Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-29

the pleasure of going and prevent his
making any noise to wake the baby
during her absence. And as the two
| hurried down the burning pavement
Katie counted over her change - 12
cents--and named over the things
she would buy for the family supper
Five cents for bread" she began,
"and cents for sausages. That leaves
2 cents for potatoes. But we've got 3
potatoes in the kitchen already And
! we've got several slices of bacon,
too, which will make supper for papa
And I'll cook some rice there is
still bit of it for you, Sammy and
myself"
II want sausages," declared Sam
my, smacking his red lips in anticipa-
ton. II don't want bread nor rice
I wants sausages."
"All right, piggie, you may have one
nice, big slice off the sausage. And
here we are at the market. All, there's
old Mr.. SCHNEIDER to wait on us. He's
very good, too, and gives us good
measure. l like him to wait on me
he gives me such lot for my pen
MES"
The old marketman, Mr.. SCHNEIDER,
came to wait on Katie and to ask her
how the family were. Then he got the
things she wanted, giving her about
Z cents worth of sausage for the
nickel. And to add to his kindness the
old German gave a ripe, juicy plum
to Sammy, who put it into his mouth
at one bite.
Then Katie and Sammy started
homeward. But at the next corner
they were held in delay by a fire en-
CINE coming down the street. Then
another and another came in its
wake. The crowds became so thick
that it was almost impossible for
Katie and Sammy to get through, and
Katie had to push her way, dragging
the reluctant Sammy with her. He
wanted to stay there and "see what
all the noise was"
"But these engines are going right
down past our house and they'll wake
the baby" explained Katie, hurrying
him along. "And- Why, Sammy,
look! l do believe-I do believe"
But Katie said not another word Fair
ly dragging Sammy, she ran down the
street like flash, winding her way in
and out through the crowd and gain
ing the front of her own home. But
she couldn't get to tue door, for police
men barred the way and kept intrud-
ers out The engines were near to the
house, the firemen getting ready to go
to work right there. And to Katies
horror, she learned that the fire had
broken out in the floor just below that
occupied by her own family Oh, and
there was the baby up, there alone
Katie's heart beat fast and her little
pinched face turned a deadly white
Telling Sammy to go across the street
and to remain there till she should
call for him, she ran to policeman
and said: please, sir, our little baby
is on the top floor. I must go up and
get it,"
"stand back" ordered the police
man. Then he explained to her:
"The firemen have been up and have
fetched out all who were there. You
can't go in-the whole third floor is
afire''
At this news Katie felt the very
blood in her veins turning to ice.
What! Trust their precious baby to
the firemen? What if they had not
found her? she was lying in the bed
room-way back in the shadiest-
which meant the darkest-corner of
the room. And she was on little pal
let on the floor. Chairs, the bed and
other furniture would have been in the
way of the firemen seeing her!
Katie pressed her lips together firm
~ She had made up her mind 20
save her beloved and helpless baby
sister Waiting her chance, she went
close to the "fire line" then, when the
policemen were busy keeping grown
ups back from the danger line she
darted past them, gaining the steps,
then the door, before anyone had
scarcely caught glimpse of her
There goes a child into the house,"
went up the shout from dozen on
lockers. Then the policemen ran to
call her out. And half dozen fire
men hurried into the burning building
to force Katie out again But she
had gained the door, and before those
in pursuit Of her could cross the
threshold she had gone up the first
flight of stairs. Then she was bound |
ing up the other flight, holding her
apron over her mouth and eyes to shut
out the terrible smoke.
Then, almost miraculously, she was
on her own landing, and in another
minute had found her precious baby
sister-where 1t had really been over
looked by the flremen and was start
ing down again. But the smoke drove
her back into her own rooms, and she
found exit by way of the stairs cut
off.
But Katie was little woman in
mind. Her lot had always been such
poor one that, like all children Of
the poor, she was wise for her tender
years. Having known so much re-
sponsibility in her life, she did not
shudder, nor cry out at the danger
which now confronted her. She stood
but moment, with the precious baby
waiting Justify In her arms. Then,
running to the fire escape, she drop
ped out through an open window upon
it. AS she did SO cry of horror and
fear sprang from hundred Threats
in the street below. "a child-a little |
girl, holding baby!" at the sight |
several women tainted and strong men
lost control of their voices and began