Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-17


| old question, and, listening, l thrilled
at the beauty of his language.
| He had driven me about in his cleo
| tric as shopped, one glorious morning,
| and we stopped to dine at restaurant
| on the ninth floor Of a great depart
| ment store building.
| 1t was when we had settled our
| selves in a secluded corner that my
| rowing eyes fell upon David. He had
| evidently finished his meal and was
leaning back YEARLY.
II How white and thin he looked.
| Working steadily all summer without
| rest or recreation had been too hard
| on him.
The pianist began to play something
weird and sad, and the violin Joined
| In sobbingly. looked down upon my
| corsage boquet Of white violets tied
| with siIken cord, and resentment rose
| within me at the thought that with
| all his unceasing labor David could
not hope to buy the violets which
| Cyril bestowed so lavishly.
Then above the hum Of converse
ton, even above the crash of the mu-
| sic, became conscious of an air of
subdued excitement. The little wait
resses hurried about with white and
| frightened faces. men talked quietly
| together then FASTENED from the room.
what is it?' asked of Cyril, and
| he went to see
| Presently he beckoned me from the
doorway. Something is wrong" he
said nervously. 1--WE had better get
out"
But as we made our way TO the ele-
vators we found them already sur
rounded by crowd pushing and strug-
| Cling recklessly to get nearer the iron
doors, clerks hurried down the narrow
| stairway, disorder and confusion pre-
vailed.
Then saw David's tall figure. He
had been speaking to one of the man
ayers. Now his voice rang out clear
~, convincingly:
There is no cause to be alarmed"
he said. "a slight fire in the front
part of the building win soon be under
control. The one great danger to be
averted at this time is a panic. The
elevators can easily carry every one
here to safety in a short time; cool
| ness and obedience are all that is re-
quired."
He went about quickly, and with the
aid of men who followed his directions
long lines were formed reaching to the
doors of the elevators, which worked
swiftly as the orderly rows of people
moved slowly forward or patiently
awaited their turn.
There was no sound within now save
David's voice encouraging. reassuring.
Cyril clutched my arm frantically.
1--WE will be next" he exclaimed.
MAKE rush for it,"
Then David approached: Polly" he
said very gently. Il am glad that you
are near the door"
"Just two more" called the elevator
man as Cyril hurried me forward. We
had entered the car, when / saw
woman look up at Cyril beseechingly
and then step back in sudden disap-
pointment. She had a little child in
her arms.
Then it all happened very quickly
the woman had my place in the ele-
vator, the iron door changed shut. and
I stood coughing u little with the
smoke and smiling up at David.
ooh. Polly" he said sternly, why
did you do that
And 1 slipped my hand through his
arm and answered honestly, Il did ii.
David. because I could not bear to be
outside while you were here, and l am
going to stay with you to the last"
/ have read in stories of faces being
Illuminated, and l understood the full
meaning of the word as 1 looked at
David now.
He did not speak. but held me close
to his side as our life saver came dying
up again. The people were growing
unruly now and pressed forward
roughly.
Suddenly David lifted me In his
arms. the iron doors closed again. and
this time 1 was going down. down
with the fortunate ones to safety.
AS we came out into the fresh air
and were led to a place beyond the
protecting rope cheer went up from
the crowd. and I raised my smoke
smarting eyes to the windows of the
ninth story. where little tongues of
flame leaped and curled.
Sick with fear 1 waited. knowing |
that David would -be the last person |
to leave the burning floor. From time
to time faint cheers sounded as the
elevators unloaded their precious bur-
dens, then with wild and glaring |
light the flames burst forth unre- |
strained. Tremblingly 1 covered my |
face, but soon a mighty resounding |
cheer seemed TO shake the earth. ''All |
out safely called a triumphant voice. |
and the people all about were telling |
excitedly Of the presence of mind and |
the bravery of the man who prevented |
q panic.
''Who is he?" asked a young man |
who stood near with notebook and PEN
ell in hand.
And / heard myself answering him /
proudly. almost unconsciously, HE is
David Gray I said. 1.-The man / am
going to marry" Then l turned to
find David's eyes looking into mine.