The Louisiana populist., 1898-01-21
BOX FIFTY-TWO.

BY ROBERT ". sISE.


did not need to be told that. Fifty
two was our scare box. We never
waited for second alarm from there,
but jumped the moment it was rung
in. 1t was right in the heart of the
dry goods district, where the big
buildings, full of infammable mate
rial, give the finest chance for fire.
1t sounded especially scary at night,
when there was no one round down
in that part of the city, and fire
would have a fine chance to get a
good start before it was discovered
II knew all this well, but this and
more would not explain the way I ran
to that fire. Although it was a sharp
night did not wait to take my over
coat, but examining my hat on my
head went flying down the stairs, tax
ing all sorts OF chances of sprained
ankles, and tore up the street like a
wild creature. 1t was half-past ten
by the clock on the Liverpool Life In
surance building, and there were not
many people on the sidewalk, but /
could not wait topick my way through
them and ran up the middle of the
street as [ had not run for years. [
could feel that the fire itself had no
connection with the way I was run
ming, nor with the alarm, and that
something more to me than life itself
hung in the balance, though what l
could not tell. I slipped and STUN
bled on the pavement; / strained and
struggled, and my breath came in
great gasps and sobs, and still L could
not go fast enough.
I've answered that box q dozen
times, and I've never thought of
going any other way than down Canal
street. knew that was the quickest
way, but in spite of the desperate
haste that was dragging me on, I gave
that way no thought, but kept straight
on up Main street to East. I did not
pause, for my way seemed as clear as
though someone ran before me, beck
onlng me on. Down East street I
turned, and here l was all alone, and
my footsteps echoed loudly back from
the deserted buildings as I ran. Far
down the street could see something
coming, and coming fast. and as I saw
1t an overpowering fear took possess
sion OF me, and I knew that I must
meet it before something, what I could
not tell, happened.
"Then in an instant saw what it
was; great dray, probably that of
some belated teamster coming from
the ferries, but now without a driver.
with the reins on the horses backs
and the horses themselves tearing
wildly up the street, with the dray
bounding and laundering behind
them.
"And then, only q short distance
ahead of the oncoming dray, I saw
someone crossing the street, and my
heart leaped up in my throat as rec
ognized the trim little figure I knew
SO well. All in second I saw her
stop, hesitate, turn back, trip on
something in the street and go down
directly in the path of the maddened
horses.
81 gave a great sob of terror and
bent forward, striving to rup faster as
the realization of what it all meant
came over me, but it was like running
in a nightmare; my feet were as though
anchored to the ground, and I seemed
hardly to move. [ paid no attention
to the dray; my whole life and soul
were in reaching that little heap on
the ground before it, and felt that
If l could not do that it was better
that |, too, should go under the on
coming hoofs.
'It was all over in second. al
though it seemed years, SO keen was
my agony. The horses were almost
on me when I stopped and, hardly
pausing ia my run, lifted her in nv
arms. l made bound to one side.
but as I did so the shoulder of the off
horse struck mine, and I was whirled
round and dashed to the ground.
stunned and bewildered, but holding
Kitty safe in my arms, while the dray
vent laundering by almost above us.
81 was ON my feet in an instant and
ed her from the ground. leaned
.5ainst the building, holding her
e'ose tome and shaking from head
TO foot, while my teeth chartered as if
with ague. Ny whole being had been
so racked and torn by the fearful
strain I had gone through that l was
nearly out Of my head, and / shivered
and cried and laughed as tried to
tell her in wildly disconnected SEN
tences how happened to be there
and how thankful I was and how
loved her.
"And she, brave little woman, only
cried little on my shoulder, and then
was as calm and sweet as ever and
tried to soothe and steady me, who,
strong man that I was, was far more
frightened and unstrung than she.
ssSoon 7 became calmer, and as soon
as could think at all felt an over
powering thankfulness for our escape;
thankfnlness even that the thing had