The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-19

D4l kE 41EQ 10 SEE llEE pass Db the ems
CINE house every morning on her way 10
the paper box factory around the corner
on Thompson street. She had never
missed day ali summer long, and every
morning, a little before O'Clock. Tom
Burke would stroll out of the engine
house earelessly, Zip a chair back against
the red brick wall, and read the morning
paper attenhvely until the paper box
factory girls came by
Amt he the unsociable thing. though"
Sue McManus would say. with a swift,
laughing, SIDE glance at the young fireman,
when she went by with a crowd OF girls.
such an interesting paper it is. to be
sure. But it 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-eurled brown hair,
but never an answering glance would be
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,
and 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 violets in a knot
of ribbon.
1t 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 look after
her and pass corners absently. and every
child on the street would look up for
smile. and a touch of her hand. 1t was
just the way she had, Burke told himself.
and she couldn't help 1t any more than
an angel could help scattering blessings
as It slipped by.
He had never spoken TO her. He didn't
even know If she was aware of his ex-
istence. After she had passed he would
drop the paper. and stare az the red
and black Chinese sign across the street,
and wonder how he could ever get ac-
qualnted with her She wouldn't fiirt,
like other girls. He could tell that by
the way she held her head up and went
straight ahead, and she never seemed 10
have any chums among the girls Sue
McManus had told him her name one day.
Sue was right in society. and went %
the aremens ball and the fremens pic
mic, and an the benefits just because
she had a second cousin on a hose cart
uptown, in Harlem.
sure. I know who she is" Sue had
| laughed at him over the question. shes
! forelady on the fifth floor, over the lacers
Those are girls who put in the lace
I trimming 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-a big, tall young fellow
( Maybe you know him-Jack OFerraII?"
/ I know him. said Burke. Hes all
right. She has reason 10 hold up her head
/ over him"
/ Then he wondered how he could ap-
pT0seh O'FeTralL Every day he used 10
/ see him strolling down from Washington
/ square, his white gloves spotless, no mat
I ter what the weather was. his coat with
out a wrinkle, and a smile that won him
( the respect Of everybody, for they knew
/ behind the smile was a handy fist and a
quick brain. No, Burke decided ne
couldn't tell 'OFerraH that he was i'll
/ love with his sister just on the strength
/ of seeing her walk by the engine house.
/ He would wait and let fate and the little
/ blind god join hands over his love.
! It was a hot August day when the
alarm sounded and Burke jumped for
/ his place as the engine pulled out. Il had
/ been dull all day. and he felt glad there
was TO be some relief at last. The true,
natural born smoke eater loves the first
/ Whit of smoke as an actor loves the
4 last strains of the overture the first
/ low ripple of applause from out i'm front
( tt Is the bugie call to action, and Burke
4 felt his heart beat faster as the old en-
] CINE began 10 get up speed. and Nell and
Captain swung into a good long stride
/ down Fifth street under the elevated.
Where is it?" he asked his mate Raw
/ ley. Broadway"
NO; Thompson street. Walters paper
I box factory" answered Rawley.
Burkes square jaw set in hard lines
The fingers that were buttoning his coat
/ fumDied awkWardly. Walters paper-box
/ factory. and Margery was up on the fifth
floor. As the engine turned sharply into
Thompson street he could see the factory.
| half way down TO Canal Thick pufrs of
smoke Jetted from the windows, with
/ licking flames between, pale yellow in the
/ bright sunlight.
It's got hold already said Rawley.
/ There comes some Of the girls down the
] escapes"
Burke never answered. The engine
/ pulled up short below Blocker Over
/ from Fifth avenue the hook and ladder
company was changing and he looked up
/ at the fifth floor of the factory, his blue
I eyes dark with dread.
/ The girls were trying the escapes. but
] even so soon the iron was hlistering hot,
and their cries Of pain made the crowd
/ below SILVER. There was a voice az his
4 elbow. and Burke turned as he was on
/ his way into the building II was O'Fer-
rail- the policeman. and. under his helmet,
/ hts face was white and drawn
Burke. my sisters Up there on the
/ fifth floor! All the other girls are out.
/ but the top-lO0r crowd is cut on. The
/ stairways burning now. There's twenty
! girls penned in up there, and the smoke
/ viii set them sure. before the flames"
/ Burke nodded grimly The hook and
| ladder had drawn up outside.
"TH go up and get them TO the win
dows he said Hurry up the ladders -
A great stiffness fell on the waiting
crowd that packed the street beyond the
! stretched ropes. As the big ladders were