The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-04-05

CHAPrER xxIl-{Continued.


"Olive"-he bent his head towards
her and put n his voice n into his
words all the earnestness he could COM
mand-"I swear to 0 that I am dy-
ing. Remember the time when first
you came to this house to find me; re-
member they toll you that l was dead.
1t was not true; put your lips to mine
and tell me If you touch my lips or not
tell me that they are flesh and blood!
Listen again! I nave been put int Till
place in order that the bright flames
you see all about US may reach me and
lick away my life. Olive-for the love
Of all the old days, come back to life
come back to love!"
She ~heard-she understood; there
swept in upon her, like light, the awful
nature of the danger, the reality OF
what was happening. 1t was a real
end living woman, with fear and love
knocking hard at her heart, that clung
about the neck Of Gilbert Rickerby and
turned a face Of horror to the fans
that We're roaring about the'.l.
"Quick!" he whispered. There
where the flames are least-by the
dressing table-you'n find a razor
there-get it-nari. at these ropes. ON,
thank God, thank God, Whatever hap
pens, you have tcme back to me:
Quick!"
She darted across to the table; he
saw her through the smoke, tossing
things wildly in all directions; she came
back in a moment with something
bright in her hands. Sobbing with ex-
citement and anxiety n low and JOY
and all combined, she bent over and
Blashed away at the ropes which bound
him to the bedstead. When he was free
he staggered forward and fell upon his
knees, trembling as though with an
egue.
She ran again to the side of the room
and came back with some water, which
she tossed over him. Her face was
white and strained and eager, but 1t
va the face of a woman who knew
what she was doing n why she did II.
Gilbert Ricxerby staggered to his feet
and laughed aloud for the pure joy OF
life and freedom.
He dashed at the bed and tore on
sheets and blankets and hangings, beat
out the flames That were beginning to
lick them, and began to tear them up
into long strips. Olive understood what
he was doing, Inc began, frantically,
with teeth and fingers, to knot the
strips together. When a rope had been
made long enough and strong enough,
he twisted an end Of It about her.
caught up the rest over his arm n
struggled towards the window. The
door was a living sheet Of flame. and he
knew that they had no chanc Of escape
In that direction.
Courage, dear heart" he whispered.
It'll let you down and slip down my
self. You are not afraid?"
"Only for you," she whispered in re-
ply, and stood, calm and firm, by his
side.
He tore open the shutters and flung
up the sash of the window. In the
stiffness of the night he heard the
scream Of a policeman's whistle and
the sound Of running feet; the flames
behind them, famed by the wind.
reared up like a %urnac He gripped
the girl by the waist and swung her
up over the window ledge, steadied her
for a moment, brushed her lips with
his and let her go. From the garden
below he heard a clear, quiet voice say
that she was all right.
He twisted the end of the rope over
the top Of the shutter M knotted It
firmly. The heat by this time as ter
rifle, the flames were licking all around
him. But he got over the window sill
with a firm grip on the rope, and
slipped down into the cool darkness of
the garden, AS he touched the earth
he felt the girl close beside him, cling
Ing to him and weeping Historically.
But that was only for a moment.
This cool, san Olive, whom he had
called back from darkness and deliri-
,uln. vas ready to do all that he asked,
without question, and in utter trust of
him. They gripped hands and ran
across the garden; found the gate and
pulled it open; and ran out into the
street and sped away like happy chill
d1en, hand in hand, with sobs and
laughter. s