were there; foi
by merciful Providence they haC
escaped all injury.
q. just then a cab drove up to the door
and a lady in evening dress anC
wrapped in cloak aIighted. It wa
Mrs. Stenlake
"Oh. Griffith" she cried incoher
emily as she ran into the house,
what is this? What has happened
Where are the chiIdreuar
Safe. thank goodness! Come II
here Mary. This is the brave fellow
to whom we owe their lives who has
risked mis- for Them
She came into the little room anc
} started back on seeing the blackene(
|. figure lying upon the couch. Her eye
dilated and 1t was only by a supreme
effort that she saved herself from
swooning.
Where did you come from?' sh,
said at last in an awed whisper.
II am the man In possession. " h
answered, with faint smile putin,
!, an arm round each OF the little girls
Yes, little money owed " Stem
lake remarked YEARLY.