The Washington herald., 1907-07-07
CHAPTER XXVII-Continued.


him; they even forgot Thomson and III,
effect their revenge was having upor
him in their dismay; but when they
got round into the street In front they
stood in horror.
The road was full. A crowd that was
rapidly increasing stared up at the burn
ing building The workmen had evident
" prepared their plans carefully, and
taken care that they should not fail.
There was a strange smell of paraffin
in the air. and the flames were leaping
in the windows in way that no ordinary
flames would leap. Their plans had been
well laid.
No fremen had arrived. but ladder
had been raised against the wall and
beneath it were huddled a group of peo-
pie with strained, anxious faces. They
were looking up breathlessly in strange
silence.
They're watching for Ted SeaIey:'
some one said huskily in Geoffrey's ear.
It's the sixth time he's gone. and he's
hurt and fit TO drop as it is They tried
! TO prevent him going the last time but
, Il was no good They say now there's
woman shut up in the mill still
"Ted Sedley?" Geoffrey repeated.
yes, there's been some mistake. and
Eome women got left behind and cut
bG. Ted got them out, and now they
Say that Barker, the lawyers clerk. got
left there. too. and Ted's gone after him.
It looks us if it would be a miracle if
he ever got out again
He stopped suddenly, for a shadow
appeared amidst the Ieaping flames at
one of the windows and an instant
later hoarse cheer went up from the
crowd. It was Ted and Ted with bur
den in his arms,
The cheer was repeated Then a man
ran up the ladder and took from him a
loose heap that looked more like a
charred bundle Of clothing than a man.
IL was Fred Barker.
Ted raised himself to the sill, the fire
roariEg behind him, and sat for a mo-
rnent. his feet on the ladder. A shout
S went up from the crowd
How are you, lad? Are you all right,
&ad?"
He waved one hand. The other hung
S oddly at his side.
I'm all right" he cried in a queer,
z&lead voice. Yes lads I'm all right"
tie swung himself slowly onto the
q adder and began TO descend. They had
aid Barker down on blankets. and now
turned to help Ted. A whisper ran
through the crowd-Earker was dead or
dying-but suddenly the whisper ceased
and changed TO a quick sharp cry.
Godfrey gave start and ran forward.
The ladder bending already under Ted's
weight. had snapped suddenly. There was
q crash and a sharper cry, and then
sudden. Mortified silence.
Geoffrey pushed in amidst the crowd,
pushing them right and left. until he
reached the silent group beneath the
flaming windows. Some one was forcing
them back
'Air-air-give him air." he cried; "and
some one get another doctor AT once"
A dozen turned to fetch one. but at that
instant Dr. North stepped from among
them and bent over himi He lay quite
still, and In spite of the great crowd
about them. the cracking and roaring Of
flames and splitting of glass above their
heads seemed 20 he the only sound. a
fire engine had dashed up. and was busy
playing from the other end of the street.
and now the hiss of water mixed with
the angry roar Of the fire.
And in the midst of it all Ted lay quite
still with the familiar faces about him;
he lay. seeing none Of them, speechless, !
unmoving.
a short distance away. equally silent |
lay Barker, the Oldcasue dandy the little |
fop. with all his smartness gone. his |
clothes charred and blackened. and his |
mean face changed beyond recognition. !
He was breathing heavily. rousing slowly. !
coming by degrees gradually back 10 |
life
lie tried to lift his head at last, and |
the other doctor. who had been try |
ing To force something between his lips, |
slipped his arm around his shoulders.
rs there any one you wish to see?" |
he asked in low voice. You may send |
fer them if you wish
Barkers head moved slowly round
Bessie be whispered.
The doctor bent his head lower to |
catch the feeble voice.
Yes: Bessie whO?'' he asked
Fred made no reply. His hands were /
fumbling amidst the Charred rags of /
his coat, terrible hands burned and |
SCARED by the fire. and for a moment /
his face changed.
"Gone" he said, suddenly. Tell her
it has quite gone
Yes. yes" said the doctor. sOothingIy. |
4 will be sure 10 tell her. You must
not worry
Look and see" interrupted Barker's
feeble. faT-away voice again, that it
has quite gone. No one must see it-she
hated it-dirty work Look In my
pocket
lie turned suddenly, agitated. 20 the
doctor.
In my pocket he repeated. Here"
He pointed 20 his ragged. blackened
breast, and the doctor fumbled with
gentle hands among tie charTed bits
Of paper which had once been his pocket
book. There were the remains Of what
had once been letters. and Barkers duh
eyes frightened and sharpened as the
doctor drew the little bundle out
Look" he cried Look quickly"
The doctor. not knowing for what to
look. opened the bundle slowly and let
TIE letters loose They were nearly all
burned beyond hope He held them up
one after the other. u1rccognizabie scraps
of paper that almost fell to pieces as