Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-03-24


thrill of horror ran through the onlook-
ers at sight Of the clinging figure; strong
men clenehed their hands convulsively
and women wept outright. And then
"He1l never reach her. He can't reach
her! It's suicide nothing else!" Breath
less they saw the man dart forward,
break through the Gordon of restraining
hands, and plunge headlong into that
zone Of fire. What impelled him he could
never have told, never explained even to
himself.
"Cowards towards" were the words
that rose to his lips; but even as he said
them he knew that the accusation was
unjust. Not a man there but would have
yentured had he seen the smallest chance
of success.
That mad, quixotic rush carried him
right through the first belt of flame The
rear of the house was not so badly en-
veloped dinly he realized that there was
still faint hope if he could but find the
stairs. Then he had torn his handker,
chief from his pocket, fashioned it rough
| ly into respirator, and was down ON
hands and knees, searching grimly,
anxiously. Ali That terrible ascent was
like some nightmare. Inch by inch, step
b. step, he fought the binding smoke,
the cruel, curling tongues of flame Eyes,
nose and mouth smarted with excruciat-
ing pain; every breath became a sep
arate torture, grim alternative with
death. Could he go on? Could he ever
reach the top? The flames were fiercer
now; the heat almost uncomfortable Gain
ing the landing, he hesitated second as
to direction. Yes-now! One
more effort! A wild rush, desperate
hurting of himself across an ocean of
roaring, cracking fame Thank
bcavenl
Yes, she was still there, clinging with
| frail hands to the narrow window ledge.
| Wonder of wonders that she had man
| ageo to hold so long, Down below was
a sen of faces, a jumbo of swinging,
swging figures. A hoarse cheer broke
out; he realized slowly that it was for
| him they cheered What now? They
were holding out an immense sheet
Jump! Jump!" came the cry from a
| thousand voices. Yes; of course! In q
moment! He tried to steady himself, to
lstill the mad, sledgc-hammer humping
of his heart against his ribs Then he
| had clutched the woman firmly, swung
| both arms around her, looked down once
more at that sea Of white, upturned faces
rid jumped
Lying there in the little white hos
pital bed, swathed from head to foot in
cotton wool, and painfully aware with
out the doctors warning Of the sutility
Of trying to move, dim, hazy recollections
of other happenings more than passing
strange shaped slowly in his brain. I'm
possible to be SIRE even now if real OF
only wild mad fancy; but ringing in his
ears ever since the morlent of being
picked up by tender hands and lifted with
1 bis unconscious burden into the waiting
ambulance was mat angllished cry OF
| Mother! that low, startled exclama-
ton forced fro'l the woman's lips in
sheer fateful wonder next moment
| Alan! Oh, it cannot be- Yes
yes, it is my Alan"
! Too wonderful--yes. No dream the
dainty, weIl-remembered figure that came
hurrying down the line of beds next
morning to halt with glad little cry
beside his own; not fancy only the long
| lingering kiss that told each of them OF
passion long pent up and suddenly re-
leased. No! Ellicc-his Ellice--at last
She was there beside him, her hand was
holding his. her eyes were smiling brave
sweet messages into his own; all the IA.
dance of her fresh young being called
| him back imperiously to health and hope
and happiness.
| Every day she came, her presence like
burst of glad sunshine in the drab.
colored ward; every day his progress to.
wards recovery grew more rapid. And
then
Bit by bit the mystery unfoldcd. He
learned the story of the scapegract
brother, gambler, thief and worse, who
terrorized the frail mother and the only
sister, hesitated at no expedient. how.
ever mean. to possess himself of thu
means to crafty his evil passions. She
had vowed never to tell him-Alan; how
could she? The shame, the sordid. mis-
erabie bitterness OF it. Every
word was like a stab
/ Not yeti" she told him, when he trieC
to take her in his arms, to sweep away
embrace No! When he was better
He must come then TO her little home
she woulu like him to see her lust one,
as she had been living these last tire,
years. Afterwards They smiled il
happy unison.
1t was weary waiting; but word cam,
at last that the doctors said he NIGH
leave the hospital. Monday was the day
/ fixed. She gave him her address; tolt
him that she should not come to fetcl
him. but should expect him at O'Clock,
Monday came, dragged its long hour
away at snail-like pace; and at 4 O'Clock
he stood on the pavement outside tn,
little house. He rang the bell-twice
No answer Impossible to wait longer
He tried the door. found that it opened
and went inside The first floor, she ha,
said,
Up the stairs he went with quickenin.
pulse, turned the handle of door at tn
top in joyous anticipation, halted dead
What what That cot at the side o
the fircplace-thc curly headed. rosy
checked little mite inside! His breath
came ierkily; he gazed with sudden