Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1901-06-07

water could have prevailed against It
AT 10 o'clock n single extnguisher
wisely welded, could have subdued Il
At III o'clock 1t still was afraid TO BIZ
seen. SO slowly and so craftlly was II
eating into the Granny leading between
the walls.
But ut IL o'clock II had arrived 10
Its manhood. IL had established its
stronghold, and 1t was ready to fiaunt
the red banner OF defiance in the face
OF thousand people.
Therefore It rocked not that during
the midnight hour the engineer. tar.
Oily traversing the corridor, smelt
smoke, and peerlng In saw fire, and.
awakening the elevator boys rs he
ran, rushed to the alarm box and
pulled the lever.
Fast as sped the elevator boys from
story to story, summoning the tenants.
faster sped the flames. The fine apart-
house. with its convenient Railways.
It's unique furnishings of maple, It's
vanished floors, it's tastefulIy tinted
ceilings, was after all a very fllmsy
structure. The contractors deemed
that they were the only ones to know
this-but fire long had been In posses
sion Of the secret.
John Peck, sleeping the sound slum-
Der of perfectly healthy man. at the
end OF an inside hall, with the Mos
rises absent for the night, and no one
near to arouse him, and Miss Halo
well, slightly deaf. also asleep at the
end of an inside hall opposite him, did
not comprehend the situation until
their rooms were thick with smoke
and the blaze was seeking for them.
When they leaped from their beds they
found the floor hot TO their feet.
The man ana the woman emerged
from their apartments simultaneously.
ana met face to face on the landing.
No thought now of outward semblance
of lady and gentleman.
The elevator shaft was fiue I'D
which whlrlcd gusts OF resnous smoke,
glowing cinders ana bursts of torrid
air. while from stairs beneath little
flames spouted eagerly, The draft
caused the doors to slam behind the
two. The elevator cage was some.
where below and descending.
"Quick-try the back way. cried
John. Through our apartment
hurry"
"Oh. | can't, l can'tw walled Miss
Hallowell, frantlcally. 81 can't move.
My knees are so weakv'
but you must" appealed John.
Give me your hand-give II to me,
say! Her collapse irrtated him.
get up! I'll carry you, but you must
try to walk"
NO. no. can't" she answered,
with II sob. $50 on. Don't you dare
to touch me! I'd rather die here than
get caught in that long corridor
Then the iire.eScape in 'front.'" he
urged. I'll help YOU"
mo, no." she protested HISTORICALLY,
raising her hands TO keep him mt
distance. Don't touch me! don't touch
me! IL stay here, You gor'
20 thunder." calculated John. with
a sudden lapse into his forceful West
ern speech. I'm shore not goin' to
leave You here all alone"
You Jest get under this. and I'll
make try for that blamed elevator"
he said, as lightly MS he could. and he |
clapped on her head his sombrero,
which through habit he had snatched |
rs he was boiling through his room.
For second time while In her COM
pany he was wearing II.
He pressed the electric button, but |
already the elevator was crawling up.
ward. after It's last load-clutched at |
by the hungry flames as IL brushed |
hem In passing.
From landing to landing It came,
taking on In ones and twos persons |
who like Miss Hallowell. had been I'M |
able to help themselves, or who, like |
John. HAD remained to help others.
None would wait for the downward |
trip. for who could tell what might |
happen between minutes?
The heat now was intense, and the
cage was In the midst of a greedy,
roaring furnace. Fire from the stairs
'urled into the sides of the elevator.
md when 1t had swept painfully by
licked Its retreating floor. Its load
vas In torture. Men and women alike