Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-05-14

laying other logs on top of these. and
so on as rapidly as the girl brought
wood.
They worked with all speed. Soon
the passageway was solidly walled
with closely fitted logs to the height OF
six feet. Above this. in the arched
part. Coquenil worked more slowly.
selecting logs of such shape and size
MS would I'll the curve with the fewest
number of cracks between them
There was danger in cracks between
the obstructing logs. for cracks meant
draft. and a draft meant the spread
ing of the lire.
"Now." said NJ Paul, surveying the
blocked passageway. that is the best
we can do-with wood. We must stop
these cracks with something else.
What did you wear?" He glanced at
the chair where Alice had thrown her
things. "a white cloak and . straw
hat with white veil and black vel
vet ribbon. Tear off the ribbon and
we can't stand on ceremony Here are
my coat and vest. Rip them into strips
and Great God! There's the smoke
nowp'
As he spoke thin grayish feather
curled out between two of the upper
logs and floated away; another came
below it. Somewhere De Heidelmann-
Bruck had pressed an electric button,
and under the logs deadly sparks had
jumped in the waiting inder They
were prisoners in a huge, slowly heat
ing oven stacked with tons of dry
wood.
I'VE must stop this" he cried, and.
tearing the shirt from his shoulders,
he ripped if into fragments and wedg-
ed these tight between the logs.
1--WE must have more cloth" he said
gravely. ITS our only chance, little
friend I'll put out the candle! There!
Let ME have whatever you can and
be quick"
Again he worked with frantic haste,
stufIing in the last shreds and rags
that could be spared from their bodies,
whenever dull glow FROM the other
side revealed a crock in the barricade.
There" he painted; that's the besl
we can do. Now it's up to God! be-
lieve we have stopped the draft" he
said after q moment
Suddenly a faint sound broke the
stiffness, and the detective started vio-
lentlv. II was low. humming sound
that presently grew stronger and then
sang on steadily like Il buzzing wheel.
lie moved about in perpleXity- It
seemed 10 him that be felt a current
OF air
Alice. come here he called, "Stand
where ! am. That's right. Now put
out your hand. Do you feel anything?"
II feel a draft" she said.
AS she spoke the humming sound
strengthened. and with it the draft
blew stronger.
''Merciful Cod" cried Coquenil in a
fash of understanding, "it's blower"
NJ. Paul turned his face upward and
listened attentively. mo doubt of it!
It's sucking through an air shaft up
there in the ceiling"
III don't understand"
Hes forcing draft from that room
to this one. He has started a blower,
| tell you, and'-
what is a bIower?" put in Alice.
At her frightened tone Coquenil
Gained himself and answered gently:
'Its like big electric fan. It's draw
ing air out of this room very fast with
a suction, and I'm afraid unless
Just then there came a sharp pep.
followed by q kissing noise, as if some
one were breathing in air through shut
teeth 'The blower has sucked out
one of our cloth plugs. There goes an
otherp ne said as the popping sound
was repeated. "And another. It's all
of with our barricade, little girl"
"The fire may come through a lit
tle," he told her comfortingly, but /
III fix 1t so you will be-all right,
Come! We'll build another barricade.
You know wood is a bad conductor
of heat. and-if you have wood all
about you and-over you, why, the
fire can't burn you"
"Ohw said Alice.
"We'u go over to this door as far
from the passageway as we can get
Now bring me logs from that side
pile That's right"
Most of the smoke at first was
borne upward by the blowers suction.
and Alice was able to help Coquenil
with the new barricade. They built
this directly in front of the iron door
with only space enough between it
and the door to allow them to crouch
behind it They made it about five feet
long and three feet high
Lie down there" he directed
stretch right out behind the logs and
keep your mouth close 10 the floor and
as near as you can to the crack under
the door You'll have plenty Of cool,
sweet air. Now I'll fix roof over
this thing. Just shut your eyes and
rest. Understand, little friendr'
"Ye-es." family.
He turned toward the barricade and
saw that the flames were licking their
way through the wall Of logs. The
heat was becoming unbearable. Co.
quenil crawled I'm behind the shelter
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