The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1908-04-17

stairs. 1t enveloped them. 1t went
down their Threats and made them
cough. The man, throwing an arm
over the shoulders of the slender girl
who had started up after the first
shock of the smoke had passed away,
pushed her gently but firmly outside.
Don't let her come, Mary" he
called back, clearly. 'T'll get the
note books-if l can" Then he was
gone-up the smoke-wreathed STAIR
way.
Outside, the girls waited It
seemed hours. The wind, bowling
around the corners, whipped their
skirts. There was colder edge to it.
Fire at last broke out of the back
windows simultaneously with the
sound of breaking glass, and huge
pillows of released black smoke
surged out from the new outlet.
Louise started forward. She never
knew afterward just what she meant
to do, but she sprang away from
Marys encircling arm and ran up the
little flight of steps leading to the
door from which she had been so un-
tremendously thrust. Afterward,
when they told her, she realized what
her impulsive action meant, but now
she did not think. She was only con-
scious of some wild, vague impulse to
fly to the help of the man who would
even now be safe in blessed outdoors
had it not been for her and her fool
ish woman's whim. She had sent him
to his death. What were those
wretched note books-what was any
thing at all in comparison to his life!
So she stumbled blindly up the steps.
The wind had slammed the door shut.
1t was a cruel obstacle to keep her
back. She wrenched it open. The
clouds of smoke that met her, rolling
out of their imprisonment like pent-
up steam, choked her, blinded her,
beat her back. She strove impotently
against it. She tried to fight it off
with her hands-those little intensely
feminine hands whose fortune Gordon
longed to take upon himself forever
and forever. They were so small and
weak to fend for themselves. But
small as they were, it was a good
thing they did that night. Now
Mary had firm hold of her and would
not let her go. She struggled desper-
ately and tried to push her off, but
vaialy, for Mary had twice her
strength.
MARY, I shall never forgive you"
She did not finish her sentence, for
at that moment Gordon staggered out
into the air. He sat down on the bot
tom step as if he were drunk, but little
darts of flame colored the surging
smoke here and there in weird
splotch and, suddenly calm now that
there was something to do, Mary and
Louise led him away from the doomed
building where the keen wind soon
blew the choking smoke from his eyes
and throat.
1--WE swallowed ton," he said, re-
covering himself quickly. IT couldn't
get them, Louise" He did not know
he Gale ID her so.
ooh, what does it matter?" cried
Louise, earnestly. "Only forgive me
for sending YOU"
GAS l remember it, I sent myself"
said Gordon with a humorous smile,
land, | am afraid, tumbled one little
girl rather unceremoniously down the
stairs. Did I hurt you?" There was
caressing cadence in the question
that he could not for the life of him
keep out of his voice.
II did not even know I tumbled.
How did you get back?" said Louise,
TREMENDOUSLY.
"Who opened the door," counter
questioned Gordon, remembering.
'The wind must have blown it shut.
I was blinded couldn't find it
couldn't breathe. didn't have sense
enough to know it was shut, but I
couldn't have helped myself anyway.
l CROPPED for it as long as 1 could with
out breathing. Then I guess I must
have gone off a little, for I was spraw-
ling on the floor of the lower hall
when I felt breath of air playing
over me. Somebody must have opened
the door-because I am pretty sure
I had tainted or done some foolish
thing
Louise was silent. She was thank
ful-thankful. God had been very
good to her. It had been given to her
to do this thing. She had not meant
to do it-she had not konwn what she
did; enough that was done.
1T was Louise" spoke up Mary.
and tried to hold her back!" So
she accused herself.
Butt didn't do it on purpose" said
Louise, with shining eyes. ''I-I-''
Eyes, you" prompted Gordon,
looking at her with tender intentness..
IT guess I was trying to come after
you," she. confessed. 1T was very
foolish" .5 NJ
The rear grounds were rapidly fill
ing up. Like children following a
band-wagon, the crowd surged toward
the new excitement of the discovered
extension Of the fire. Gordon drew a
long breath. i. ...
II thank God for your foolishness.
he said. simply. smiling the smile III.