The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-06-24

HUOIS-uS udu SUuG IHSl6 Ill JH1 bulSo
of gas inspector. If RED could get
the necklace, Ike could catch it from
his hand in the court below and hold
any intruders at bay while Red
made his getaway along the covered
courtway.
Red" was at the appointed place.
He and Ike had worked their way
into the grounds through the base
ment of the unoccupied house next
door. Ike was waiting below, and
Red" had Skinned up the column and
stood irresolutely upon the porch out
side the third-story window. He knew
that window communicated with
passage, and, once inside, he must
turn to the right to reach the old
woman's bedroom. But his head had
never been very good for second story
work. and he hesitated an instant be-
fore he threw up the window and
stepped inside. AS he did SO the
burglar alarm rang loudly through the
house.
Red" was half along the passage.
To go back to that window would re
fatal policy. The unexpected alarm
struck terror into Reds" heart, but
he kept his head we'll enough not to
yield to the instinct to run for safety
and be caught. An open closet with
a lot of clothing hanging in it attract
ed his notice. He plunged inside and
pulled the door tight after him. There
he crouched minute after minute,
trembling in fear of capture. He
could hear nothing inside, for. the
door fitted tightly, he did not know
whether he was being pursued; but il
was growing uncomfortably hot.
Perhaps Red waited there twenty
minutes. At last, when he could en-
dure the heat no longer, he opened the
door cautiously. Instantly cloud OF
smoke rushed in. Red" plunged into
the passage, to find the smoke whir-
ling down it, He heard confusedly the
cries of people in the street below
He rushed to the window through
which he had climbed. Looking down.
into the street across the garden, he
saw that a fire line had been formed,
He saw the men aff1xing ladders; he
saw the smoke-shrouded building.
Flames were bursting from every win
dow, except those of the wing in
which he was trapped, and he did not
know the way out.
In mad terror he broke along the
corridor, plunging into room after
room, only to recoil, baffled, before
the forty feet of vertical wall that
overlooked the garden.
Red" tried to collect his thoughts.
Yes, he saw the situation now. He
must reach the front of the house,
where the firemen had erected the lad
ders. He turned back and raced to-
ward a swing door, which seemed to
shut off the residential section from
the servants quarters. He passed an
open door-somebody stood there in
the curling smoke, with arms out
stretched, reeling, cropping, Sob
bling.
RED" did not hesitate an instant.
He tore off his coat and wrapped it
about the girl. He snatched blanket
from the bed and placed it about her,
covering her from head to feet Then,
carrying her in his arms without
much difficulty, he turned to find that
the whole wing had grown fiery
hell
And Red burst into the furnace.
Tongues of flame caught at him, the
binding smoke seemed a continuance
to drive him into that seething mol
ten chaos of fallen timbers and cor
roded metal, which had once been an
elevator shaft, up which the fire
tongues burst with yellow and red
banners. They drew at RED" like
beasts with hungry maws. But he
evaded them. And now he was pant
ing under his burden at window,
looking down into the street, and be-
hind him the tongues were uncoiling.
The mob saw him. They yelled.
The firemen had left the wall. for it
was thought all the inmates were res
cued. The hose was playing upon the
buildings right and left-no chance to
save that one.
A brawny fireman leaped for the
ladder, followed by two more. The
structure was within Reds" grasp,
but he was too faint to feel for 1t, too
weak to use it. He chung to the win
dow frame and held the girl out to-
ward the mob.
For Gods sake!" he babbled. 81
didn't get the necklace. Lemme die,
but"
The safety of this girl seemed the
only thing in life to Red. He had
forgotten all about his fears. Death
was imminent now, the tongues of fire
were licking hungrily at his face.
Red" passed his hand over his singed
pate and laughed weakly.
81 guess they've copied me
again." he muttered, and, handing the
girl to the nearest fireman, fell faint
ing back toward the flames. 1t was
in the very nick of time that the Sec
ond fireman dragged Red" out and
down the ladder to the cheering crowd
below.
"Who is he?'' the people asked each
other as they pressed round him.
"My husband" were the words that
fell upon Reds" ears. He opened his
eyes. Over him kneeled the girl he
had saved, and he recognized Lizzie.
looking at him with new tenderness
in her eyes.
Historic London Character.