Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-05-31
The Manager
Of the B. q A.
BY VAUGHAN KESTER
by u
Holt nodded wearily.

balu tne doctor unedslIy.
Holt turned TO McClintock.
Isn't there some method Of back
fringT'
IT'S too late to try that, and, with
too big a risk"
He glanced moodily across the town
TO the north, where the black cloud
hung low In the sky. He added:
Il have told my wife TO keep the
young ones in. no matter what hap
pens, but, Lord, they will be about as
well of one place as another when il
comes to the pinch"
Il suppose So" agreed the doctor. IL
am at loss to know what precautions
to take TO insure the safety Of Mrs.
Emory and my daughter"
II was only o'clock, but it was al.
ready quite dark In the town, a strange
half light that twisted the accustomed
shape OF things. The air was close,
sitting, and the wind, which blew In
heavy gusts, was like the breath from
furnace. The somber twilight car.
sion. Every sound in nature was still
ed. Silence reigned supreme. 1t was
the expectant hush OF each living thing
The three men stepped out on the
platform Holt and the doctor were
still mopping their faces with their
limp handkerchiefs. McClintock was
tanning himself with his straw hat
When they spoke they unconsciously
dropped their voices 10 a whisper.
''Those families in the north end
should move out OF their homes" said
the doctor. "If they wait until the fire
gets here they will save nothing but
what they have on their backs"
"Yes, and the houses ought to come
down added McClintock. There's
where the FIRE will get Its first grip on
the town, and then heaven help us!'
Night came, and SO imminent seem
ed the danger that Antioch was reused
TO something like activity.
A crowd composed almost exclusive
y OF men gathered early on the square
before the courthouse. .r-. ...
They had by cSnmon consent given
up all hope that the relief train would
be sent from Buckhorn Junction. The
hight In the sky told them that they
were completely cut OF from the out
side world. The town and the woods
Immediately adjacent formed an is-
land In the center OF an untroken sea
of nre. The ragged red line had crept
around to the east, west and south, but
the principal danger would be from
the north, where the wind drove the
flames forward with resistiess fury
To the south and east Biilup's Fork
interposed as a barrier TO the progress
OF the fire and on the west was a
wide area OF cultivated fields.
At regular intervals waves OF light
flooded the square as the freshenIng
gusts famed the connagration or
whlrled across the town great patches
OF black smoke, In the intervals OF
light a number OF dark figures could
be seen moving about on the roof OF
the courthouse. Like the square below.
II was crowded with anxious watchers
The crowd jostled to and fro on the
square, restless and excited and inca
pable OF physical quiet Then sudden
ly voice was raised and made itself
heard above the tramp OF feet
Those houses in the north end must
come down." this voice said.
There was silence and then many
tongued murmur Each man presen;
knew that the residents OF the moth
end had sworn that they would no:
sacrifice their homes to the publc
good II their homes must 80 they
much preferred TO have them L@-a. 10.
then the Insurance companies would
have 10 bear the loss
Those louo"S uls: come Go--" the
toice repeated.
Ii was Me .I.I:,.N Who 'rl s- Seu.
who's cuia- 2. ''H -a''- own
another voice a.s,I They are. road,
TO H.nt tor them
"Aud NJ, ul.bt "a l.. inst MS ,s,Iv :.
6sht III II c,uis, d, ,l.t' ,.....y..,,.5 ,,.
master mechanic "l.. i.. fla c,u,.
mon good"
The crowd WAS s,i,el with ii r,,s,
agitation. Its rcat mn f,.l,:--. .,.,.