The Opelousas courier., 1903-06-13

O~o~
coat wrapped tightly about his head
and his arms ever extended in front
of him, feeling the way. At last he
found the stairway and rushed down
it.
Once in the street Michael took a
deep breath of fresh air. noticed the
location of the white face in the win:
dow, and tried again. Entering the
adjoining building he found the elevat
Or boy, shook him roughly by the arm
and babe him take his car to the sixth
floor at top speed. The frightened
boy obeyed readily. There, michael
made his way to the front window and
looked out. Far below him No. "a
throbbed and painted with its efforts
to pump a sufficient stream through
the hose already leveled at the build
ing. Other engines were just arriving
and preparing to take up positions at
n%eighboring hydrants. A pygmy crowd
watched him intently, their anxious
faces upturned to the spot where he
stood. By leaning far out Michael
could see the man in the adjoining
window. Cautioning him to keep still
he mentally figured the distance be-
tween them. Then he crawled out on
the sill.
Between Michael and the window
of the burning house was a space OF
some six feet. 1t was too far to jump
but midway a narrow ledge jutted out
from the building. So narrow was it
that Michael would not have been able
to stand OMIT without some assistance,
He looked around for something to
hold on to and found it in a tangle OF
electric light wires stretching along
the wall at his hand. Selling these he
swung one foot over on the ledge and
held out his right hand to the man in
the window leaAing oyer as far as he
could without letting 10 of the wires,
Obeying directions, the man stepped
timidly out, clutching M9chael's haRd,
which held him to the side Of the
building like a wise. Thanm9th@ driv.
er commanded, he ihehed along the
ledge till he reached the end. The hot
breath of the flames famed his face
and the smoke nearly shut off his
breathing. To the man, facing the is.
sue of life and death. On that slim
stone support 100 feet above the
street, the time during which he
inched along the ledge seemed inter.
minable. 1t seemed ages longer be.
fore the fireman had slipped back his
foot to the other sill. Standing there
by almost snuperhuman strength, he
half swung half lifted the man to a
place beside him and then in through
the window. 1t was done at last and
a mighty cheer greeted the act. Fire.
lei mounting on scaling ladders ar.
rived just in time to pull the exhaust.
ed Michael and his trembling burden
out and take them down. The man had
swooned, but he soon recovered in the
fresh air. AS for Michael, he was a
hero.
OF the great destruction wrought by
the fire, and the space in the newspa.
pers devoted to the Rescue by Fire.
man Mcmillan" 1t is not necessary
to tell. The town raving with the
news. Michael took it all calmly and
modestly, as brave fremen should do.
In quarters that evening he was con.
graduated by his comrades and patted
on the back by his captain.
That evening a woman, closely muf.
fed up, came to the firehouse inquir.
ing for Mr.. Mcmillan. Under ordinary
circumstances visitors are not allowed
to disturb the iremen, but the captain,
who knew the woman ,winked at a
breach OF discipline for once. Micha.
ell rung back at first, refusing to see
her, but big Jack Rainey pushed him
forward with a laugh at his fear OF
"the women folks"
Thus adjured, Michael faced the
caller. For the moment there was ST,
lence, then she spoke. The first words
sent a thrill through Michael for 1t
was a voice he well knew and loved.
81 saw the fire this afternoon,
Mike" she began.
did you Rhoda?" was the response
in an almost inaudible voice.
"Yes, and l want to tell you, Mike
Mcmillan, that / am proud of you!n
she went on quickly. 1T was grand
Jaw" replied Mike, shifting awk.
wardly from one foot to the other and
blushing like a schoolboy again. Il
didn't do nothin'." Mikes grammar
was not faultless, but Rhoda didn't
seem to mind. She lowered her head
and picked for a ome at her shawl
Then she lifted it again and looked
straight into his eyes with a laugh.
"Say, Mike" she said, and for some
reason the poor boy turned red as q
peony, Il guess I didn't mean what
said the other afternoon" Then she
dropped her eyes to the shawl again.
1t took Mike sometime to grasp the
situation, but he met it at last like
a a What then? There were none
of his comrades there to see, but he
would not have cared had the whole
world looked on. He was Rhoda's
hero.