Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-11-27

Tom hauled up the rope again, and
in an instant l was ready to descend.
His instructions to me were the same
as to oglethorpe. only he added: "If
don't get out of this alive, Mr.. Bur-
rows, you see that Bessie and the ba-
bies get that Million He glanced un.
easily over his shoulder to the rear of
the room, where the flames were Just
beginning to break through.
| made a feeble protest-and meant
1t, too-tliat it was only right that he
should go next. The rope was his idea
and he ought to reap the benefit and
save himself before it was too late.
He replied almost angrily, stop your
nonsense, Mr.. Burrows, and get out of
that window. I'll take two turns
around this steam pipe, so us to hold
you all right, and you'll be on the lad
der in a jiffy.''
My descent to the ground is still like
hideous dream. have n dim recol-
lection of twisting and turning, at the
same time falling down. down. till 1t
seemed as If was dropping into bot
tomless pit in the internal regions.
There was more shouting by the
throng of people, more footing Of the
engine whistles, and before knew it 1
was standing on Mother Earth once
more with Oglethoipe shaking my arm
off.
We looked upward. expecting to see
Proctor climb down the rope. To the
surprise of every one, he pulled it up
third time. What's the fool doingY"
exclaimed the fire chief. standing near
by. why doesn't he slide down that
rope? Guess he's lost his head"
He knows what he's about" said
the millionaire. Look"
To our amazement, the rope dropped
from the window with knots in it about
six feet apart,
by Jove" exclaimed the chief.
"rhat's trick worth knowing. Won
der how he did it in such short
time"
We saw Toms feet come through the
window, where he had to maneuver
moment to wind his legs around the
rope. Then he slid down from one knot
to the next easily and gracefully, dis
daining to use the ladder. and finally
landed within our midst with the
CHEEKY salutation. can present or no.
counted for
There Is little more to tell. hoard
Oglethorpe whisper to the chief n con-
tribution to the tiremen's relief fund of
thousand dollars for the possession
of that rope, which was duly accented
and 1t was afterward generously III.
vided with Tom and me.
Then he said to the former that be
was In the habit of settling his con-
tracts promptly and there was lust
time before the banks closed
Tom called to see me the next davs
smiling and happy.
i've got the million all right, Mr..
Burrows" said he, land have been
walking on air ever since; have to
pinch myself to make sure Pm not
dreaming. It's mighty queer feeling,
and haven't got acclimated yet. The
papers laid on so thick that l had to
sneak through the back streets to get
here, people stare so at me-"
In the quiet of my private Office he
explained to me some of the details of
the escape from the burning building,
which show that brains count in an
emergency.
1T was this way" said he. "When
our position seemed hopeless and it
looked as if we were doomed to hor-
rible death, Oglethorpe lost his head
and acted half crazy, and you, Mr..
Burrows, We're in n trance, dazed like.
Twice before in my life had look
ed death square in the eye and learned
by experience that one stands the best
chance for his life by keeping cool.
with his wits alive to take advantage
OF any favorable method or means of
escape.
81 was working out a problem and
| finally arrived at the answer-a rope.
| Unless the fire was got under control
within short time n rome was o,r
only hope. Then remembered story.
You may think 1t queer time to think
of such thing as story. Neverthe-
less it did its part toward our salvation.
1t was the tale of a prisoner confined in
a high tower. A friend outside shot an
arrow through the window. Attached
to the arrow was n silk thread, to the
thread a cord and to the cord Il rope.
All these the prisoner pulled up sue
cessiyely, and when he secured the
i nc YNf NNy.,,