Putnam patriot., 1909-10-22

ward, grasping the sky. Above there was no blue only low hanging can opy of smoke, blood red, rolling to- ward the sea Through the corridors and up the stairs there seemed 10 drift voice that yet was not the voice of man. for no one could have told whose voice 1t was Shrieklng with terror. trembling with hopeIessness. 1t came. Fire. Fire, And there is no water" Set faces met Us in the street-a food of humanity. dumb. sweeping tide that bore us on and on- For hours we walked: 1t seemed thousand miles And always Amy and Jack were silent. and always her hand was in his. once eaw him look at her. q deep wistfulness in his eyes. but he did not spenk So we trudged on. Suddenly heard a commanding voice. Pack" 1t cried Clear the ways' An automobile shot pasta red fash. like n meteor The wind caught mg light hat and sent it spinning 1 saw Amy grasp Jack by the arm and cast frightened glance over her shoulder.
 Jack she whispered. did you see that that in the autog" Yes. he said Tt was dynamite. ' She shyered
 Dynamite. and the streets eholked with humanity, We knew what 1t meant. Another hell was to be turned loase-a hell te meet hell, I thought fast. but l did not speak. I could not We came io small park that over looked the hay. The waves were lash
 Ing themselves into red foam, ieapIng
 high in air and failing in red rain. The sun was copper ball.
 We found clear spot between two trees and sat down to rest. Amy was quite exhausted. Jack famed her with his hat I ached ali over. but
 lan back upon the grass and thanked my hardwerking old guardian angel that was still aboard this pretty good old earth.
 Then i heard n crash like n thou sand claps of thunder The earth seemed to reel before the blast like ship ia storm Between IS and that red glare something shot upward something btg. black and sereeebing q building that mau had studied and planned and ial.ered to build An- ether followed and another and an- ftAer, Ike hahdfulS of sand thrown in the air by children Whole squares rtemed rising and melting, It was brsrrum. hr-f.r-un. hrsr-rum um-um.
 
 world saemed leaiing iate atoms.
 Nhile the flames reached up long arms
 to zrasp the fragments heforg thay re
 turned to earth II WIS the wrath of
 God pitt q sainst the fiendishness of
 Satau It was awful -awfuIi
 Amy eavered her eyes with her
 hands and soblied softly.
 "pon't" testTed lack. ''rlease don't!
 can't star3 it"'
 she raised her eyes te his suddenly
 "oh." she said, do you careI2
 "Yes," he cried passionately and held
 out his hands ite was standing above
 her never naw gpcater tenderness
 on mans face
 For an instant she looked at him,
 then lowered her eyes again. A pearl
 s!!sss8ed on the end of lash.
 "Aen aren't fair" she said. rather
 rehellousiy You are taking an ad
 vantage
 Il am unfair" he rcpfied tremuloss-
 ly. Forgive me" He turned about
 and bif his nails He was pale. yet
 perSpiratien beaded His forehead
 Presently he faced her again.
 T am sorry" he said. We might
 have saved some of yaur effects. You
 have lost everything. l am afraid. for.
 see. the flames must already have
 reached your hotel" Ills voice WAS
 solicitors. almost tender Yet there
 was no trace of passion In II. No she said. T did not lose all. The rest does not matter" She spoke
 softly, avoiding his eyes You saved somethIngr he asked He was looking away to where the dy- nami,e and the fire were ieapinS Re each others throat
 "A tritie." she said wsarily. raising her eyes and dropping them again. 'i had gone back after Il and was return Ing when you came -
 saw him glance st her quickly,
 then avert his eyes. If l might guess he began. but she interrupted
 You forget You are not 10 be an fair
 He bit his lip. but smiled wanly | -conle. then he saii. ''it were best | NC go. will take you to Sister Grace | n Oakland. Would you mlndr' She hesiEateJ 'sf will promise not to
 see yeu." hs resumed quickly. ~ua- | Iess"-
 | ~UnlessY'
 | Unless you wish.
 1 T will not mind. then" shc said. | Agais we were in the throag. push | ing. showing With Amy between us, | Jack and l fought our way Inch hy l inch tl.l we reached The ferry build l ing and were aboard the boat Slowly l we crossed the bay-with the pace os snaIi. The red flames seemed leap | ing toward us as though seeking tc | clasp Us to their scarlet breasts, Vt | could see the streets leading down tc ! the wharfs-hlack with creatures, dnrnt | and swaying with the Intensity of aw | ful despair. The water front was s 1 snrging mass. the docks crowded will ! crsaging humanity. their faces nend | ssh in the reddish. f,iekering light. When l felt my feet again on solid | ground i took q full breath. l don'l l think ever nat my lungs to any cee ter use. Amy was laughsng-the un