The Press., 1915-08-11

'.Daffy Daniel was Ut meetingr' she
 announced as she sank into chair.
 ..Is that an unusual eventY smiled
 Miss Blake.
 "Once in twenty years. Kinder un usual" remarked Abner dryly.
 "Its queerv' calculated Mrs. Tweedy and then she went on to tell about the forthcoming fair and carnival which
 was to be held in Firemen's hall.
 And the decorations are all crape paper and pink cheesecloth," ended | Mrs. Tweedy. Suppose it got afire?"
 "That would be dreadful" shuddered Miss Blake as she went up to her room. That night the schoolteacher dream | ed that she attended the carnival in | Firemen's hall and that suddenly the whole place twas ablaZe. Some one picked her up and bore her through fire and smoke to cool safety. And she opened her eyes and saw that her heroic rescuer was Daffy Dan- iel
 Why" she had said to him in wild surprise, you arc n man!' And he had answered.: "A man asleep. You have awakened me-"
 She continued to think of Daniel sary or required by mere pity for his lonely condition. She knew now that many of his ec- centricities were due to his habit of living alone with his grief. She knew that through systematic reading he had educated himself above his neighbors Daffy Daniel was a gentleman and q scholar, and the attitude of his neigh bors was incomprehensible.
 
 The night of the carnival! Firemen's hall was bower of beau ty, according to the POndpoint Bugle. "Fl0wers, festOOns and fair femininity crowded the fiOors," 1t said enthusias- tically before 1t went on to describe the tragedy that followed.
 In the middle of the festivities some one cried "Fire!"
 There was stampede for the single man with arms stretched across the doorway, who cried authOritatively:
 "One at time, one at a time! Wo- men and children firstr
 The man was Daffy Daniel, who had not attended festival in twenty years.
 While the firemen threw a feeble stream on the fimsy wooden structure Daniel Ford kept the crowd from panic until there remained a mere handful of people, who, frightened at the vol umes of smoke pouring up the stairs. declined to go and huddled near the windows.
 Among these Frances Blake fingered, encouraging, soothing and helping one and another.
 Then Daniel Ford suddenly broke loose upon them. grasped a woman in his arms and rushed down the burning stairs to safety.
 Again and again he made the peril ous journey, until the room was in flames and there remained only the schoolteacher, pale and calm.
 Your he groaned. q must save your
 You have saved twenty lives or more, Daniel Ford" she smiled at him.
 "Thank Godr' he said reverently, ''those will atone for the lives could not save twenty years ago."
 AS he spoke the burning stairs fell with a crash.
 A cry of horror went up from the waiting crowd.
 Daniel Ford caught Frances in his arms even as she had dreamed.
 There is one chance. Will you trust mel"
 Yes" she said.
 A large window opened on the roof of the square entrance porch. The corner of the porch jutted against the trunk of huge tree.
 Daniel stepped from the window to the roof and swung himself among the branches of the tree, Frances held in one strong arm.
 The crowd cheered wildly, and hundred hands leaped up to help him as he slid down to the ground.
 But he gave the girl to no other hands. He stood there, dazed. A scorched, blackened figure, with the fire of manhood in his eyes.
 "Three cheers for Daniel Fordr' yelled his neighbors, and as they gave 1t he knew that with the acclaim were the love and admiration of his friends. Never again would they call him ''Daffy Daniel"
 Then the roof fell in, and as the crowd ran toward the building Frances looked up into Daniels face.
 "Ah" she breathed. "You are a man and a herOr'
 His face glowed. .t
 "I am glad for your sake," he said. and their eyes met and understood.