The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-31

weeks later. Dan laughingly consent
ed. but not until the square envelope
with it's engraved invitation arrived
did he realize what he had done.
Got your dress suit?" asked Franks,
as he returned the invitation he had
been reading.
mo, have I got to?" queried Dan.
anxiously regarding his chief, with
cold perspiration breaking out on his
brow.
Frank nodded. Absolutely neces-
sary. and you know you promised
AS the week went by, even this or
deal seemed less fearful, and in the
end Dan even consented to show him
self in all his glory at the fire house
before he went to the Rockland man
sion.
His fame having been spread by his
pretty champion. he shared honors
with an English baronet, and the writ
er of a popular novel. The male guests
were slightly inclined to guy him. but
his physique and bearing did not in
vite chatting. He had learned to dance
in the old Walhalla Hall days, and
while some of the new figures con-
fused him a little, he went through
every number valiantly. He was en-
joying thoroughly himself when he
heard the familiar cry of Fire" 1t
was his day off, but from force of
habit he hurried to the window and
tore aside the curtains.
The house opposite was ablaze. He
dashed out of the door and down the
street TO the nearest alarm box, then
he rushed back. At a third-story win
dow stood two women and a child.
The room next to them was burning
The flames, bursting from the window,
had parted one of the ropes holding a
scaffold left by stone cutters at the
conclusion of their days work. The
scaffold, merely a ladder, covered with
boards which had fallen to the ground,
now dangled from the other rope.
Dan, with the help of a policeman,
swung it around until it rested against
the building. Although the ladder fell
short by fifteen feet, Dan seized a
piece of rope which had been burned
off, and with it over his shoulder, he
climbed the ladder. Catching the rope
on the top rung, he fastened it around
his body, in place of the usual life
belt
Drop the little GIRL he command
ed
The women hesitated.
81 am a fireman." he called. Don't
be afraid. I'll catch her.
They passed her over the SILL and,
raising his arms, he caught her as
she fell. The shock was tremendous,
and for moment it seemed that the
rope must break or the ladder topple
over. Then he swung in by one leg.
which he had thrust through a rung
higher up than that on which is foot
rested. He passed the child behind his
back and bade her hold tight to his
leg.
A clang sounded in the street be-
law. He knew the bell. 1t was 10
engine. Help was coming. Again he
held out his arms.
"Drop!" he commanded.
The shock this time was still more
violent but the ladder held. AS he
caught the woman he felt that the
strain where the child had clasped him
was relieved. There was another fire.
man on the ladder and he had taken
the child down.
The flames now threatened to break
through the window in front of which
he was working, but he heard the
chug- chug of old Nineteen and a sec
ond later water dashed against the
side of the building. Again he held
out his arms, and once more felt the
terrific shock. Then he cast off the
rope and climbed down the ladder with
the woman. AS he reached the last
rung, the top of the ladder burned off
and fell to the ground with a crash.
Chief Corbyn was on the sidewalk,
directing half dozen companies, but
he turned as Dan passed.
AT is again, eh?" he said jokingIy
1T was as pretty a rescue as l ever
saw. l admire your nerve, but l can't
say much for the dress suit