Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-06-10

OF q gas Inspector. II nSN CoAA 6Ot
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 a
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 be
fatal policy. The unexpected alarm
struck terror into Reds" heart, but
he kept his head well 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 1t
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 a cloud OF
smoke rushed in. RED" plunged into
the passage, to find the smoke whir-
ling down it. He heard c~onfusedly 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 affixing 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, bafled, 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 ar
OPEN door-somebody stood there II
the curling smoke, with arms out
stretched, Keeling, cropping, sob
bling. .
, RED" did not hesitate an instant
J He tore off his coat and wrapped /
about the girl. He snatched a blanke
4 from the bed and placed it about her
> covering her from head to feet. Then
carrying her in his arms withou
much difficulty, he turned to find tina
the whole wing had grown a fer
hell.
And "Red' burst into the furnace
: Tongues of flame caught at him, tn
= binding smoke seemed a contrivanc
= to drive him into that seething, mo
ten chaos of fallen timbers and CO
roded metal, which had once been a
elevator shaft, UP which the fir
;. tongues burst with yellow and re
banners. They drew at Red lik
beasts with hungry maws. But h
i'd evaded them. And now he was pan
81 ing under his burden at a windov
a looking down into the street, and b.
hind him the tongues were uncoiling
ed The mob saw him. They yelle'
ed The firemen had left the wall, for
m was thought all the inmates were re
be cued. The hose was playing upon tt
a buildings right and left-no chance
Id save that one.
A brawny fireman leaped for IL
as ladder, followed by two more. tt
ed structure was within REDS gras
10. but he was too faint to feel for 1t, tt
I'D weak to use 1t. He chung to the wi
hit dow frame and held the girl out t
Of ward the mob.
le- For Gods sake!" he babbled.
didn't get the necklace. Lemme di
he but"
it'll The safety of this girl seemed Il
go, only thing in life to Red" He h;
cd forgotten all about his fears. Dea
Tor was imminent now, the tongues Of fl
were licking hungrily at his fac
he "Red" passed his hand owe his sing
pate and laughed weakly.
an Il guess they've copied
a again." he muttered, and, handing t
ex- girl to the nearest fireman, fell fail
sa- ing back toward the flames. 1t W
'ay in the very nick Of time that the 81
5es ond fireman dragged Red out a
down the ladder to the cheering cro'
below.
in "Who is he?" the people asked ca
mt other, as they pressed round him.
ks, my husband" were the words II
fell upon Reds" ears. He opened
ed" eyes. Over him kneeled the girl
had saved, and he recognized Liz
ing looking at him with a new tendernC
you In her eyes.
ell