The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-10-07

Freddie
between tho two; he went quite a long
way. In his breast was the first touch
OF panic.
Wherever be went the Gre found
him out and drove him on a strong
wind had risen. aad as the flames win
moved their way down the mountain
side and across they found more and
larger stun to feed on.
Professor StilliteP got hurts every
now and then. His hands and knees
were ~lacerated, his face had had some
hard knocks. His blind eyes smarted
with smoke and the air which he
breathed half choked him.
To a man with average sight II
would have been an easy matter to
have eluded that IRE. II had descend.
ed the mountain ia a narrow path.
II was Professor Stiliiter's misfortune
that he had been unable TO sidestep a.
BY taking up his original stand at the
back OF the hut. instead OF at the front,
he need not have moved until help
came.
4fhh Wv ~ AI1n ohlNAAakNNA Was
standing at "A comfortable distance
from the red.hot ruins OF the hut aud
wondering what fool had set Il on fire
aud why.
Through the forest itsei; the FIRE
was only burning a broad path, con-
lined to this by open barrens and
swamps or by timber too green and
well watered TO burn. From the mouth
OF the cave II looked like a receding
column OF smoke. and there was no
real n In II for anyone but PRO.
fessor Stilliter. Him Il bounded on
and on. And now. continually. like a
child that babbles, ne was asking God
70 save him, Christ 10 pity him.
As he lost blood. his progress be.
came slower and slower, and death
stared him in the back. lie was to
have one short reprie1e. lie came 60
a gravelly bank 30 steep that "a try.
ing 20 get down Il he began % slide,
could not save himself and was dumped
presently into the ice cold deep water.
For a moment the shock refreshed
and inyigorated him and gave him
hope. lie could swim. and water can.
not burn. Whether be was in a pond
or a lake OF some size he did not know
II a lake and not very large, he could
swim across and at least lind safety
from the fire. Al inst IL was easy to
swim in the right direction. guided by
the heat that came from behind. but
after awhile II was not so easy.
lie was a good swimmer. and while
floating and t%rcading water he man
aged to get rio Of his shoes and most
Of his clothes. lie would need them
when he got ashore. Yes, but he
would have to do without them.
lie began 20 tire again, and there
was no sign OF The opposite shore
lie was In one OF the narrowcst
lakes in that part OF the A~dirondaCks,
but II was several miles long and he
was trying 10 swim It from end TO end
The Jig was up.
When he realized this he fastened
the inevitable by screaming and
screaming and then by bursting into
tears and sobbing.
After q while his final struggles
stopped. lie loated in the water with
his face under; a kind OF foam came
10 tho surface from the corners OF his
mouth. Twice bee drew up his knees
and kicked foebly. as II he were still
alive and trying 10 swim.
After a long iime Freddie the Fer.
rott, leading Celestia as II she had
been blind. Numbered to the foot Of
the cliff In which was the main en-.
trance 70 the cave. Into this ne pene-
trated a little way and there began TO
shout for Tommy with all his might
Tho only response was the echoinB Of
his voice.
SO Freddie went back 20 Celestia.
and there she stood with a beWildorcd.
puzzled look on her face, and both her
hands being held by Tommy Barclay
himself, who vas breathing as II he
mad been running up hill,
Don't look puzzled now. Celestial"
Tommy was saying. you know me
IT'S all right I'm the driver, you
snow and you have TO obey the driver
So wake up. Bc yourself
Then Celestia spoke.
"The driver, she said, rs dead
Professor Stilliter told me"
Told YOU ! was dead
Celestia nodded and turned away as
I the matter Was OF no further inter
est.