The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-05-26


out of reach of the flames such arti-
cles as they had been able to save
from the burning house. The entire
front of the building was ablaze. Boyd
ran to the well. excitedly seized a
bucket of water, made wild dash,
ran into Mr.. Merrill and went fat to
the ground. his impetuosity having
rather q iadicrous termination
What can we dor" inquired Ned
rapidly to tho trembling girl he loved.
THE rear part of the house is not yet
ablaze. Is there anything we can
saver"
Il fear not" tremored Nellie NO,
do not take the risk. Father and
brother-mother!"
Nellie spoke this last word in al
most shrek. She had turned to look
at heap of bedding near by. Two
minutes before her little sister Ruth,
carried asleep from the house. had
been placed there.
What is it?" inquired Ned. solo
itously.
wy oA5tCAt NULL. Ou0 ID guns!
And Nellie seemed on the point Of
swooning away.
She woke up just now," faltered
Mrs. Merrill. Il heard her ask for
her doll"
"Oh, mother! can she have gone
back into the house?" cried Nellie.
Ned Alton caught the half fainting
form of Nellie in his arms The con-
tact of that beloved form electrified
him to mighty endeayor.
Take her," he spoke to the mother.
81 will find the child"
He caught the echo of the bells of
the village fire wagon fastening down
the road. He observed Boyd just aris-
ing to his feet, drenched and discom-
flied. Then Ned made a dash for a
side entrance to the house
The flames had not yet reached that
part of the building, but the smoke
was thick and suffocating. Ned was
unfamiliar with the upper portion of
the structure. but he breasted his way
to a. landing. Then he noticed beyond
an open doorway a lighted lamp, and
started in that direction
1t was a sleeping room, and despite
the dense clouds of smoke pouring
into the apartment Ned could discern
outlines. A lighted lamp stood on a
stand. Ned thrilled at an impressive
picture its rays disclosed.
| Pulling over the disturbed covers
of a trundle bed near to a larger one,
was little night-gowned figure. Ruth
was crying, her eyes half blinded by
the smarting smoke.
why, Ruth" spoke Ned; what
are you doing here?"
I'm looking for Betty, my pretty
dolly" sobbed the little one, and
can't find her. Maybe she's burned
up! And it loses me to be in all this
smoke-oh, my! oh, my!"
You sit right there for an instant,
Ruth" directed Ned. lifting her to a
chair. 'I'll find dolly for you"
In a minute or two he discovered
the coveted doll on the floor under
the trundle bed. He restored Betty
to Ruth. A glowing radiance in the
hallway warned Ned that he had no
time TO lose if he would not be over
taken by the flames, and the stairway
route of escape cut off A CLINT of
jewelry lying on bureau, however,
had caught his eye. Ned ran towards
| it.
There was pin he had seen Nellie
wear. and there lay her watch and
chain. He slipped these articles hast
lily into his pocket. Some laces, pre-
cious to his heart because they be-
longed to Nellie, followed.
Upon the stand where the lamp
stood, Nellie had apparently been writ
ing letter when the fire started. She
had abandoned little keepsake mem
orandum book, a ring and a gold
mounted penholder. Ned thrust these
also into a pocket of his coat. Then
he ran towards Ruth and snatched her
up in his arms. A hot blast swept his
face as he reached the corridor, but
he shielded the child as best he could.
Some way, although half suffocated,