Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-31

You don't care" came in broken sobs.
There. there" he said soothingly as
he took the slight form in his arms. II
didn't mean to be cross; but my dar-
ling, we must be honest. We must
help each other to be true and morally
brave"
"Of course" he unused on the way
home, ''her father must have known
from the first what she was doing and
simply meant to give her lesson by
allowing her to proceed. Poor little
girl, she didn't mean any harm, but l
am disappointed. 1 didn't think her ca.
pable of the slightest deception"
AS he turned the corner leading to
his boarding house the light streamed
out from DR.. Gordon's Office, and he
dropped in for moments chat
II say, Neil. you don't look well.
What's the matter?' the doctor In
quired.
"Oh, / believe l have nerves. and
haven't slept well lately"
You had better let me give you q
sleeping draft and then take q weeks
rest SOON"
The sleeping draft had the desired
effect. and scarcely had Harrys head
touched the pillow when he was wrap
ped in deep slumber. After time he
was dimly conscious of a hum Of
voices in the street below. The room
was hot. and he tossed off some of the
bedclothes. His throat. smarted- and
his head ached. There was strange
roaring I'm his ears. He struggled to
| rouse himself. but it was too great an
effort. and he lay dreamily listening to
| the voices below
81 tell you. Evans, Neil is in his
room!' came in terrified tones from DR..
Gordon. Il gave him dope. and the
| noise has never wakened him."
1--WE must take a rope to him." said
Evans. And Harry wondered vaguely
| at the unaccustomed ring in his
friends voice.
But howT Again it was DR.. Cor
don's voice. 1.-The front verandas are
all in flames.'
"Could we reach him by means Of
the new building? That beam runs
parallel with his room"
"It would be madness" exclaimed
Mr.. Osborne. 1.-THE beam wouldn't hold
your weight. See! It has burned
through at the end next the Nelson
house."
Was 1t all nightmare. Harry won
dered. or was it an awful reality? But
the next words which reached him
cleared the vapors from his brain and
made him spring from his bed with q
bound
''The beam won't hold you heavy
men, but can go. 1 weigh only nine
ty pounds. I'll take the rope" came
In Jessies well loved voice.
Neil rushed to the window and hur-
riedly sized up the situation. His room
was in the corner of the third fat,
with two windows-one at the front Of
the house and one at the side. From
the front window he could see the fire.
men at work. The verandas and whole
face of the house were mass Of fire
and smoke Water from the hose
played on the blaze. but the cracking
of the flames came like the laughter OF
a victorious fiend.
He ran to the side window. A new
: building was in process Of construc-
ton. but the skeleton structure had al
ready caught tire.
The smoke cleared for an instant.
| and the crowd below caught sight of
, him. He recognized the white faces OF
Mr.. Osborne, GS3rge Evans and DR..
, Gordon. Life was sweet. Was there
. no escape? And again he scanned
the new building.
Some one was coming to him-a girl
in Jersey waist and short tweed
skirt, CARRYING in her hand coll OF
rope. Her face was appraised for a
moment. and he recognized Jessie o.
borne. Frail, timid. little Jessie amid
the fire and smoke. She must not
come farther. and. placing his hand ON
the window ledge. he prepared to de-
scend
stop. you foolr' came from below.
: "Neil, for any sake. don't put your
I foot on that beam or 1t Is death for
you bothr' shouted Evans.
Convinced that Evans was right, he
paused and watched the girl below.
Light and agile as kitten. she climb
ed from beam to brace and from brace
to beam.
, A few hours before he had boosted
Of his strength and bravery. yet here
he was forced to stand with folded
arms while this mite Of a girl brought
him succor. The heat was intense and
every nerve was strained to the utmost
|. | as he watched the approaching figure
One wrong step meant death
Awed silence fell upon the watching
crowd, but Jessie reached the second
story in safety and then advanced can.
| tiously until third was gained. She
placed her foot carefully on the last
beam and then slowly transferred hei
weight to II. There vas sickenina
; | crack, then a sudden lurch, which
caused Harry to cover his eyes with
> his hands. But q shout from 0eorge
Evans made him look again. The beam
had only sagged. and Jessie was walk
ing steadily toward him.
He leaned over the window ledgl
with outstretched arms. A momenfl
awful suspense. and then. with littl'
| cry abe snrau1 to her lovers embrace