Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1909-09-25

the street. The fremen are waving
age. Here" he suddenly turned to the
girl. take my place for a moment.
They must not think I have sue
cumbed. Careful. Careful Not too
far. There. they see you" Another
hoarse roar came from the street.
The girl, with the searchlight faring
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 1t on the floor and ran to the
desk. He drew match from his
pocket and. lighting it. snatched up
sheet OF paper and scrubbed half a
dozen words. He fastened his mes
sage to the end OF the rope with a
rubber band and quickly paid out the
coil He watched II with an eager
gaze. Was the rope long enough?
"Ahl" he cried 1T reaches--the
fireman 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 coming with extra hose
he cried. There. there. they are
fastening the rope to 1t. Hurry. lads,
hurry. They are waving their hats
TO me. Yes. yes. I understand
With steady and powerful pull he
drew in the rope. Hand over hand ne
drew II in. And below the ladder the
firemen passed up the hose-passed II
up with trained muscles, swiftly and
steadily
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 al
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 labored he breathed a
thankful prayer that he had unwit.
t'ngly prepared himself for the emer.
-gency. and that now he was meeting II
like a man.
His back was sorely cramped his
arms ached in their sockets. a red mis-
swan before his eyes. and then with
final pull he brought the brass noz
zle within reaching distance anc
clutched it and with a mighty effori
drew it across the sill. and so into
tho room. And from the street below
came another hoarse cry.
Coughing and half strangling, fol
the smoke was getting more and NOR,
dense, John hauled in the hose unit
1t. reached close to the closed door
Nov" he cried to the girl. lean from
the window and wave your arms t
the men below. Make them under
stand that you want the water. MAKE
them understand"
The girl obeyed
John crept to the door and flung 1
open Then he threw himself on the
hose with stout grasp on the nozzle
and his head close to the door, anC
waited.
The hall was gray with smoke. ant
flames were darling through the ele
vator ironwork. Above the elevator
shaft the red tongues of fire we're run
ming here and there. In moment, |
seemed as II the whole interior o
the hallway might be filled with
roaring flame.
do they understand" he cried.
The girl heard him.
Eyes. yes. think they do" she an
swered.
"Wave your arms again"
Tho girl leaned out
do they answer?'
"They are shouting up to me.
can't hear what they are saying. The
are holding the hose tightly agains
the ladder Yes, yes, the water 4
coming"
John put his body upon the hos
and, lying PROSTATE, waited.
Then the hose suddenly stirred Xix
a living thing and the water gushel
from the nozzle. 1t was not pow
erful stream-the height was too grea
but little by little the force in
creased. yet not enough to imperi
Johns firm grasp on the nozzle.
And now he was directing the heav
flow through the open doorway agains
the blazing woodwork. Round abou
the hallway the torrent flew and scat
tered and scraped With mighty ell
fort John drew the hose forward
little farther and, elevating the nozzle
swept away the flames that were Greer