Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-12-16
THE ROGUE'S PAW
An Adventure Of
Grant, Police Reporter
By Robert Welles Richie
StorY'ky Redfield ingalls,

Rita Morrell glared for Q rncmsue m
| horror at her work, then turned IN \
| panic for the door. II burst open a. shs
reached II, and q mass Of clawing, swear
| Ing men stumbled In. paused In amaze
ment before the roaring flames across the
room and fought their way out again
II they had seen the ssnssless giri ON the
| floor they ignored her.
with that Grant came to himself Not
stopping to think, he ciattered up the few,
remaining steps Of the fire. escape lsaped
and caught the bundle Of telephone wires
overhead and started across the yawn-
ing well beneath hand over hand like a
sailor.
But his prsmonition proved to be true.
Hardly had he started when he felt the
wires give; and he had not got half way
over when they tore loose behind him
and he dropped.
Grant shut his eyes with q gnsp. Next
second he was IN blaze Of light and
soorching heat sprawling on his back
with his arms nearly pulled loose. The
wires had catapulted him right into the
blazing rooml
He lay there for q moment, half stun
ned; then, as a tongue of flame licked
across his face, he scrambled to his feet
and plunged bltndly for the door, his first
instinct that Of self-preservation
As he reached It he remembered tho
she was In the corner farthest from the
fire, trying feebly to RISE Bending low Ia
rushed over to her, caught her under the
arms and dragged her-there was 10 time
to pick her up-through the door, slam
ming 1t behind him. Immediately after
there was second explosion IN the blaz-
ing room; another kerosene lamp hael
gone. Gamblers sometimes find it wlsest
to dispense with costly electric light fix-
lures, especially when they have to shift
quarters periodically.
The smoke Was so thick in the hall al
ready that Grant didn't dare stand erect
Bending as low as he could and at the
same time lifting his burden well up from
the floor, he ran down the hall and
smashed open the nearest window. An
immediate draft OF cool night air was
the result. and Grant drank in deep lung
fuls OF 1t.
His senses cleared Immediately; and
II an he remembered with a gasp of dis
may. Tho way to the street led through
the inferno behind him-he had gons
through the wrong doorl
There must be another way out"
thought Grant swiftly. He could hear
fresh yells somewhere and the pounding
OF feet. then fire siren and gongs olang-
ing. II he could reach the roof. now
a gambling den has always more than
one exit. -
mouth and nose; slipped OF his coat and
put IL over his own head; then lifting her
onto his back he staggered into the smoke
again. At the far end OF the hall he could
make out dimly the shape Of q flight OF
stairs leading upward.
A few moments later he had reached
the top and had unfastened and thrust
up scuttle. blaze of light greeted
him; already fire had worked through
the roof There was no time to be lost
Discarding coat and handkerchief.
whereat the girl gasped in relief. he rush.
ed to the edge of the roof and looked
anxiously around. Four or nye stories
below the crowd saw them and q yell
arose. But the ladders could not reach
them In time The girl was standing
alone now and looking around her. dis
heveled and frightened.
Here y'arel" yelled Grant above the
roar of the flames and Snatched up reel
OF clothesline, Swiftly he unwound It.
his coat and. using It for pad.
fastened the rope securely under the
dazed girls arms. Then. bractng him
self, he lowered her swiftly, but safely.
TO the ground amid bedlam OF yells and
cheers. But there was a new burst OF
flames below as he started TO draw tho
rope back and he found that It had been
burned through
"The life netf' rcared megaphone-,
eJumpl'
Grant felt of his aching arms ana
grinned with pleasure he muttered.
and oheyed.
Smoke blaekened and trembling but
happy. Grant ended his story to the city
sditor. 'tJuHt another case OF fool girl
and the dancing craze which led her TO
places where angels certainly should rear
10 tread. ellsworth met her on the dance
floor In surry's and used their supposed
to cineh his deal with the GhiL
cago guy" he explained. as he attacked
his typewriter.
s,But who is she?" demanded Mansfield
curiously.
"Brophy's daughter" srunted TOM
Grant Were friends again"