The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-07-07

Miss Radford was lifted to her feet and led,
trembling, to the sidewalk. The horse, finally
quieted and detached from the wreck OF the
wagon, turned to its owner.
Hurt asked one OF the crowd that had now
assembled.
NO." answered Drake. He had in fact,
ceived only few bruises.
There was enthusiastic and laudatory COM
mendation of his act, but Drake only scowied.
Miss Radford, he was told, wanted to thank
him. but he turned abruptly on his heel and went
the other way.
"Now, what do you make of that7", he NUT,
tered disgustedy. 81 put her on a pedestal and
she jumps down and kicks the pedestal over"
He was hardly decenty civil to her that night
at supper, and his hasty escape later, when she
resembled actual fight There might be some
excuse for emotional insanity" as he expressed
it, in the presence Of real danger but such
matter. He was disgusted-the more SO because,
in spite of his first prejudice she had aroused
his sympathy and compelled his admiration.
And then-this.
Shed probably think she was too good tor
me, at that" he grumbed. They all do"
This reflection was due to the memory OF GER
tain other rebufs that still ranked, and not to
any desire to test the matter in her case: Pos.
sibly if it had not been for this last farcical
exhibition of imbecility, he might have so far
overcome his communicating mood as to try it.
Somehow, struggle against il as he would, in
the memory of those earlier experiences there
always temptation to demonstrate that
they were of no significance. Besides, the only
good use that heart-bruised man could make
of his heart was to bestow it upon some one
who would be benefited thereby. And surely, in
her circumstances, she ought to appreciate
heart that carried with i SO desirable man,
mentally yc morally physical, ,s and d; Financially
yet purely verbal
However. the hazy idea-and it had been
merely hazy one-vanished with the runaway
His desire thereafter was to avoid Miss Rad
ford, and finding this somewhat difficult while
they were both under the same roof, he APP
peared two days later, suitcase in hand, at the
door of the landladys ROOM
Pm going he announced.
But you've given notice" she objected.
"Oh. that's all right" he returned. "I'll pay
ever period is customary in the way of notice"
He chose time for his departure when he
could be reasonably sure of meeting none of
the other boarders, for he was in no amiable
frame of mind Somehow in way an
other. women seemed to drive him away from
every place at which he ventured to stop. 1t
really looked, he reflected irritably as if he
would have to hire guide and seek peace some
where in the wilderness.
His eyes sought the upper windows of the
town hail. on the other side of the street. in
ing downward, he stopped, startled. Smoke was
issuing from the basement windows, and few
spirals were curling out Of the main door. And
Miss Radford and her little charges probably
unconscious of their danger, were in the building
Fire"
1t was some other observer who gave the
alarm. Drake had already dropped his suitcase
and racing across the street. The alarm
was of secondary Importance; there would be
many to give that; but the safety of the chill
dren might rest with him.
The basement of the town hall was used in
part store-room for documents and books
There was also much waste paper there and II
was an ideal place for the start of a quick
spreading fire
Dense smoke filled the hall and was rolling
up the stairway to the second floor when Drake
entered Little tongues of fame were darling
up through the floor just under the stairs Two