Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-08-08

"Never mind the dress. I'm al
right. But you ought to have listened
to what I told you, and you ought tc
have helped Nh. Irving out"
swell, 1 guess not" Tom declared
81 don't leave a girl to burn alive
while L carry off a sickly m~ollycoddle
like that"
Don't be a goose, Tom. I wasn't
in one bit of danger. A strong
healthy girl, not a dozen steps from
the stage entrance. Mr.. Irving was
an invalid and needed help, but !
didn't"
"The stage entrance!" Tom gasped,
ayes, the stage entrance! Mr.. Mar
tin was shouting from the platform
that there was a door just back OF
the stage. but the crowd were too
crazy with fear to listen. You
wouldn't. either. I told you, but you
didn't pay any attention, just went
plunging ahead the longest. hardest
way-when a dozen steps would have
taken us out just rs well, without
trampling or anybody or tearing any
body's clothes, and lessened the panic
instead of increasing it." She checked
herself with an apologize little
laugh. but we all lose our heads in
a panic, don't we? Else it wouldn't
be a panic. Only 1 did think you were
big and strong enough to keep cool.
One expects weak, helpless people to
GO wild with terror. How car they
help it, poor things? And perhaps !
should have beer as frightened as the
rest of you if I hadn't heard about
that stage entrance. How can [ tell?
I was so glad when I saw you coming
back, for 1 thought you understood
and would call attention to that rear
door and lessen the crowd and jam
at the front. 1t was really provok.
ing after hoping that to see you
plunge right in and make the jam
and crowding and terror worse in
stead of better"
And that's the reason you
wouldn't stop to speak TO me after
1 had carried you out?" Tom inquired,
grimly.
"Oh, no! Of course I knew you
didn't understand and thought you
were doing the best you could, but
there wasn't time to stop and explain.
L had TO run back to the real en-
trance just as quick as 1 could to get
Mr.. Irving out before it was really
dangerous"
"Run back? You don't mean to
say you went back into that burning
building after l had carried you out?"
Tom gasped.
"Why, of course I did. l had to.
You didn't suppose I was going to
stand calmly by and see a friend
burned to death, did you? A great.
strong, healthy girl like me not to
turn her hand owe while a sick mar
died for want of help within a dozen
PAGES! I think I see myself"
"Why didn't you tell me you
couldn't live without him." Tom de
manded, angrily. "You know I'd have
gone through fire and water sooner
than have you hurt a hair of your
head"
81 didn't she said with a laugh.
my hair is all right. l threw my
cape over my head. Nothing suffered
but my lawn ruffies. [ knew the
wooden skirt beneath wouldn't catch
fire. Don't be silly, Tom. There
wasn't time or l should have sem
you, of course, but I knew I could
get around there and have him out in
less time than l could explain about
the door and his lameness and get
you started"
His lameness? I didn't know he
was lame"
"Well, he is just at present
wrenched his knee yesterday, some
how, and can't get up or down with
out help. 1 had to fairly lift him up
the steps to the stage" She laughed
amusedly. ITO think of his handing
me over to you to be saved and calmly
giving himself up to die! 1t was he
roic, 1 know, but wasn't it silly?
Won't / tease him about it though?
I r~eappeared beside him-for he was
no better than the rest of you. he
hadn't heard a word Mr.. Martin said
and it was getting rather hot by the
time I got back. He had fairly given
up hope, foolish fellow: said he
couldn't get out without help and
wouldn't call for assistance until all
the women and children were safe
and then it would be too late. !
wonder what he thought l was made
of, and if he really expected me to
stand still with folded hands and
say nothing while he was frying!
Men must have curious notions about
Irving heroic! That was the last
Tom turned on his heel and
in the crowd. Vesta only
1t wa the best joke of the
season to her, and she did not dream
it was a tragic disappointment tc
him.
Ned Wheeler came upon him later,
alone in the darkness with despair
in his very attitude. whats wrong
now, old fellow? Didn't you have a
to speak TO her?"
Don't talk to me about chances"
Tom snarled. IF a girl don't want
to see a thing she won't. nc matter
if it's plain as the nose on your face.
I'm done with Vesta Craig. Bold.
mannish girls don't go down with
"'Twas ever thus from childhood's
If we could not convince our
selves that the u~nattainable grapes
we're sour what would console us in
time of sappointment?-Housekeep
er, Minneapolis.
Hopeless Case.
~ IL