The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-09-18

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Alhambrs Thea
fire, there was still quito a large
area of flooring surrounding Celes-
tia as yet unburncd. But between
that and tn. door. 10 make the
crossing, seemed 10 offer but one
chanc. In a hundred.
Tn. last girls TO leave the sew.
Ing machine room had only Just
reached tho street. Fire engines
were stlli coming Tho crowd that
watched the conflagration was stu
growing.
Nov for H." thought Tommy.
and 10 Celcstia he shouted tho had
TO shout 10 make himself heard:
Don't 10 afraid. dear. I'm 30.
ing 10 get you out OF this"
And he gathered her strongly In
his arms. pictured out. with swift
eyes. what appeared TO be the best
route thru tho flames. drew one
great. long breath OF fresh air. and
just then another great piece OF
flooring fell In. and Tommy saw the
narrow hallway beyond the door
burst suddenly into a perfect hell
OF fire
lie vas too late by a matter OF In.
stants
I, hc had no, wasted those pre-
cious ins,ants in kissing her. he
might have saved her. The agony
OF soul that no went thru with this
realization was frighiful. Death by
fire seemed almost too good for
such a fool.
Then suddenly II seemed ms n
hia mind broke and tina, he bad
gone mad. for he began TO shout
and laugh ut all al once.
Had he gone mad7
Or hadn't heT
Tommy had not gone mad.
From the great roll OF shifting ira
terlal no tore enough broad strips
10 reach to the sidewalk. knotted
them together. made a double bow
line (which IL almos; a. easy TO
sit In az a chair made Celestial sit
in Il. swung her out OF the win.
dow, and lowered her 10 safety.
His own escape was not as easy.
for every moment the fire gained
upon him. and he was unconscion-
ably scorched. while making the
upper end OF his line fast. A mo.
ment after he reached the side.
walk the line burned thru and fell.
Tommy was so dared that when
reporter asked him what his
name was. he told him. and all his
friends had the pleasure OF reading
about the rescue In the afternoon
papers.
Barclay and stllliter were very
much disturbed. and Mary Black.
stone was so furious with jealousy
that she succeeded in making
Fitch. who was with her when she
read the paper. furious and zeal.
Gus. too. But he kept this TO him
self
Six months Of persistent love
making could not have advanced
Tommy's cause ms far as had one
lighted cigarette butt thrown into
pile OF greasy rags. She. the
messenger from heaven. had been
saved from a hideous death. not by
any direct Intervention ~ heaven.
hut by the ready wit and strong
hands OF young man who did not
believe IN her. or her cause, but
merely loved her.
heart from beating little quicker
whenever she thought OF Tommy.
Tommy had saved her from
death. Also he had been the first
to see her. and the first TO love her.
Celestial" he said TO her one day
(his hands stlll In bandages from
superficial burnsl. II only to he
logical and consistent. you ought
TO marry mo"
Celestia considered half smiling.
Then she said. wholly smiling;
What did you mean the other day
when you said merely to look at
me, merely to breathe the same air
I breathed. merely to hear the
sound Of my voice was happiness
for your
"Oh. Celestial" he said. hopeless
ly, There's no answer to questions
like that. Those are the things that
man Just has TO say to the girlshe
loves"
but marriage" she said. more
gravely. lis whole iifes work IN
Itself And already I've whole
life's work cut out for me-
Celestial" said Tommy, you are
80 wonderful believe you could do
two whole life's works at once. /
do. And I--well. maybe I could
manage one on my own account.
but II wouldn't be work. II would
be doing things just couldn't help
doing-lovlng you and trying to
make you happy"
Tommy" said Celestia. ~ now.
when we are not even engaged"
II am"
not even engaged to be mar.
ried. you exert yourself in every
way to keep me from going about
among the people and telling them
how the world may be made n bet.
ter state, try in fact to keep me all