The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-01-08

HdSlllV. SnlfC waist was 100 intricate,
SO she threw on a gay Japanese XII
mono; her jacket and walking skirt
concealed the limitations of her at
tire
What are you going to do?" asked
Mary, also putting on clothes which
were easy of adjustment. She had
never gone to fires in the old days
before she had come to South Dakota;
but if Louise went-gentle, highbred
Louise-why, she would go too that
was all there was about it. She had
constituted herself Louise's guardian
in this rough life that must be so alien
to the eastern girl. Louise had been
very good to her. Louise's startled
cry about her note books carried little
understanding to her. She was not
used to court and it's ways.
They fastened out into the hallway
and down the stairs. They saw no
one whom they knew, though men
were still lodging out from uneXpect-
ed places and hurrying down the
street 1t seemed impossible that the
inconveniently built, diminutive prair-
lie hotel could accommodate so many
people. Louise found herself wonder
ing where they had been packed away
The men, carelessly dressed as they
We're, their hair shaggy and unkempt,
always with pistols in belt or hip
pocket or hand, made her shiver with
dread. They looked so wild and weird
and fierce in the dimly lighted hall.
She clutched Mary's arm nervously.
but no thought of returning entered
her mind. Probably the Judge was
already on the courthouse grounds.
He would want to save some valuable
books he had been reading in his of
fetal quarters. So they went out into
the bleak and windy night. They
were Immediately enveoped in a wild
gust that nearly swept them off their
feet as it came tearing down the
street. They chung together for a
moment
It'll burn like he'll in this wind."
some one cried, as bunch of men
hurried past them. The words We're
literally whipped out of his mouth.
Won't save thing
Flames We're bursting out of the
front windows upstairs. The sky was
all alight. Sparks We're tossed madly
southwark by the wind. There was
grave danger for buildings other than
the one already doomed The roar OF
1.-The wind and the flames was we'll
nigh deafening. The back windows
and stairs seemed clear
Hurry, Mary, hurry cried Louise
above the roar, and pressed forward
stumbling and gasping for the breath
that tie wild wind coveted 1t was
not far they had to 60 There was a
Jam of men in the yard. More were
coming up. But there was nothing
to do. Men shook their heads and
shrugged their shoulders and watched
the progress of the inevitable with the
placidity engendered of the potent:
1T can't be helped" But some things
might have been saved that were not
saved had the first on the grounds not
rested so securely on that qlieting
inevitability. AS the girls came with
in the crowded circle of light. they
overheard something of gallant at
tempt on the part of somebody to
save the county rccords-they did not
hear whether or no the attempt had
been successful. They made theil
way to the rear. 1t was still dark
Louise! What are you going to
do?" cried Mary, in CONSERVATION
There were few people on this side
Louise put her hand deliberately tc
the door-knob 1t gave to her pres
sure--the door swung open. Some
one stumbled out blindly and leaned
against the wall for moment. his
hands over his eyes.
Il can't do it," he said, aloud, u
can't reach the vaults.
Louise slipped past him and was
within the doorway, closely followed
by the frantic Mary.
The man cried out sharply, and
stretched out OBTAINING hand Are
you crazy? Come back"
MIR Gordon" cried Louise. with 8
little sob of relief, lis it really you
Let me go-quick-my note books!
A thick cloud of smoke at that mo
ment came rolling down the bach
stairs. 1t enveloped them. 1t Wen
down their threats and made then
cough. The man. throwing an arm
over the shoulders of the slender CIR
who had started up after the frs
shock of the smoke had passed away
pushed her gently but firmly outside
Don't let her come, Mary hi
called back, clearly. III get thu
note books-if can" Then he wa'
goneaup the smoke-wreathed stair
way.
Outside, the girls waited. l
seemed hours. The wind, bowling
around the corners, whipped thei
skirts. There was colder edge to it
Fire at last broke out of the bacl
windows simultaneously with TIL
sound of breaking glass, and hug
pillows of released black smok'
surged out from the new outlet
Louise started forward She neve