Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-08

ing the inhaler and protector, then stepping
down The others, their lungs filled with ozone
and renewed in vigor, stepped after him. Inside
all was swirling of choked laden vapor.
At the farther end ftful gleam of flame showed
now and then. The nozzle shook with sudden
power and stream of water shot across the dark
ened space. After a few minutes man tottered,
then staggered out. He quickly relieved by
another. Then Williams had to go. Hickey stood
by, always the last 20 leave, the first to return.
His vigor was remarkable. Still, the smoke
and the flame showed no sign of diminishing. It
was going to be hard fight.
Meanwhile the Chief was directing operations
on the floor above. The Commissioner had in
sisted on participating to the fullest extent, and
now he stood with the Chief and some men di-
rectly above the fire, which, despite the flood of
water below, had burned the floor about them.
The latter was old and worn, and one end sud-
denly parted from the farther wall.
Y ou fellows had better get out of here now"
said the Chief he ordered them back to safe
distance. '1l be with you in minute Well
have this in hand soon" He had expected to see
the Commissioner move away with the rest but
that parsonage stayed
"Confound HIM" muttered the Chief under his
breath. That floor will drop him to perdition
in minute if he don't look out" The thought
was hardly formed before there came burst of
smoke as black night, then a sheet of flame
seemed to encircle the room. There came crack
and hiss! And the floor dropped away with
crash! The Chief made flying leap and
thought the Commissioner jumped too; but when
he and his men could see through the murk the
Commissioner gone! With hoarse shouts
they rushed to the edge of the abyss and looked
down. 1t was like gazing into Vesuvus- -gleam-
ing flame, the sheet of water. and pendent smoke
They called but got answer.
If the Commissioner is not dead down there,
ne live Just about two minutes" cried the
Chief hoarsely Its a case of huste!"
Meanwhile Hickey worked desperately. There
seemed to be fever in his veins ever urging him
on to greater danger. He waded through water
above his waist and plunged into that volcano
of smoke and smouldering fires as though it
were his element. How stubborn it was and
how it stifed the very breath! Even with the
inhaler on he forced to totter out like a
feeble old man for a breath of fresh air. VIII
liams and the men close behind. Dalv and
another had collapsed utterly and been sent
away.
Take care, Hick," cried the Captain thickly.
as he started for the cellar again; better 90
slow or you'll overdo it," Before he had fn
ished the back in the thick of It again.
He worked his way towards the rear, where the
fire, cleaning brightly showed in lurd flashes.
1t had caught up with heap of packing-cases
which looked as if they might contain chemicals.
He wanted to relieve Kennedy who with an
other man was handling the hose He saw them
that the floor above had burned through at one
end. The other two it also and moved back
cautiously. The next moment it came down
with a crash and a smother of flame Drawn
into the vortex of the larger area, the smoke and
murk drifted partially away. It was then Hic-
key discovered that someone had come down with
the floor. He the figure of man strue.
Cling and turned to signal Kennedy but the two
men were not to be seen. The figure ceased to
struggle. No wonder! There were fumes enough
there TO kill dozen men. There was no time to
lose. He pushed forward wading, climbing, tear
ing Once his foot slipped and he nearly fell on
his back into that swirling black lake about him.
As he drew near, he beaten stihed and
blinded by the water which came pouring from
old Thirteen's nozzle like a Niagara He gasped
choled and then he cutched the unconscious
man. The next moment he had him in his arms
Then with temples that throbbed like the fire
hose with eyes that burned and saw blood red
with lungs that seemed as if they were filled with
the fumes of He'll, he staggered, gasping cut and
snged. with his burden TO the foot of the stairs
that led to the street. There a group of men.
shouting hoarsely came upon him.
"The Commissioner is caught back there!" they
cried,
Then they paused, for the Commissioner Law in
Hickey's arms!
A few moments later, when the Commissioner
had quite recovered, his rescuer stood before
him and handed him small memorandum pad
'It fell from your pocket, sir, as l carried YOU
M the steps" he said. The official took t. sEAh
YES he said with a peculiar smile 'cI remem
Der You belong to I'd Thirteen, and you were
fifteen minutes late this morning You were or
dered to report to the Board Well, Hickey. YOU
can tell the Chief from me that you won't have
to report just now, When you do, it will be for
something better than n reprmand" He smiled
pleasantly and held forth his hand. Hickey took
it and shook it heartily.
"Ihank YOU, sir, he said simply.