Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-03-14
THE HEROISM OF MICHAEL MCMILLAN.
BY Ed. w. Riis.


ne. re began 10 retreat, MS ruDDc
ccat wrapped tightly about his heat
and his arms ever extended in from
% him. feeling the way. At last he
found The stairway and rushed dow
il.
Once in the street Michael took
deep breath of fresh air. noticed thu
location of the white face in the win
dow. and tried again. Entering tbs
adjoining building he found the elevat
or boy. shook him roughly b. the arm
ana babe him take his car to the sixth
floor at top speed. The frightened
boy obeyed readily. There, michae
made his way 10 the front window an,
looked out. Far below him No. p
throbbed and painted with its effort:
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
neighbcring hydrants. a pySmy crowt
watched him intcntly, their anxiou:
faces upturned TO the spot where his
stood BY leaning far out Michae
could see the man in the adjoining
window. Cautioning him TO keep sill
he mentally figured the distance be
tween them. 1len he crawled out OF
the sill.
Between Michael and the window
OF the burning house was a space O.
some six feet. 1t was too far to jump
but midway narrow ledge jutted orr
from the building. So narrow was i,
that Michael would not have been able
to stand on it without some assistance
He looked around for something te
hold On to and found it in a tangle o:
electric light wires .tretching alon:
the wall at his hand. Selling these he
swung enc foot over on The ledge anc
held on. his right hand to the man in
the window leaning over as far as hs
could without letting go of the wires
Obeying directions, the man stepped
timidly cut. clutching Michael's hand
which held him TO the side of thu
building like wise. Then, as the driv
er commanded. he irched along the
ledge till he reached the end. The hci
breath of the flames famed his face
and the smoke nearly shut off hii
breathing. To the man, facing the is
sue of life and death. Or that slim
stone support 100 feet above the
street. the time during which hi
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
place beside him and then in through
the window. 1t was done at last AMI
a mighty cheer greeted the act. Fire
men mounting en- scaling ladders ar
rived just in time to pull the exhaust
ed Michael and his trembling burden
out and take them down. The man ha !
swooned. but he soon recovered in the
fresh air. AS for Michael, he was o
hero.
OF the great destruction wrought by
the fire. and the space in the newspa
pers devoted TO the Rescue by Fire
man Mcmillan" it is not necessar,
to tell. The town raving with the
news. Michael took it all calmly and
modestly. as brave firemel should do
In quarters that evening he was con
graduated by his comrades and patted
On the back by his captain.
That evening n woman. closely muf
fed up. came TO the firehouse inquir
ing for Mr. Mcmillan. Under ordinary
circumstances visitors are not above;
TO disturb the firemen. but the captain,
who knew the woman .winked at .
breach of discipline for once. Micha
81 lung back at first. refusing 10 ser
her. but big Jack Rainey pushed him
forward with laugh at his fear o.;
the women folks"
Thus adjured. Michael faced the
caller. For the moment there was 81
!ence. then she spoke. The first words
sent thrill through Michael for it
was a voice he we'll knew and loved.
Il saw the fire this afternoon
Mike she began.
Did you Rhoda?" was the response
IN an almost inaudible voice.
Yes. and | want 10 tell you, Mike
Mcmillan, that | am proud of You
she went On quickly 1T was grand.
'Aw." replied Mike. shifting awk
wardly from one foot to the other anc
blush!Eg like schoolboy again. y
didn't do ncthin'" Mikes grammar
was rot faultless. but Rhoda didn't
seem 10 mind. She lowered her hea
and picked for moment 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 {
peony. Il guess | didn't mean what
said the other afternoon" Then she
dropped her eyes to the shawl again
Ii took Mike sometime to grasp the
situation. but he met it at last like
n man. 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 Rhodas
hero.
Sydney Smith and His Servants