Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-06-18
SAVED AS BY FIRE.


day he was 81.
Eight-thirty." ne muttered, and closed
the case with 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
III orderly rows. The night was oppres-
siyely quiet.
He turned back A peculiar sound
caught his ears. 1t was a rapid clicking
that came from beyond the north wall
of the room.
Its the girl at the typewriter" he
nuttered. Those fellows don't spare
her. But she doesn't seem like the com
planning sort. | never saw her when she
wasn't looking bright and cheerful
wonder what she finds in life?"
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, a young man who had
grown old in experience and had tired of
the game. His castles had gone crunl-
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 abii-
itv to keep the wolf from the door, But
he couldn't bring himself to the thought
of working for a 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 Eve been too much alone,
he muttered and 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. | wish | had spoken to her
this morning when her skirt caught in
the elevator door. How prettily she
thanked me-" He looked around '1'd
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. l wonder if she'd care for that
paper weight 1t was cut from a num-
my case in old Egypt It's thousands of
years old, if Battersby is right. I'll put
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 Eve settled up everything" he
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. I've only to drop from this he
slowly muttered. Twelve stories. NJ
doubt / will be dead before | reach the
pavement" He peered down at the
twinkling lights far below. Ever since
| was a boy great heights have fascinat-
| ed me. They seem to draw me with in
visible hands. / have had to clutch at
something to save myself from that fatal
| lure. The invisible hands will get me at
| last"
He paused and the typewriter clicking
was heard again.
IN 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
! hail. As he did so a puff of gray smoke
came up the elevator shaft.
Whats that" he cried and ran to the
iron gates. 4 stronger puff smote him in
the face. He drew back coughing and
gaSping. For moment he heSitated.
| Then he ran to the narrow stairway at
the end of the hall. The smoke was
putting up there, too.
| In a second he was back at the door
of the room adjoining his own. He could
near the clicking typewriter within. He
trapped deliberately. The clicking stopped
There was a moment of hesitation. Then
the door was opened by the girl. She
started at sight of John Chalmers.
Il beg your pardon he said, for
alarming you, but I'm afraid the build
| ing is on fire.
ION fre!" she echoed. As if to CON
firm his words 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.
I'VE can do nothing but wait" he an
severed. The fire seems to have gained
some Roadway. We can't get through
that smoke on the stairs. and the new
fire escape has only reached the sixth
story. No doubt the firemen are on their
way and we will soon be relieved
She was watching his face as he spoke.
Now she family smiled.
Il will put away some papers," She
said. and get my jacket"
lie hurried to the elevator doors again.
but the smoke drove him back. He
could see the white walls of the shaft
slowly reddening. Al he retreated his
eyes caught sight of a coil of rope on
the floor in a corner. He remembered
why it was there Just the day before
a steeplejack had painted and gilded the
flagstaff on the towering structure. and
the rope was part of his apparatus.
John Chalmers caught up the coil and
dragged it TO his room and flung it
through the door.
Come" he called To the girl
She quickly obeyed him
''Npllt'i she Ssi1
Come into my ROOM 1t Is a little
farther from the shaft This smoke is
getting unsupportable. We must bar it
out"
She followed him into his room and he
closed the door and pushed the window
n little higher.
Hank he said The clang of bells
below could he heard. He leaned out.
The apparatus is coming from all direc-
tons" he said "Ahr
There was Il crash of glass and pun
of smoke from a window several stories
| below.
'Whct was it," the girl called.
| ttIha frs 70 bn he