The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-09-18
CHAPTER XIV.
Copyright. 1915. by the star Coz

outskirts OF the crowd very
young. sick looking girl said sud
denly IN a loud. piercing voice:
Il smell smoke! smell smoke"
And then another voice spoke.
ITS coming thru the floor, Look
at a. Look az IT."
Tommy. sudden great dread In
his heart. hurried toward Celestia.
He had tray.rsed half the length
Of the room when the siri who had
spoken first screamed AT the top OF
her lungs, Fire Fire."
Wild with fear and excitement.
girls ran this way and that. scream.
ing and bowling Tommy was al.
most knocked down.
Celestia. after a desperate effort
10 calm the girls. had not moved.
IL seemed almost as II she was
waiting for Tommy 10 como and
get her.
Come. Celestial" he said. lets
get out OF this"
By this time really horrible
things were happening al the pine
bound door. II opened inward.
Tho first girl to reach II had hung
herself against II. OF course. and
tried to make II open outward.
That same girl now looked ms II
she was trying 10 climb over the
top OF II. The pressure OF her fren'
xied companions had lifted her
head ard shoulders above them.
and II war doubtful II there was
any life left In her. The noise
those poor girls made was fright
fui. They were maniacal with ter
ror. They screamed that the door
had been locked. they yeiped. they
howled like wolves. they bit.
scratched. hit and pushed. pushed.
pushed to get at that door.
Tommy tried 10 fight his way 10
IL. He intended To get TO II and
fight the girls back from II so that
It could be opened. bn, those
girls, wrought upon By terror.
we're as II made OF steel and wire.
and II seemed as II they though,
that their ono chance OF safety was
to keep Tommy away from the
/ door.
". forced his way 20 the middle
OF the crowd. and then he had 10
give up. I, was ali he could do &c
flght his way out again.
The other end OF the room was
in flames. Thru the soles OF bis
shoes Tommy knew that the whole
floor was burning on It's under
, side.
A glance at Celestial filled his
I heart with pity that was almost
lntolerablc. Along the walls OF
the room were many fire buckets
half full OF water. Celestial had
caught up one OF them and waf
running onward with the s,rug-
Cling mass OF humanity round the
door.
She hurled the contents OF the
bucket into the thick OF the crowd
and raced off for another The
I effect OF that sudden hard shower
OF cold water vas extraordinary
II seemed to change the psychol
ogy OF the crowd from fear OF fire
TO fear OF water.
Tommy. perceiying this, instant
~ himself caught up n bucket and
began to fling water on the crowd
/ And between them they began 10
clear a way TO the door.
Tommy got to the door at last
and dragged II open.
Twice there was a Jam. but Tom
I my Strengthened the half-witted
girls out. hurrying one and re
straining another.
+ II had been a slow business, and
/ by now tho floor was burning clear
thru in many places. so that some
OF the last girls to pass thru the
door TO safety went with burned
feet
Hurry. Celestial called Tommy
I'VE can go now"
She did not answer.
He saw her at n window. strug
Cling to open IT, She was. yot
may say. on little island OF foo
surrounded. well. not by n sea o
flames, but by strongly risini
tide thereof
This way. Celestial For Cod
sake. don't jump"
/ Celestial had not succeeded We
IN opening the window. AZ Tom
my tehchsn her she stasSereu ah'
teii lh.o MS arms
ne tu.heu WIN ner toward IN
ooor' ana Eroahed hke thlng ina
nad peeh hurt 10 death hscap'
INA, way was innpossip,e.
Supporting Celestial with one arm
ne suoreeueu N opening lne WIN
now Inc crown IN the street DC
70" sA" tuenn' anu hiha vi sroan