The Opelousas courier., 1902-01-11
"What, Bob Reilly of the force?"

said Kelly.
The same" was the reply.
"Why, Bob Reilly was killed saving
children said the officer.
Il know he was" replied the ole
man. 1T was this way. The big schoo.
buildings caught fire in the basement il
some way and all but about ten of the
children got out; these had run up in
to the top story and were cut off.
Reilly was in a building that looked
down on it. The iremen had the nets
down but the children were afraid to
jump, so Reilly got a rope and the men
lowered him down to the roof where he
broke through the skylight and reached
them. He threw them out of the Win
dow into the nets, all but one, and that
was the girl you're after. He hated TO
throw her, and what they were doing
the Lord only knows, when all at once
a belt of fame and smoke surrounded
them. The girl shot out of the window
and fell into the net, but the father
ne1r came OUT
Il know that" responded Eelly, II
was there, and if l were you I'd hate
to have any disgrace come to thaGkid."
$50 do" replied the old man.h''but
I've done everything l can. I'm kSted
by the neighbors; they won't bring
their work here, ali on account of flat
kid" n
"Where is She" asked Kelly, Looking
around.
"In the street; I1an't lock her up an
the time" said Benson.
"Well," said Kelly. eff I put these
complaints and the witnesses are called
she'll go to the school sure"
The old man said nothing; he was
doubtless glad of. the opportunity of
getting rid of a troublesome hoyden, so
the officer walked out of the hot, sti-
fling room and started down the alley.
He had not gone more than two blocks
when he heard certain sounds which
suggested trouble, and in the center of
the street stood a group of boys. The
officer moved ahead quickly and reach
ing the crowd asking
Whats up"
"The red kids been firing rocks at
us" replied some one.
"Where is she?" asked Kelly.
There" pointed the boy who had
been hit.
Pushing into the crowd, Kelly looked
down upon a singular scene. On the
in the hot dust, lay an old
horse, its CLASSY eyes turned upward.
is nostrils dilated, its sides heaving
telling of the intense heat, suf-
tering and approaching dissolution. In
he dust at its head, holding an old UNI
'rella over it with one hand and a
rock in the other, was the
'eddest-haired girl Kelly had ever seen.
Hit him again and I'll give it to YOU" t
he was saying in a threatening tone to
he boys, raising the rock grimly: and t
hen Kelly saw that she had a basin of
water and had been moistening the ami
nal's head. t
i hope / did," replied the Red Ter
or, for it was she. c
Kelly was on the bench, supreme v
Judge, and it occurred to him to ug-
that the prisoner should not con- t
let herself; but she was not yet a pris- t
ner.
IT'S this way" she said, still holding a
umbrella over the head of the pros s
ate animal. II was walking down the v
rect when | found the boys throwing Il
ones at this horse. It was sick, any S
could see that"-and Kelly saw the
'ars starting-"so I called out to them IT
stop or-yes, or I'd rock them; but ii
icy wouldn't, so | got behind the horse =
drove them off; then it fell down
ID | got some water and washed its
ead and held the umbrella over it un-
some n came. But the crowd be-
IN to come and abuse me, and a
Here the Red Terror broke down, the ia
nbrella fell from her hand, and with in
cry ITS dead, it's dead!' she Drop 81
d beside the animal and wept as ca
ough her heart would break. in
There was something about Officer is
looks that made every boy creep OF
way, until finally he, the girl and the to
ad horse were alone; then he took the N
nlnutive Red Terror in his arms and &c
her up the hot, dusty alley to D
] Benson's. ia
tn
What did you find about that stone at
rowing case?" asked the captain of ma
lice that night. du
Nothing" replied Kelly, briefly; tac-
sed moved away" in
SO she had. The Terror had moved WI
Q the very heart of Officer Kelly's uf
big one though it was an
'troit Free Press. til;
ms
&c. g. r.. e.