The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-22
A Change Of Profession
BY HARVEY ]. O'HIGGlNS.
Copyright by S. S. Mcclure Coz

ped the line and ran to the door
smoke was pouring from it. and flame
| Mas behind the smoke. Gorman RAJ
back for the hose, turned the neck.
guard Of the helmet over his face and
| with the water to open the way 70,
HIM, fought down three steps into q
blaze that could not be faced Tho
| wind. blowing in the broken windows
Of the airshaft. brought up a smother
Of heat and smoke against which his
/ pipe was useless. He was fighting q
pra,rle fire with the stream of an ex-
tlnguisher.
Hanrahan pitched forward on his
shoulders. German braced himself
| against the weight turned to catch
h,m under the armpits and carried
| him up, himself half Suffocated, &c
lay him On the roof. They were greet
/ ed by the fierce purring of the flames
| Hanrahan groaned.
"Y' all right" German asked him
| He rolled his eyes. Lets get down
out OF this he gasped.
] .sornan stra ghtdncd up and looked
! iround him. The doorway was the
| My entrance to the roof He walked
| lack, to kick the useless hose down
| he staircase and shut the tin-sheath-
d door on the blaze below. He went
| the stone railing that surrounded
| he cornice on the front of the build
i
| fsg. The coping overhung the lower
| yindows in a sheer drop to the street.
! lie hurried to the south wall. The
| windows there were twelve feet down,
| nd there was no pipe-no foothold.
| Re went to the back of the roof and
| iound another coping.
He turned, to see Hanrahan run
| ing FROM parapet to parapet, now
| hidden in d cloud of whirliDg smoke,
| low black in the red glow of wind
down flames He saw him lean over
he marble railing that surmouEted
ne cornice on the front of the build
ng. and put his hands in a trumpet TO
is mouth; the voice was lost in the
ar of the wind. He saw him take off
lis helmet and try to throw 1T down
rto the street; and the gale snatched
from his hand, tossed 1t aloft. and
Jew it away to the south With the
noke and the flying embers.
He came running back to German.
cts get down." he painted. Lets
ct down"
German did not answer him.
For the Lords sake, Bull" he cried
don't let us burn alive up here!'
German shook his head. Il can't
get down. he said
He could see that there was nothing
Oh the brick roof to burn; the heat
and not the flames would be their dan
ger. The fire was at its worst in the
ght-well, and at the point furthest
from it there was an enormous water
tank, protected with a covering of tin.
md supported across the angie of the
walls on steel beams, SO that, even if
:be roof should fall, the tank would
net go with it. Here was the greatest
safety. They would have water to
prevent the heat from baking them
live and they would have the tank 70
shelter them from the drift CT smoke.
German went over it and crouched
20 peer beneath the beams. Hanra-
han stumbled against him. Bull"
ne whimpered. 81 can't can't get
down.
German thrust him aside, We'll,
who said you could ?" he snarled.
You're up here 10 stay. You better
make up yer mind to that an Shut yer
zap.
Hanrahan threw up his arms and
screamed at the sky in high, dry
soice clutching with his fingers and
mapping like a dog with his teeth.
Then he pitched forward into the
smoke on a run for the street parapet
again.
German climbed slowly up the iron
adder to the top of the tank. He came
IN Il scuttle there and raised it. 10 find
hat the tank was almost full. He took
off his rubber coat and dipped it
Town, and il came up dripping. He
dubbed it over his face, and licked at
the moisture ON the smooth tdrpaulin;
md the touch OF water sent q burning
fever-flush Of thirst through him. He
reached down with his helmet, drew it
up half full, and emptied it over his
nead and down his back, AGAIN and
again. Then he drank in great gulps,
signing With satisfaction.
The relief brought back his energies.
The tank ladder took his eye, and it
occurred to him that ii he could get
I loose he might be able to reach a
over window with it. He took hold
u it in his huge hands, drew a long
breath, and strained to wrench it from
is iron sockets, tightening on it slow
until the blood drlunmed in his ears.
he bent the upright of it, but the
sockets held it still When he paused
CT breath. he remembered Hanrahan
md shouted to him for aid.
He got no answer, and he descend
ed the roof to find him lying on his
s. ce III the worst of the heat that blew
from the airshaft. He dragged him
back from it and emptied helmet
full of water on his face.
Hanrahan rolled his mead from side
To side. muttering to himself.
Say" German said. Say look-a-
here
He opened staring eyes, moving his
/ ps in Il whisper.
Better get up to the tank an take "a
dip. l want you to help me get that
ladder loose
Hanrahan slipped an arm around
his neck, raising himself on his elbow.
Get me down out of this, Bull" he
whispered. Get me down out of this
ans I'll make it good. | got pull.
! got II promise
German threw off his arm. Stop
ialkin' foolish. [ can't get you down,
man Here. take a drink"
Hanrahan caught at his collar.
thrusting aside the water. Get Qc
down. he said. You get me down,
Bull I'll make it good Tn right in
with the gang. DorGan said
German threw him from him with
curse Il can't get you down. he
yelled at him. whats the matter
with you?"
Hanrahap fell back heavily and lay
breathing hard, with open mouth.
puff of smoke blew down and choked
him with a sob.
German dragged him across the roof
to the tank and sat down beside him
l. l. T. -