The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-11-01

smoke that blinded him with tears.
He did not know that the gale was
carrying u solid tongue Of tire Into the
hidden air shaft and that every win.
dow on that shaft was already spit.
ting flames, He could Just SEQ that
the woodwork Of the window below
him was anrc, and no called Hanrahan
to train tho pipe ON II with him,
They doused It black at once and scat.
tered the smoke to see another blaze
below. Then suddenly the stream from
their hose weakened aud fell short. II
was plain that tho crews were using
the water on the lower floors,
We're wanted down bclow," |
guess." llanrahan said, "Wc're no
good IN here row."
German nodded They shut on the
nozzle and turned 10 drag the line to
the door of the stairs,
! They We're too late, Gorman saw
ithe blaze In the air shaft and cried out
an oath That shaft, he knew, llt
] TUG SNali WY hAu1h NiN hipuhN WI UNA
cut them or from the elevator shaft
In the center OF the building. They
dropped the line aud ran to the door.
Smoke was pouring from Il. and flame
was behind the smoke. German ran
back for the hose. turned the neck
guard Of the helmet over his face and,
with the water TO open the way for
him, fought down three steps into a
blaze that could not bc faced.
lIanrahan pitched forward on his
shoulders, Gorman hraced himself
against the weight. turned 10 catch
him under the armpits and carried
him up, himself half suffocated. TO
lay him on the roof. They were
greeted by the fierce purr!ng OF the
flames, llanrahan groaned.
"i' all rightr" German asked him,
He rolled his eyes. Lets get down
out of this" he gasped
German Straightenai up and looked
around him, The doorway was the
only entrance 10 tho roof. He walked
/ back 10 kick the useless hose down
the staircase and shut the tin sheath.
cd door on the blaze below He went
! TO the stone railing that surrounded
the Cornce on the trout of the build.
Ing The coping oyerhurg the lower
Windows In sheer drop to the street.
He hurried to the south wall The win.
dows there We're twelve feet down,
aud there was no plpe-~no foothold
lie went to the back OF the roof aud
found another coping
He turned to sec lIanrahan running
from parapet to parapet, now hidden
In cloud Of whlrling smoke, now
black In the red glow Of wind blown
flames, He saw him lean over the
marble railing that surmounted the
cornice on the front OF the building
and put his hands In trumpet 10 hIs
mouth, The voice was lost In the roar
OF the wind. He saw him tnke of his
helmet aud try 10 throw ii down Into
the street. and the gale snatched Il
from his hand, tossed ii aloft and blew
II away to the south with the smoke
and the flying embers.
He came running back TO German.
''For the Lords sake Bull" he cried, 4
don't let us burn alive up here"
German shook bis head, Il cant get
down." he said
He could see that there We nothing
on the brick roof TO burn. The beat
and not the flames would be their dan.
ger. The fire was at Its worst In the
light well, and Mt the point farthest
from II there was an enormous water
tank protected with covering Of tin
and supported across the angle Of the
walls on steel beams, so that, even II
the roof should fall, the tank would
not go with ii. Here was the greatest
safety. They would have water TO
prevent the heat from baking them
alive, and they would have the tank
to shelter them from the drift of
smoke.
German went over TO II and crouch
ed 10 peer beneath the beams, IIanra.
han stumbled against him. Bull" he
whlmpered, II can't-I can't get down"
German thrust him aside, well,
who said yon couldf' he snarled.
You're up here to stay. You better
make up yer mind to that an shut
yer yap."
Hanrahan threw up his arms and
screamed at the sky In high, dry
7olce, clutching with his fingers and
swapping like 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
ladder to the top Of the tank. He
came on scuttle there and raised It,
to find that the tank was almost full.
He took o3 his rubber coat and dipped
It down, aud H. came up dripping. lie
rubbed 1t over his face and licked at
the moisture on the smooth tarpaulln,
and the touch Of water sent burning
fever flush Of thirst through him. He
reached down with his helmet, drew II
up half full md emptied 1t over his
head and down his back again and
again. Then he drank It in great
gulps, signing with satisfaction.
The relief brought back his energies,
The tank ladder took his eye, and 1t
occurred to him that II he could get 1t
loose he might be able to reach
lower window with 1t. He took hold