The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-03-14

the door of the room I'm which the child
slept The lamp was turned low. and
the drowsiness of spring was in the air
The boy was determined to keep wide
awake. but more resOute people have
gone to sleep in less conducive surround
ings.
How long he had been asleep he did
not know-never knew but he was
aroused by the changing OF bells, the
Shrill footing of steam whistles and tho
quick, hoarse shouts of men and the
shrill, piteous screams of women and
children
Cripple Dick sat up and rubbed his
eyes. The lamp had gone out. Yet q
fierce glare came through the transOm
and the smoke and heat stined him.
He sprang up. Selling his crutch. and
flew to the window. The tenement was
on fire. Tongues of flame were leapinS
from every window along the wall.
The streets were crowded with firemen
and police, and on either side was "A
great sea Of pale. upturned faces.
At point 20 the right the firemeu
We're carrying down women and children
who were drawn from the flaming win
dows
Cripple Dick looked into the hall. then
seeing and hearing the furnace roar
above and below he quickly closed the
door and dashed back to the window.
Help helpr' he shouted 'Dere's
Help! Help For Godamighty's sake,
save Loo-loo. or it'll kill her
A roar from the crowd told that he
was seen. The firemen. taking down the
ladders. shouted: Hold up and hur-
ried to place them where Cripple Dick
had appeared.
He threw away his crutch. for it inn
peded him, and bounded into the room
where the child still slept, unmindful
Of the smoke and cries ard sitting hot
air
With the presence OF mind wonderful
under the circumstances. Cripple Dick
wrapped the child in blanket and quilt
taking care that not an inch Of the dear
form was exposed.
A smothered cry came from inside the
roll which Dick took UP in his arms.
Don't cry. Loo-loo; Dicks TAX ye TO
mommer'' said the boy. soothiDgly, as
with the bundle in his arms he hoped
to the window.
BY the time he had reached there the
top of a ladder came TO view. and Just
below stood a man with his Whiskers
burned off and his blistered hand up
raised.
BE sure and reach him, It's l.oo-lOo,
For Gods sake don't let the Lid fau,'
shouted Cripple Dick as he reached down
the bundle.
The fireman took it and asked as he
started back: can you reach the lad
der. boy?'
Yes. yes! Go on. For God Nmghv's
sake. save him, I'm only Cripple Dick,
Never mind me-
BY this time the flames roared into the
room and darted toward the window,
where the boy now stood irresolTtely.
He looked back for an instant. then
seized the hot, tOPmost rUng Of the lad
der and swung out.
He saw the fireman safely at Tie bot
tom with the bundle. he heard the pite-
Gus cries of the people. is. with his enc
helping leg, he swung himself down by
his hands.
Tongues OF flame leaped out at HIM
His hands were burned TO the bone. The
water splashing about him was turned
into suffocatinS steam.
His sight was gone. His hold relaxed.
and in mangled heap Cripple Dick fell
a the foot of the ladder
He was taken To the nearest hospital.
and the doctors wondered that he lived
to he examined. Yet he survived till
morning.
The gray dawn was breaking over the
city when the attendants led Nine. Ber-
al 90 rrr nUSn nj 2 cot VIM, "a
Cripple Dick lay. with damp cloth over
his sightless eyes. He recognized the
dear voice. and asked:
flows Loo-loo?''
safe" came the answer with a sob
We'll. ef dem firemen hedn't a saved
dat kid, dey wouldn't a been no good.
II ken sleep better known dat"
Cripple Dicks eyes being already
closed he sank into eternal rest.-The
World.