Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-10-08

they heard the cries grow louder
The building must be on fire, we
must III for wr N,nSr shouted Tom
who first regained his senses. They
climed down the dark stairway and be-
san TO hope that their danger was not
imminent
But on opening the doorway which
brought them to the sixth story they
were undeceived as to their peril, and
saw that prompt action was necessary
to save them, The room was clouded
with smoke, but Tom, who well knew
the way, led the frantic boys down the
next stairway.
AS thc7 opened the door ut the foot
they were blinded by the volumes Of
smoke. Here even Tom lost his way,
and opened a door leading TO another
room instead of the stairway. On
entering this room they saw AT the end
a faint light and rushed forward. There
they fond a window which they soon
raised, and yelled to the crowd below
at the top of their voices and made
the most frantic gestures for help. This
they kept up for fully i've minutes;
then they began to despair as they
saw the crowd Gid not see them or
hear them Suu they tried once more,
terrified and hopeless.
Among those whose curiosity was
aroused when the hreman's horn was
heard through the village was Jack. 1t
did not take him long TO make his way
to the mill where n crowd had already
gathered, Efforts had been made to
check the progress Of the fire, but the
tiremen had given that up and now
were trying to save the buildings
around. Jack made his way TO the
front Of the crowd where he found Mir
Willard calling in aloud voice to The
crowd. He promised fifty dollars 10
the person who would bring down
book from the tifth-story window. The
offer was tempting yet no one dared
to accept it,
At the words fifty dollars Jack
started. What a large sum OF money
to him; he had never had so much bo-
fore In his life; how it would help his
widowed mother! He was absorbed
with the idea and without thinking of
the danger accepted the proposal
Without hcsita-ing Jack took short
ropc-luddgr TO faSten 70 the window
and began tc ascend amid the cheers OF
the crowd, Slowly he worked upward
1t seemed a long time before he came
near the window and ms he approrcned
the upper end of the ladder he climbed
more cautiously.
Jack look up 10 see the window rs he
neared it, and then saw what 'ha
crowd could not see. Three pale aud
terrified faces looking from a window
within two feet OF The one to which he
was going 1t did not take an instant
for him to recognize them. There his
three worst enemies, helpless, looking
down at him. For an instant Jack
paused. A multitude of thoughts pass
ed through his mind, Within easy
reach on one side was fifty dollars, on
the other three enemies in peril. Why
not get the book, descend and ten Of
the boys, II might not be too late ana
would punish them. While he paused
he decided to DO the most noble thing
he could do, to rescue these boys from
death ut the pedil Of his own, All this
passed so quickly that it was not
noticed by those below. He acted as
soon as he decided and threw up the
short rope-ladder, the iron hooks Of
which caught on the sill Of the window
Jack drew himself up and climbing in
the window Selling Harry he climbed
out and down to man who was com
ing to answer his gesture for aid The
operation was perlious one, and the
man ascending with great surprise took
the limp body and carried it down. As
soon as it was seen by those below
others hurried up the ladder just as
Jack came out with Henry in his firm
grasp Both boys were taken carefully
down while Jack once more went back
for Tom.
Raising himself to the window Jack
behcld his enemy on the floor lump and
helpless. He climbed in and leaned
over him. The boys eyes opened ana
he murmured "Saye me, O jack
Jack answered kindly as he raised Tom
TO his shoulder and climbed TO the win
dow Ills strength was almost gone,
but he managed to lift Tom out OF the
window TO the man just outside 10 re-
ccive him. Then he too prepared to
climb out, but from the burning build
ing several bonds had been Ioosened
and now came crashing down near the
window A heavy plank fell On Jacks
back and pinned him to the floor before
he could escape. Still the brave boy
though blinded and injured, tried to
climb from beneath the heavy boards.
Help was near and kindly hands drew
him cut and bore him bleeding and
fanting down the long ladder TO the
cheering crowd.
But the praise turned to pity when
they beheld the dying boy laid on the
ground by the side Of the comrades
whom he had rescued from a horrible
death, and who never forgot the noble
revenge Of the boy who could forgive
his worst enemies when be saw them N
danger.