The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-01
SAVED AS BY FIRE"

the case with a sharp click.
| He stared at his desk, at the papers in
confusion, at the overturned Wastebas-
ket and the litter ON the floor. Then he
went to the window and opened it.
| The night was dark and the east wind
blew softly. The sky was sprinkled
with stars that seemed strangely near
Far below the street lamps trailed away
in orderly rows. The night was oppres-
sively quiet.
He turned back. A peculiar sound
caught his ears. 1t was rapid clicking
that came from beyond the north wall
of the room.
Its the girl at the typewriter" he
muttered. '.Those fellows don't spare
her. But she doesn't seem like the COM
planning sort. l never saw her when she
wasn't looking bright and cheerful. l
wonder what she finds in life!' 49,,
And because he had found very little
in life, he kicked the wastebasket vi
ciously and flung himself into his desk
chair.
He was 81, young man who had
grown old in experience and had tired OF
the game. His castles had gone crum-
bling, his hopes were withered, his faith
in himself was wrecked. He had thrown
UP his. hands in surrender.
Out of the little fortune he had Won
by his shrewdness and daring, there was
a handful of dollars left. But he didn't
fear poverty. He had his health he had
his hands, he was big and strong, and he
had his quick brain.
There was no question about his abil-
itv to keep the wolf from the door. But
he couldn't bring himself to the thought
of working for master, he had always
been so free, so Independent.
But, no, he was tired of it all. He had
played his cards and lost. He was down,
he was Inundated, he was glad to quit.
For two nights he hadn't slept, but
there was long sleep ahead of him.
And the busy typewriter beyond the
north wall clicked ON.
Il fancy I've been too much alone,
he muttered and a little wave of self,
pity ran through his mind. IF | had
married." he paused with a short laugh.
THAT girls pleasant face is making me
sentimental l wish l had spoken to her
this morning when her skirt caught in
the elevator door. How prettily she
thanked me-" He looked around. 'Pd
like to leave her something" he MUIR
INJURED. "What shall it be? When a
man is making his will he can't be too
careful. 1 wonder if she'd care for that
paper weight? 1t was cut from mum
my case in old Egypt. It's. thousands of
it on her door sill with my card. For
the girl with the CHEEKY face" He
laughed again and then looked at his
watch.
Guess I've settled up everything" lie
said. mo man will be the poorer for my
going, and no man will be the better if
stay" He arose and crossed to the win
dow. 1--WE only to drop from this he
slowly muttered. "Twelve stories. No
doubt 1 will be dead before 1 reach the
pavement" He peered down at the
twinkling lights far below. Ever since
1 was boy great heights have fascinat-
ed me. They seem to draw me with in
visible hands. L have had to clutch al
something to save myself from that fatal
lure. The invisible hands will get me nj
LAST
He paused and the typewriter clicking
was heard again.
iii put the paper weight at her door,
he said, and turned and picked up the
polished cube and started for the door
He swung it open and slipped into the
hall. AS he did so a puff of gray smoke
came up the elevator shaft.
Whats that?" he cried and ran to the
iron gates. A stronger puff smote him IL
the face. He drew back coughing and
gasping. For moment he hesitated
Then he ran to the narrow stairway al
the end of the hail. The smoke was
putting up there, too.
In second he was back at the door
of the room adjoining his own. He couiC
hear the clicking typewriter within. He
!; raped deliberately. The clicking stopped
There was a moment of hesitation. Ther
the door was opened by the girl She
started at sight of John Chalmers.
Il beg your pardon" he said, "fol
: alarming you,. but I'm afraid the build
!, ing is on fire
ION fre!' she echoed. AS if to con
firm his words a fresh puff of smoke
whirled through the elevator doors.
The girls face paled.
There is no cause for immediate
ALARM" said John quietly.
What are we to do?" the girl asked
1--WE can do nothing but wait" he an
swered. ''The fire seems to have gained
: some Roadway. We can't get through
I that smoke on the stairs, and the new
fire escape has only reached the sixth
story. No doubt the iremen are on thell
way and we will soon be relieved"
| She was watching his face as he spoke
Now she family smiled.
L will put away some papers, SHIT
said, land get my jacket"
He hurried to the elevator doors again
but the smoke drove him back. IL
| could see the white walls of the shat
slowly reddening. AS he retreated hii
; eyes caught sight of coil of rope OF
| the floor in a corner. He remembered
why it was there. Just the day befor'
steeplejack had painted and gilded tn
flagstaff on the towering structure, ant
the rope was part of his apparatus
John Chalmers caught up the coil ant
dragged it to his room and flung 1
through the door.
Come" he called to the girl
She quickly obeyed him.
"Well?' she said.
"COme into my room. 1t is litti'
farther from the shaft. This smoke i
, getting unsupportable. We must bar i
out"
. She followed him into his room and h'
!. closed the door and pushed the window
little higher.
"Hark," he said. The clang of bell
below could be heard. He leaned out
'The apparatus is coming from all direc
tions." he said. "Ahw
There was a crash Of glass and puff
of smoke from a window several stories
below.
: ''What was it?'' the girl called.
| "The fire seems to be on the seventh
, floor" he answered. ''The heat is break
ing the glass;"
He went to the door and opened it
little way. Then he closed it quickly ant
came back and leaned again from thu
window.
''They are getting the ladders up" h
said. 'They are breaking in the win
dows."
He spoke quietly as a mere spectator
might speak. He must not alarm tn,
girl He realized that they were penne(
in this tall tower like trapped rats
Would help come? If so. it must com,
soon.
Suddenly the lights went out.
"That was to be expected" he sale
| calmly