The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-30
THE EVENING yTOR Y
A Smoke Eaters Love.
; (RY Louise Merrifaid

4
| gine house every morning on her way
10 the paper box factory around the coz
ner on Thompson street. She had never
missed a day all summer long, and ev-
cry morning little before Z O'Clock.
iom Burke would stroll out of the en-
sine house carelessly, tip a chair. back
against the red brick wall. and read
the morning paper attentively until the
paper box factory girls came by.
amt he the unsociable thing,
tnough, Sue McManus would say with
swift, laughing side glance at the
young fireman, when she went by with
crowd OF girls. Such an interesting
paper 1t is, to be sure. But 1T won't be
SO interesting when Margery comes by
Burke would color at the laughter
Which always followed, color darkly to
the roots of his close curled brown hair.
out never an answering glance would he
send after the girls. All his glances
were saved for Margery
He could see her the first minute she
turned the corner of Sixth avenue, and
came down along Fifth street. She al
ways took the shady side of the street,
ana the engine house was on that side.
The other girls wore cheap picture hats
with flowing wells, and fancy waists
trimmed with. cheap lace, but Margery
was always in black and white, short
walking skirt and trim white waist,
freshly Numbered, he knew, by her pre-
cious hands. There was no picture hat
on her bonny brown hair, but a little
black sailor with a swallows wing on
one side, and a bunch of vioiets in a
knot of ribbon.
It was the style of her that took his
heart and eye the first time he ever
saw her as she came along the street.
Even the street car conductors would
sently, and every child on the street
would look up for a smile, and a touch
of her hand. 1t was just the way she
had, Burke told himself, and she
angel could help scattering blessings
as it slipped by.
He had never spoken to her. He
didn't even know if she were aware of
he would drop the paper, and stare at
the red and black Chinese sign across
the street, and wonder how he could
ever get acquainted with her. She
could tell that by the way she held
her head up and went straight ahead,
and she never seemed to have any
chums among the girls. Sue McManus
had told him her name one day; Sue
was right in society, and went to the
f1remen's ball and the firemen's picnic,
and all the benefits just because she
had a second cousin on hose cart
uptown in Harlem.
"Sure, 1 know who she is, Sue had
laughed at him over the question.
"She's forelady on the fifth floor over
the lacers Those are the girls who
put in the lace trimmings on the fancy
boxes. She's all right, but she's stuck
up because she has a brother that's a
policeman over on Mercer street,
big, tall young fellow. Maybe you
know him-Jack O'Ferral ~
''I know him." said Burke. Hes
all right. She has reason to hold up
her head over him"
Then he wondered how he could
approach O'FerraH. Every day he
used to see him strolling down from
square, his white gloves
spotless no matter what the weather
was; his coat without a wrinkle ana
4 smile that won him the respect or
for they knew behind the
brain. No, Burke decided he couldn't
tell O'Ferra1l that he was In love with
his sister Just on the strength OF seeing I
her walk by the engine house. He
would wait. and let tate and the ntlie
blind god join hands over his love.
1t was a hot August day when the
alarm sounded, and Burke jumped for |
his place as the engine pulled out 1t
lad been dull all day, and he felt gao
here was to be some relief at last. The |
rue. natural-born smoke eater loves the
irst Whit of smoke as an actor loves
he last strains Of the overture, the nrst
ow ripple of applause from out In front.
t is the bugle call to action, and Burke
eIt his heart beat faster as the old
.ngine began to get up speed and Nell
md Captain swung into good, long
tride down Fifth street under the ele-
vated
where is it?" he asked his mate,
broadway"
NO Thompson street. Walters paper
OK factory" answered Rawley-
Rurke's square jaw set in hard lines.
NE fingers that were buttoning his coat
umbled awkwardly. Walters paper box
actory, and Margery was up on the nIth
oorI AS the engine turned sharply into
-hompson street he could see the fac
ory halfway down to Canal. IhlcK
uffs of smoke jetted from the windows,
nth licking flames between, pale vel
wv in the bright sunlight.
ITS got a hold already" said Raw
~. There come some of the girls down
he escapes
Burke never answered. The engine
ulled up short below Blocker over /
rom Fifth avenue the hook and LADDER
ompany was changing, and he looked
D at the fifth floor Of the factory, his =
lue eyes dark with dread.
The girls were trying the escapes, put .
ven SO soon the iron was blistering
OF, and their cries of pain made the
+ his elbow. and Burke turned as he
as ON his way into the building. 1t j
as O'Ferrall, the policeman, and, I'M
err his helmet, his face was white ana Il
rawn. I
Burke, my sisters up there on the
fth floor. All the other girls are out, a
M the ton floor crowd is cut off. The I
Arrays burning now. There's TWEEN
girls penned in up there, and the 8
noke Will get them sure before the Ii
ames."
Burke nodded grinly. The hook and n
dder had drawn up outside. q
"I,lI go UP and get them to the wta-
,ws" he said Hurry up the lad r,
ers." E
A great stiffness fell on the waiting
owS that packed the street beyond s,
a ~+retched ropes As the big lad q,
RS were put in position. it leaked Il
# that one fireman had gone to fight a
$ way up through the burning stairs