The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1915-06-11

the way for his acceptance. That rich
old woman with the Fifth avenue
house and the diamond necklace while
he. Red" worked for eight dollars
week! And Lizzie. whom she was
to discover for him as soon as he had
made a man OF himself. He would
show her what sort of a man he was.
He talked the situation over with
Ike. During the course of his single
visit TO the house Red" had, with a
| true craftsman's eye, summed up the
architectural features. To ascend to
the second story by means of the or
namental column would not be diff
cult He could enter one Of the
| French windows. Ike knew the upper
| floors-he had gone there in the guise
| 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 aud 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
womans 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 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 it
was growing uncomfortably hot.
Perhaps Rec" 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 affixing ladders; he
saw the smoke-shrouded building.
Flames were bursting from every win
dow. except those of the wing in
which ne 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, baffied. 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 OF the residential section from
the servants quarters. He passed an
open door--somebody stood there In
the curling smoke. with arms out
stretched. Keeling. cropping. sob.
bing. .
Red" did not hesitate an instant
He tore off his coat and wrapped 1t
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, ne turned to find that
the whole wing had grown a fiery
hell.
And Red" burst into the furnace.
Tongues OF flame caught at him. the
binding smoke seemed a contriyance
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 naws. But he
evaded them. And now he was pant
ing under his burden at a window.
looking down into the street, and be-
hind him the tongues were uncoiling.
The mob saw him. They yelled
The iremen 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 Ii. too