Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-04-16

"My note books" cried Louise, W
a flash of comprebcn sion. She dressed
hastily. Shirt waist was too intricate,
so sne 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 II Louise went--gentle, hlghbred
Louise-why, she would go too. that
was all there was about 1t. She had
constituted herself Louse's guardian
in this rough life that must be so alien
to the eastern girl. Louise had been
very good to her. Loulse'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
street. 1t seemed impossible that the
inconvenently 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
bot .hivnr
| dread. They looked so Wild and weird
| and fierce in the dimly lighted hall.
! She clutched Marys 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 enveioped in 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 hell in this wind"
some one cried, as bunch of men
hurried past them The words were
literally whipped out OF his mouth.
won't save a thing"
| Flames were 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
, 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 the wild wind coveted 1t was
not far they had to go. There was a
jam of men in the yard. More were
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 quieting
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 It 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 to
the door-knob. 1t gave to her pres.
sure--the door swung open. Some
one stumbled out Dlindly and leaned
against the wall for moment, his
hands over his eyes.
Il cant do it," he said, aloud. Il
cant reach the vaults.
Louise slipped past him and was
within the doorway, closely followed
by the frantic Mary.
The mar cried out sharply, and
stretched out OBTAINING hand. Are
you crazy Come back
Mr. Gordon." cried Louise with a
little sob of relief, lis 1t really you!
Let me go--quck--my note books"
A 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 cir
who had started up after the hrs'
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" Then he wa:
gone-up the smoke.wreathed stair
way.
Outside, the girls waited. 1
seemed hours. The wind, howlins
around the corners whipped thei
skirts. There was a colder edge to II
Fire at last broke out of the bacl
windows simultaneously with thu
sound of breaking glass. and hug
pillows of released black smok
surged out from the new outlet
Louise started forward. She neve
knew afterward Just what she mean
to do, but she sprang away from
r Mary's encircling arm and ran up tn
q little flight of steps leading to tn
:. door from which she had been so M
4 tremendously thrust. Afterward