Holbrook argus., 1911-10-24

ofice then s-ddeF.y shrieked aloud as The reason for this dreadful tur- moil swept across her faculties, clear ing them instantly.
 The freight house was on fire
 A panther-like spring across the noor and one glance through the doors revealed sinuous coils of writh- ing smoke ascending the air currents.
 How long had the fire been at work? Had she time to escape by the stairs? Her foot was on the land ing when it occurred to Milly that all of the workers in the yard were in the greatest jeopardy-trapred it- eraliy hy the towering walls of the freight house. And Carl was there Carl.
 She dashed across to the switch board and began notifying the men in the yard of the fire. She called up Meurer as calmly as the others heard his slow, deep voice merging into 2 shout of excitement. Suddenly her blanched face went whiter than ! ever.
 Call up Miss Donnelly; you can get her before any of the rest of us. Hur-''
 But Milly flung the receiver from her with a maniacal laugh and leaped toward the door once again.
 So the little senseless chit was in peril-extreme peril, perhaps. So be 1t! The ground floor might be a mass of flames before she had an inkling. No one could reach her, either, at this hour except over the switchboard in the main office, and Milly controlled that.
 She hung for a h.oment above the well-like stairs, then skinned down the broad steps. One flight was ac- complished-another was begun-now she was at the third landing. Here the smoke was more dense.
 She could hear the rending snarl of tho flames; catch a sickening whiff from the cellars where the stored merchandise was burning. burst of fresh, outside air dispersed the smOke-clouds an instant. Milly gulp ed greedily, was refresht ard, with returning vigor, full appreciation of her own detestable ,nduct, passed through her heart like the thrust of a sword
 Had she time left in which to warn the girl?
 She wheeled and took the stairs with frantic speed. The ascending flights seemed endless. To breathe meant acute pain-her muscles re fused to obey, her limbs to bear her up. Midway on the last flight she sank to her knees. A hot gust swept up from the inferno beneath but it stirred her heavy limbs so that she could crawl the remainder of the dis tance.
 Somehow she reached the switch board and stirred, schooling herself to be rational, laying fast hold of her reeling brain, she called up the super intendent's office Would the oper- ator never answer-perhaps she Margaret-was already past human aid
 = Finally Margaret's voice, barely recognizable, so hoarse and terrified, reached Mily.
 That isn't you, surely! Yesl Yesl We are safe here, but don't you know you are cut off by fire, they say. Poor, poor Milly-'
 The receiver fell from Millys nerve less fingers. She had finished her work. She had fought the good fight She
 Red fire danced before her receding vision. something snapped in her
  ward insensible, as volume of smoke poured into the room.
 
 The fire was a thing of the past when Milly, in the gray dawn, strug gled back to consciousness.
 She was on the lounge in the super intendent's office, where she had been borne by Carl after he had made desperate dash through the blinding smoke to rescue her. His usually full, rosy face was blanched and ghsstly as he knelt beside her.
 Was every one saved?" she whis- pered
 Dearest"
 Why are you crying. Carl?" She made an effort to rise; her eyes were pathetic in their terror. Was Mar. gaTet not saved after. all?'
 Every one was saved, every one But, Milly. how near I came to losing youl"
 Tt was worth while" Delicate color wavered across her white face.
 Worth whileES sOh, Milly!"
 Yes, Carl; Because found you"
 Poor Consolation.