Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-10-09

directing. pushing them along And then came the
heavier sinoke-black thick MISUNDERSTANDING into a
cloud of awful flame. Out of the stock-room into the
shipping-room they were marched and narshaled-
Hysterical ones he restrained and faintng ones he
supported. " Here. girls" he exclaimed" here comes
the elevator" And a blessed sight it was-the big
cage with the open door, and Willie Ryan sprnging
lightly out in front of the ashen-faced negro boy who
ran it.
Into the car StacIpole piled them with one great
arm: while with the other he held half OF the fright
ened girls back in that sufocatng smoke all scream
ing and struggling; and again, in moment he was
back. slammed the door, and said: Col
The dropped into pail OF smoke The giris
were almost Interchangeable; But Stackpole with hrm
Willie to the front and burst open window
for air Below he caught glimpses OF great horror
their faces were hidden by flames shooting out from
the windows below. Shaking with an awful fright,
The stairs Try the stairsi" girls were shrieking
The stairs furnace OF fame. Staekpole tried 20
call them back but they heard not or, hearing would
, not listen Willie Aeeter even than they ran and
headed them off The floor, blistering hot, cracked
Mr. Stackpolc," cried Willie: unable longer to con-
troll his fright, what shall do? ,
The managers hand gripped his shoulder. Save
yourself if you can, my boy. God help you. I'm
And off Willie scrrrcd in the rolling curling, sick
ening smoke like poor little mouse trying for life
Just then back the elevator with fireman at the
crowd much less HIMSELF but into the he iammed
the girls tighter than girls were ever jammed
before. till only three-two-one faintng girl re-
NAMED: and her the giant Stackpole seized in both
his hands lifted and threw like roll of quicksteps.
right the heads and the shoulders of the girls
Jump in! screamed the fireman. squeezed to the
shape of a wafer.
NO" cried Stackpoe. choking with smoke. and
slanmng the door: no. 1 tell you Go! and turned
from hope OF life face DEATH but every girl every
last girl big and little in that car and safe i only
the flames shooting holly UP the hatch did not
Turning half blinded Stackpole stumbled into
Willie Ryan CROPPING back. This way, Mr.. Stack
Spectacles gone head swimming eyes scorchng.
throat choking. Stackpole, cnging to Wiies arm,
followed him blindly through the shipping-room,
through the stock-room. past the air shaft-a
ing fame-shaft now-and, on their hands and knees,
out behind the freght-elevator. There the fire.
escape-pitifu enough; an excuse for what it ought
be; but yet chance, single desperate chance. to
stackpoe, gone pieces now since the others were
saved, looked At it and quavered " can't do it You
No no: you first. You can, Mr. Stackpole. You
must go first" shouted Willie, above the roar Of the
furnace behind them
Urging pleading pushing. Juggling, the boy started
the hesating man, pushed him out OF the window and
down the frai iron ladder which indeed looked
than icicle.
Climbing then himself over the easement Willie
made ready to follow, when Tom with a piteous yow
boltcd through the wall of fire and eaped up on the
Willie started like one stricken. The big cat dread
couldn't Throw him out? Horrible Save him9
Stackpoe, master now of himself climbing down
quickly thought anxously OF the boy above. Look
ing up once through the smoke, he saw the lad the
looked up-Wilie had disappeared. There were shouts
bcow-shouts OF warming But too late Something
sucked Stackpoles breath and wrapped him in fiery
clasp. A burst OF flame enveoped him, and losing
consciousness. he dropped headlong. But the fire.
waiting below for just that thing with
stout leathcrn blanket. and into Sackpoe dropped
like big feaherbcd but he scorched and senseess
" Is everybody out from our 1oor?" he cried
minute later in the drugstore while doctor bound
his bliscrcd hands. Willie Ryan" he demanded in
agony. Where is Willie Ryan,"
Here's Willie Ryan" exclaimed a rough voice at
his elbow: and peering through his singed eyelds,
Stackpoe could see the boy bending him. Near
by stood the bury fireman, waiting the doctors atten-
ton.
If those poor printers on the lower floor had only
had some of Willie Ryans and courage. they
needn't have broken their legs there the pavement
he exclaimed. Do you know what that boy did after
those men had thrown themselves from the wndowse"
he added excitedly. sitting down by Stackpole.
know he saved me- murmured Stackpole-
Saved you! Yes; and saved himself: and saved thu
cat: and saved the mailbag; and saved-what else wa4
it? demanded the fireman of Willie
Only the shipping book"
And while this boy doing all that. those poot
men out there were jumping from the windows into
the street That's what beats me- muttered the plucky
fireman, barring his burned arm for the doctor.
Willie Ryan, you're all right. We need boys like
you in business