The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13

But that impulse Of excitement which
had drawn them to II as to an exhilarat-
ing spectacle received q cold and diZZying
shock when they saw standing on the
doorstep Of a house opposite a stocky.
grfm-faced old Irish woman, her face
white and her lips working. strainins her
absorbed gaze at one OF the windows OF
the stricken building. where a little group
Of factory girls was occasionally and dim
ly visible through the mists OF tho smoke.
The people in the crowd were making
frantic and helpless gestures; they
stretched out their arms TO the girls: they
called to them not to jump-to wait The
girls were quiet and clinging togsthsr. ap-
parently In panic OF dumb and hopeless
horror.
The engines were already playing and
the steam from the jets OF wAtar drew .
thicker and thicker veil Of WhitO uaist. 90
casionally blown aside by q Light and rig-
Ing wind, between the clAmortng people
below and the isolated girls ab0va. The
old woman pressed her hands against her
head. MY Kitty My KittyR' she
groaned monotonously over ana over
again.
They heard the 1arring Of the hooks and
ladders through the chuhing steam and
the murmuring crowd. and then IN the
blowing smoke they saw two men set the
top Of the ladder against the row OF win
dows marking the floor next below that
where the girls were. They could not put
it higher. for the fire had curled up
around the sill above, and evidently the
smoke was becoming sitting there, for
the girls put their heads farther out Of
the window.
They could see Mr.. Murphy'B long body
hurrytng up the ladder; he stood on the
top rung and steadied himself with one
hand on projecting rain pipe. The girls
began to speak and to cling together
then, and the old woman stopped moan
ing He held out his right arm
Just drop alsy." they could hear him
call; the girl pressed closest 70 the win
dow casing got out and poised giddily on
the sill. Hang by your handsP' he
shouted; she clambered down. hung. and
dropped safe and plumb, caught In his
arm
The ladder trembled, the crowd yelled
hoarsely, and the girl, dizzy and white,
was helped down by the other hremen to
the crowded sidewalk. where the old wo-
man. her mother, stood. now In parox-
ysm Of Joy, pressing her hands together,
blessing the saints, blessing the hremen,
with tears pouring down her cheeks.
When the last frantic girl was safe on
the ground Murphy turned around to the
hurrahing. weeping people. and climbed
down the ladder. They shook his hand,
some OF them kissed II. they wept over
him; they cheered for him; they carried
him on their shoulders.
1t cannot be said that Mr.. Murphy
knew so well how to behave on this occa-
sion as he knew how to behave In dis
tributing the prizes OF the Elks or In lead
ing the grand march. He hung his head
and even growIed when the old women
kissed his hand, and washed they
wouldn't do It; and when he observed
Kitty and her parent excitedly approach
ing him he longed more than for anything
else to be able to get out OF their way.
But when he saw on the outskirts OF
the people pressing around him Annie and
the little McGarrigles. laughing and cry
ing, II occurred to him with thrilling con-
viction that this incident would give him
a considerable pull over Mr.. OMara and
Mr.. Sullivan. His hope was not vain
I'm afraid I won't see you any more In
the candy store" Annie said to Mrs La
Grange on the next day over the counter.
Mrs. La Grange made a low, dignihed
sound. expressive OF regret and inquiry.
ST amt going to be here after the hrse
of the MONTH" continued Annie. I'm
going to be married. III be real sorry noe
to see you so often. / started to see you
Saturday. but I didn't get the time
I'm glad you didn't come" said Mrs.
La Grange. It had. indeed, been the
afternoon Of her paper at the club.
Il got caught in that big fire. Did you
see about II In the Newspapers
Eyes, indeed" said Mrs. La Grange. 70
was not a part OF her Christian Science
philosophy to acknowledge that flames
might be painful, but she was sometimes
startled into moments OF sanity and tncon-
sistency. THAT brave fireman who caught
the girls-I thought Of your cousin at tho
time-I hope he wasn't IN IT.
Annie looked down at the candy box abe
was filing; the tears crowded to her eyes.
wa I'm Al "a aaf6
Mrs. La Oranges heart beat with BYm-
pathetic pride why. AnnieP' she said
TITS him I'm going to marry. too" said
Annie. glancing distraitly about the shop
with shining eyes.
He certainly deserves to be made hap
py," said Mrs. La Grange. And you,
Annie, you know how much hope you
Will be happy. dear child"
"Oh. I'm not afraid" said Annie. with
humble confidence. Hes lots too good
for me-"
Meanwhile two young girls, admirers OF
Mrs. La Grange. had come up from the
end Of the store.
i've felt proud Of being a Chlcagoan
ever since yesterday" said one.
Eyes, indeed" said the other. They Waro
referang to Mrs La Oranges paper.
Bot Mrs. La Oranges head was so full
of fire that she honestly misunderstood
them. She was absorbed In the sense OF
something finer, more helpful toward pro-
gress than any paper she had ever
dreamed.
Yes she answered, IT don't see how
anything could be more inspiring than
such a perfect and humble courage"