The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-13
WINNING HIS, PARDON
By EPES w. SARGENT

rush off to fire again and forget about me
I shall nAver forgive you."
But Rob vowed there should be no next
time.
Carter was what is known in fire circles as
a buffalo, or, more tersely, "buh A
buffalo is a student Of the flre-fghting system
who by courtesy is permitted to enter the
fire lines and have private stable connection
with the fire alarm telegraph system.
From boy Carter had been enthusiastic
over fires. At college he was the captain OF
the student volunteer fire brigade. On his
entrance into the easy, aimless life Of a man
of leisure he spared neither pains nor money
till he was granted the privilege Of serving
as buff" In one corner Of his stable wero
a speedy mare and a light buggy always ready
to go out when second alarm indicated that
the fire OF sufficient importance to call
out chief. His driver Bunce, always knew
where to find him. His engagement to Mario
RE had put new interests into his life, but
they could not entirely supplant his old love.
But matters went smoothly, partly through
luck and partly through management, till the
night Of the Clarendon dance. Rob was hur-
rying through the lower hall to claim prom
ised dance from Marjorie when his eye fell
on Bunce all excitement.
Come quick!'' shouted the driver. "It's
the Clapham House, and they rang the third
alarm"
Wild excitement over a third alarm fire
swallowed up all thought Of the dance or his
promise. He dashed down the steps after
Bunce. and while the latter skillfully guided
the swaying buggy got into the rough coat
that was always carried under the seat.
The Clapham was fashionable residential
hotel and occupied entire block. Smoke
| and flame were already pouring out Of its
lower stories when Carter dashed up. He was
| a man Of exceptional physique and had al
ready made several noted savings. Dawson,
the chief, hailed him with relief.
"Oh, Carter. we're short a chief! Can't
you take twelve truck around to the rear?"
| Carter saluted and at once took command
of the rear Of the building. Most Of the
guests Of the upper floors had taken refuge
there, as the flames were less fierce. But the
wind was shifting. driving the fire rearward.
so that there was NO time to raise the lad
ders. The nets were spread, and one by one
the threatened people jumped, all save one
old lady, whose face was distorted by fear
that Garter failed to recognize her. He only
saw that she was too frightened to Jump.
Selling a scaling ladder, he went up 1t.
Another man passed him a second, and he
placed 1t in the window above. With the
swiftness of long practice he was on the
first ladder hanging TO the third window and
placing the second ladder to the fourth story
window.
This brought him next the window where
the woman was watching the flames in state
of collapse. With swing ne got over to
the window. The woman gave a scream. II
was Mrs. Gilfain, and with her cry of recog-
nition she sank fainting to the floor
There was time to be lost. With the
heavy curtain he made a sling under her
shoulders and SO slung her on his back
, The flames were just creeping out Of the
window below when he reached it. He had
) to pat out some spurts as he sat on the
= ledge. The fire was streaming out Of the
windows directly below, SO escape in ths,
, direction seemed cut off. Farther to the righ,
was the jutting window Of an elevator shaft
still untouched by the fire. The other men
. were raising a ladder part way up the side
Of the shaft. It was his one hope. Desper-
ately he hooked his ladder in the sill of the
small shaft window, seized the end runsl
with both hands and swung down to the
t willing arms stretched out to receive him
Then he knew no more.
t When he woke up, there were bandages or
a his arms and head and an odor of drugs thai
betokened the hospital. There, too, was Mar.
jore Gifain, her eyes wet with tears!
g At sight Of her tears the memory Of hi:
! broken promise came with stab of pain.
e II don't suppose you will forgive me thii
time, Marjorie" he said contritely. II didn'
r mean to- but clean forgot again when I saw
9 Bunce."
d But the tears in her eyes were tears o.
love and pride. She pressed her cool cheei
y to his. ITS all right DEAR she whispered
r "You have nobly earned your PARDON