The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-06-10
Richard don like


not to see the sheet of blue flame that
was rapidly growing larger and lick
ing up everything in it's path.
Carrington's head nodded and a
few seconds later he fell into drunk
en- stupor. He was awakened by two
causes; one was a loud laundering
noise, the other was a feeling of suf.
location.
In dazed manner he stared around
to find the room filled with dense
smoke tinged with a warm red glow.
On all sides the cracking of burning
timber was apparent, and every @ow
and then the thud of falling plaster
was heard.
He was sober now. He realized
that he had done this. He was respon-
sible for the fire--he and the drink
within him. He Jumped to his feet.
his eyes smarting his breath coming
with difficulty. because of the smoke.
He dimly heard people shouting and
laundering at the door, but he gave
no heed to this; he was thinking of
Ethel and Kiddy.
A great wave of smoke came out to
meet him as he threw the door open
He felt his way through 1t to the
bed, shouting ETHEL" at the top of
his voice. His scorched and bleeding
hands grasped at the smouldering
sheets, but there was no life beneath
them. Like a madman he began to
feel about the room, thrusting his
hands before him through the flame
and smoke until suddenly he felt
something soft on the floor
1t was Ethel and beneath her was
Kiddy.
lie called passionately to her, but
she made no reply. Then, with a
sudden fierce strength, he gathered
the girl and the baby in his arms and
plunged through the fiery smoke to
the doorway. Down the trembling
stairs he went, his clothes on fire, his
hair burning, his skin black and
scorched. Burning wood and masses
of plaster fell about him, but on he
strode, until a sudden blast of cool
air met him as the street door was
burst open by the firemen.
Then all seemed to go black before
him. Great arms seemed to seize him
and hurl him through space. On, on
he flew, until suddenly he began to
fall, downtown
'T think he'll do now," said a mans
voice.
Dicks eyes opened, and he gazed
vacantly around, to see whitevashed
walls, a nurse, a white coated doctor,
and-Ethel and the Kiddy.
only three minutes, Mrs. Caring
ton." said the doctor.
Then the girl knelt by the bedside
and Dick felt her cool, soft hands
smooth his shorn hair. Her soft face
was pressed to his.
'Dick, my love, my hero" she
whispered.
"Alive?" he murmured weakly.
Yes, my dear, and loving you more
than ever. Oh, Dick, / was so afraid
you were going! But all's we'll now,
Dick; you're getting better. See,
here's Kiddy; he wants his daddy"
The man felt the chubby hands of
the boy straying over his face, heard
the childish grooming. and then a
scalding tear fell on to his cheek.
mo, no, Mrs. Darlington; that
won't do!" said the doctor. "You
must leave my patient now"
Ethel bent over her husband and
kissed him passionately, and, with
Kiddy in her arms, went from the
ward.
So it was only dream-they were
not dead. From his heart the man
offered a silent prayer of thanksgiv-
ing. Then suddenly he shuddered.
She had called him her hero. A grand
hero he had been almost a murderer.
His teeth gritted together. Hero she
had called him, and he meant to earn
the title And he did, though his
prowess was humble enough. Yet it
brought life and living to Ethel and
the Kiddy-it made weak man
strong, and If it was not the V. c.
bravery, it was, at any rate bravery
that was as noble.
Sure enough that visit to the Wei.
come Club was the last Dick Caring.
ton paid. The appointment that had
been offered him was still vacant, but
the man who offered 1t made the pro.
vfso that Darlington must become an
abstainer-a proviso that was accept
ed and faithfully adhered to.-E. New
ton Bungey, in Pearson's Weekly.