The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-11-26

He called out to the crowd:
eff there's amy one can speak
English, let him come here!"
A pale-faced boy pushed through
the crowd.
81 spik de Englis'. sare. MY name
Joseph Ceilano"
VERY we'll, Joe. Call with. all your
might to the people in Italian to
sthand back from the ratings, kape
quiet, and wait till get them down.
They shall all be safe If they listen
to me. l am the policeman on this
beat They're to do what say
tell them that,-and / am coming up
mesilf to help them" j
Joseph called Justify, shouting cut
his message, while Number Forty,
waving his stick in sign of authority,
watched the effect Then, jumping
for the fire-escape, he began his
work. At the first landing he mar.
shaded the people, made them put all
their luggage inside the windows, and
march down the ladder in single file,
while he went on up to the next
story.
Here he repeated the same tactics,
while Joseph and others, from the
ground, seeing the way he was man
aging things, called directions up to
the upper stories. The babies were
crying, the women ready to faint, but
Number Forty's GOODNESS acted like
magic. If this big officer Of the law
had time to go up still higher, they
could surely climb down without fear.
The group from the fourth fire.
escape was moving down in good or
der, in spite of the smoke. The fifth
started on its way, one of the wom-
en- with ibird-cage. Number Forty
was on the sixth, when flames leap
ed out from the second-story windows
and licked along the front of the
walls. A, cry went up from the
crowd Sheehan leaned over the rail,
| ing and shook his fist at them in a
| fine Irish rage
Tell them to kape quiet, Joseph,
or I'll break their heads! No mat
ter what happens, they're to kape
quiet. Tell them I'm doin' this, and
they've got, to mind"
He rushed up to Che last platform,
| to find the people there crying and
wringing their hands. Down wild
We, quick!" he cried, pushing the
women and girls toward the ladder.
and picking toddler of two up in
his arms. He drove them before him
to the ladder, and down it, close on
the heels of those escaping from the
sixth story.
Steady, now! Steady!" One Of
the women, at the sight of another
squirt of flame below, reeled, faintings
and he caught her by the arm just In
time. Between the baby and her
half-helpless weight. he could move
but slowly. The rest clambered down
at double-quick. GLORY be!' said
Number Forty to himself. gasping in
| the smoke. They're all safe now
but us. for the fire'll do no more
than lick out at them for three min
utes yet. and they'll get past it all
right. There comes the engines
sure, it's full time!"
The flremen came with ciang and
clatter, to find The last scared, singed.
but safe group of Italians on the
slowest rounds of the fire-escape, and
| Joseph pointing upward to where, in
4 the swirling smoke on the third plat
form, man in uniform, with baby
on his shoulder and woman in his
arm, was coming slowly down. The
flames from the second story were
now no longer licking out, but blaz-
| ing. Could he pass them?
A hush fell on the crowd; then a
murmnr of applause as the fremen.
hose in hand. came to the rescue.
driving back the leaping flames with
torrents of water, placing ladders
against the outer railing, and swarm
ing up to help down the imperiled
three. 1t was all over in five min
utes more, and every one safe; but
1 it was a close call.
Number Forty, landing somewhat
unsteadily on his feet, was conscious
of a great wave of people round him.
Maria Giulia chung to him, crying for
| joy; Joseph and score of men and
women pressed close upon him; the
mother of the child he had carried
invoked every blessing of heaven
upon his head, and loud, increasing
shouts rose on every side. He looked
about him as one bewildered,
| Tell them to kape quiet, can't
you. Joe?" said Number Forty. tits
all over, and there's none hurt"
They are not afraid any more"
said Joseph. the Interpreter "They
say you are the deliverable brave
one! Never can they do enough for
their policeman
''Aw-cut 1t out, Joel" said Num-
Der Forty. much embarrassed, and
blushing Buriously under the CRIME
and sweat II only did what I'm
sent here for-thats ALL" Then.