Gunnison news-champion., 1908-03-27

Nv ont Save Thing"
They fastened out into the nalfway
and down the stairs. They saw nc
one whom they knew. though men
we're SIN lodging out from unexpect.
ed places and hurrying down the
street II seemed impossible that the
inconveuiently 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
were, 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.
hcial quarters. So they went out into
the bleak and windy night. They
were Immediately enveioped in q wild
gust that nearly swept them OF their
feet n It came tearing aown the
street. They chung together for .
moment.
It'll burn like hell in this wind."
some one cried, as 4 bunch Of men
hurried past them. The words were
literally whipped out of his mouth
Wont save a thing"
Flames were bursting out of the
front windows upstairs. The sky was
all alight. Sparks were tossed madly
southwark by the wind. There was
grave danger for buildings other than
the one already doomed. The roar of
the wind and the flames was well.
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 tAe wild wind coveted 1t was
not far they had to go. 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 cant 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 uuieting
inevitability. AS the girls came with
in the crowded circle of light. they
overheard something of a gallant at
tempt on the part OF somebody to
save the county records-they did not
hear whether or no the ATTEMPT had
been successful. They made their
way to the rear. 1t was still dark.
Louise What are you going to
do" cried Mary, in CONSERVATISM.
There were few people on this side.
Louise Put her hand deliberately to
sure-the door swung open. Some
one stumbled out blindly and leaned
against the wall for a moment, his
hands over his eyes.
Il cant do it," he said, aloud. Il
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 ont a OBTAINING hand. Are
you crazy? Come back,'
MIR. Gordon" cried Louise, with
little sob of relief, lis it really you?
Let me go-quick--nly note books"
thick cloud of smoke at that mo
ment came rolling down the back
stairs. 1t enveloped them. 1t went
down their throats and made them
cough. The man, throwing an arm
over the shoulders Of the slender girl
who had started up after the nrst
shock Of the smoke had passed away,
pushed her gently but firmly outside
Don't let her come, Mary" he
called back, clearly. I'll get the
note books-if can" Thea he was
gone-up the smoke-wreafAeA stair
way.
Outside. the girls waited. n.
sse0eA hosrs. The VaoA, hsWiaAg
aroanA the corners. WA1QpeA theer
sk1fts. Thew Was . ees1ae eA0s - T.
fro at lAst broke - = tAe beck
Wln1oWs se0u1tanesuney W1tA tAe
sssnA of brsakiag Gaass. 81 A1es
6fTs0Ws - reseose1 beoek s0oke