The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1913-06-26

but even 70 soon the iron was blister
ing hot, and their cries Of pain made
the crowd below shiver. There was
voice at his elbow. aud Burke turned
as he was on his way into the building.
1t was O'Ferrall. the policeman, and,
and drawn.
Burke. my sisters up there on the
fifth floor. All the other girls are out.
but the top floor crowd Is cut Off. The
stairway's burning now. There's TWEEN
ty girls penned up in there. and the
smoke will get them sure before the
flames"
Burke nodded grimly. The hook and
ladder had drawn up outside.
"I'll go up and get them to the win
dows," he said. Hurry up the lad
ders"
A great stiffness fell on the waiting
crowd that packed the street beyond
the stretched ropes. AS the big ladders
were put in position it leaked out that
one fireman had gone to fight his way
up through the burning stairs to save
the fifth floor lacers. Then all at once
cheer went up. and O'Ferrall looked
up. The ladders We're up. two Of them.
and steadily working their way down
each one We're two fire ladies, each
with limp girls figure over one arm.
O'Ferral knew what it meant Burke
had reached the floor and was getting
the girls to the windows. and the big,
smooth faced policeman shut his lips
tighter and thanked God for the pluck
that lies in the smoke eaters heart
Burke counted the girls rs he made
his way back and forth through the
smoke, steadily, grimly, gasping now
and then at the window. then going
back for more. Some had tainted.
but most were anxious to help and
kept their nerve. AS he handed Sue
McManus out of the window he asked
where Margery was. Sue was the last
Of the regular girls.
"She fell over by the stairs trying
to shut the safety DOORS Su, told hiG,
sobbingy. you'll never get hel
Tom"
Burke looked back. A hook and lad
der boy was yelling to him to get out,
that the floor was weakening.
"Wait! One more!' he answered.
and went at the thick black smoke
that hid where the stairway had been.
He never knew afterward how he
had found her It seemed q frightful
nightmare of fighting blindly at leap
ing fends of flame that tngged and
throttled him and choked out his life
by inches. And then somewhere in
the fiery hell he had found her. felt
the slender. limp figure and lifted it
in his arms. close to his heart.
There was just one thing about that
rescue that Margery never was sure
Of until long after her wedding day.
Then one autumn night when Officer
O'Ferrall had dropped in on the new
home to say brotherly blessing
Burke told:
"If hadn't thought it was all up
with us I never would have done IT,"
he explained penitently. "but when
measured the distance TO the window
and heard the loft crash back of me l
Just thought it was quick heaven for
mine and then death. and kissed her,
kissed her and never had an introduce
ton to her even. But it didn't matter
Dead or alive. l knew I had the right.
She was the only girl in the world for
me-"
And Mrs Burke blushed softly and
ran her hand over the thick brown
curls Of her smoke eater.
"Ain't he the bold boy. though" she
said tenderly. 81 knew it all the time
and thought it was dream, but
knew it just the same"