Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-16
CHAPTER XVII.

49, Pax AS he stepped into the
courtyard he was surprised to see a
crowd gathered before the hotel.
Then he noticed that from second
floor window poured smoke and flame
and that the town fire department was
wildly getting into action.
He stopped. His heart almost ceas-
ed beating. That was her window
the window to which he had called her
on that night that seemed SO far
away-last night! Breathlessly he ran
forward.
And he ran straight into a group
just descended from the ballroom. OF
that group Cynthia Afeyrick was a
member For a moment they stood
gazing at each other. Then the girl
turned to her aunt.
"My wedding dress!" she cried "I
left it lying on my bed. oh. can't
possibly be married tomorrow If that
is burned"
There was a challenge in that last
sentence, and the young man for
whom 1t was intended did not miss it.
Mad with the injustice Of life, he
swooped down on a fireman struggling
with a wabbly ladder. Snatching
away the ladder, he placed 1t against
the window from which the smoke and
flame poured. He ran up 1t.
Here" shouted the chief Of the fire
department. laying angry hands on
TIA ladders base. "Wot you doing?
You can't go in there"
"Why the devil can't II" beloved
Minot "Let go of that LADDER
He plunged into the room. The
smoke filed his nostrlls and choked
him. His eyes burned He staggered
through the smoky dusk into another
room. His hands met the brass bars
Of a bed, then closed over something
soft and filmy that lay upon it, He
seized the something close and hurried
back into the other room.
A fireman at another window sought
to turn a stream of water on him. Wa
ter-on that gown!
"Cut that out, you fool.' Minot
shouted. The fireman, who had sus-
pected himself Of saving a human life,
looked hurt. Minot ,regained his win
dow. Disheveled, smoky, but victo-
rious, he half fell, half climbed, to the
ground, The fire chief faced him.
"Who was you trying to rescueT" the
chief demanded. His eyes grew wide.
"You idiot!' he roared. "They amt
nobody in that dress"
Darn 1t, know that" Minot cried.
He ran across the lawn and stood, a
painting, limp, battered, ludlcrous fig
ure, before Cynthia Meyrlck.
"I-I hope it's the right one," he
said, and held out the gown.
She took his offering and came very
close TO him.
'I hate youn she said in low tone
II hate you" s.....s
IL was afraid you would" he NUT
tered.
A shout from the f1remen announced
that the blaze was under control. To
his dismay, Minot saw that an admir-.
ing crowd was surrounding him. He
broke away and hurried to his room.
Cynthia Meyrlck's final words to him
rang in his ears. Savagely he tore at
his ruined collar.
Was this ridiculous farce never to
end?
AS II in answer distant clock
struck IL. He shuddered'
Tomorrow at high noon!
Early Tuesday IL orning, while Mr..
Minot still slept ana mercifully forgot,
two very wide awake gentlemen sat
alone together in the Office Of the San
Marco Mail One was Manuel Con.
zale, proprietor of that paper, as i'm.
maculate as the morn; the other was
that broad and breezy gentleman
known in his present incarnation as
Mr.. Martin Wall.
Every neat-very neat indeed" said
Mr.. WALL gazing with evident ap.
proval at an inky smelling sheet that
lay before him. at ought to do the
work. IL 1t does it will be the first
stroke of luck I've had in San Marco"
Gonzale smiled, revealing two even
rows of very white teeth.
"You do not like San MarcoT he
ventured.
Mr.. Wall snorted angrily.
Like It? Does beheaded man like
the ak? In a long and golden pro-
fesslonal career I've never struck any
thing like this town before for hard
luck. I'm not in it twenty -four hours
when I'm left alone, my hands tied.
with stuff enough to make your eyes
pop out of your head. That's pleasant.
Then, after spending two months and
lot of money trailing Lord Harrowby
for the family Jools, I finally cop them.
/ give the crew of my borrowed boat
orders to steam far. far away and run
to my cabin to gloat. Do l gloatf
Ask me. do not gloat. I find the
famous Chain Lightning's collar Is a
very superior collection Of glass, worth
about % cents. I send back the glass
and stic'. around, hoping for better
days. And the best I get is a call
from the owner of my. yacht with or
ders to vacate at once. When ! first
came here swnre I'd visit that jewel
ry store again-alone. But there's a
jlnx after me In this town. What's
e.