The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-01

is pointing me out. They are shifting
the searchlight. The crowd sees me.
Listen" A faint roar came from the
street. 'The fremen are waving their
hats to. me. They mean courage.
Here" he suddenly said to the girl,
must not think have succumbed. Care
full Careful. Not too far. There. they
see you.' Another hOarse roar came
from the street. The girl with the
searchlight fiaring upon her waved her
hand to the crowd below, and another
deep roar came up.
John Chalmers was dragging the coil
of rope to the window Then he dropped
it on the floor and ran to the desk. He
drew a match from his pocket and light
ing it, snatched up a sheet OF paper and
scrubbed half a dozen words. He fast
ened his message to the end of the rope
with a rubber band and quickly paid out
the coil He watched it with an eager
gaze. Was the rope long enough?
"Ah," he cried. ''It reaches-the fire
man has caught it." He knotted the end
of the rope about a chair leg and flung
off his coat.
The smell of burning wood was strong
in the room. The smoke forced its way
about the door. There was a dull red
glare through the transOm.
| John caught up the rope again and
peered down.
'They are passing up the extra hose
he cried. There, there, they are fasten.
ing the rope to it. Hurry, lads, hurry.
They are waving their hats to me. Yes,
| yes, / understand.
| With a steady and powerful pull he
drew in the rope. Hand over hand he
drew it in. And below the ladder the
fremen passed up the hOse-passed it up
with trained muscles, swiftly and steadi-
IT,
John did not waste his strength. He
| knew that the weight would SOrely tax
his back and arms. But he had been
the strong man of his class at college,
and he was glad to feel that his muscles
were gamely responding to the strain.
Heavier and heavier grew the burden.
| He clenched his teeth and drew the rope
foot by. foot. And as he lahored he
breathed a thankful prayer that he had
unwittingly prepared himself for the
emergency and that now he was meet
! ing it like a man.
His back was sorely cramped, his arms
| ached in their sockets, a red mist swan
before his eyes and then with final pull
ing distance and clutched it and with a
mighty effort drew it across the sill, and
so into the room. And from the street
| below came another hOarse cry.
4 Coughing and half strangling, for the
| smoke was getting more and more dense,
John hauled in tho hose until it reached
close to the closed door. "Now," he
cried to the girl, lean from the window
and wave your arms to the men below.
Make them understand that you want
the water. Make them understand"
The girl obeyed
John crept to the door and flung it
open. Then he threw himself on the
hose with stout grasp on the nozzle,
and his head close to the door and
waited.
The hall was gray with smoke, and
flames were darling through the elevator
ironwork. Above the elevator shaft the
red tongues Of fire were running here
and there. In moment It seemed as il
| the whole interior of the hallway might
be filed with a roaring flame.
DO they understands he cried.
The girl heard him.
Yes, yes, think they do she an
swered.
Wave your arms again."
The girl leaned out.
DO they anSwer?'
'They are shouting up to me. L can't
hear what they are saying. They are
holding the hose tightly against the lad
DER Yes, yes. the water is coming?'
john put his body upon the hose and
lying PROSTATE waited.
Then the hose suddenly stirred like a
living thing and the water gushed from
w
stream-the height was too great-but
little by little the force increased, yet
not enough to imperil Johns firm grasp
on the nozzle.
And now he was directing the heavy
flow through the open doorway against
the blazing woodwork. Round about
the hallway the torrent few and scat
tered and scraped. With a mighty effort
: John drew the hose forward a little far
Their, and elevating the nozzle swept
away the flames that were creeping
about the woodwork above the shaft.
This was not done in a moment. The
fire was stubborn and let go it's hold
slowly.
The girl came close to John anG
dropped on her knees beside him.
Somehow he felt her presence.
Are you there?' he asked.
H e drew quick breath.
You're fne,' he said. mot a whim
per, not q tear. l didn't suppose there
was such a girl
41Do you know why 1 have been So
brayeT' she asked. ''It is because yor
are with me. You encouraged me, yor
gave me strength, you gave me. hope
1 didn't dare to be weak and foolish
You were so cool, so quiet, so strong
What a power for good a man like yor
can bev'
There was a little silence, and thu
steady stream swept about the, hall ant
drove river of water down the shaft;
1.-The danger is quite over, think" HI
presently said. .'No doubt the iremer
have conquered the flames below"
The girl still knelt beside him.
IL can't thank you for what yol
have DONE" she said with a sudder
, break in her voice.
Don't try" he interrupted. "Yo,
don't owe me any thanks. If you hadn'
been here I wouldn't-well, l wouldn'
have had any incentive TOTO do wha
l have done. You have taught me ;
lesson-perhaps I'll tell you sometime
what it is There, that's all the wate
we can put to use-except little for on
grimy faces. Will you wave your arms
again to the boys below"
The girl ran to the window and looked
down. A wild cheer greeted her. Sh
waved her arms and presently the wa
ter was shut off.
John arose from his cramped position
, and stretched himself and walked abou
little. Then he splashed through tn
water and raised the hall windows ant
let out the smoke.
, The sky lightened and the moon ha(
risen. and the upper floor was no longe
wrapped in gloom.
John looked at his watch:
''Nine o'clock he said. ga prett.
lively twenty minutes.
II hope" said the girl, ''that m.
: mother will not worry. If she hears
; about the fire it will greatly alarm her
And if I'm late she will be very anx
ious."
John turned suddenly.
- 41Y~ how 1,