The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1916-01-25
WoMAEs RELIEF CORPS
BY LOUISE OLIVER.


Dear Connie:
Can you come to dinner Friday?
have an extra girl, and as usual
need man, Connie, dear, don't
think I'm asking you for the tenth
time this season Just because am
so fond of you; such of course we all
are. But 1t is because you are such a
darling to fill in. What would we do.
without you?
81 aithfully yours,
Belle"
"P. s. Don't tell the story about
the fiamingo. | simply can't laugh at
1t again. can say 1t backward in
my sleep. Hunt up a new supply"
We'll, like that" laughed Connie
Collins good naturedly as he laid aside
the note and resumed his grapefruit.
one thing about Belle-she's candid"
He sighed. 80 I'm to supply again!
1t seems to me I've developed into a
regular married woman's relief corps"
He finished his coffee and went to
the office where he called up his pro-
spective hostess for Friday.
Hello, Belle! l got your note.
Count on me. Yes, sure. No, I'll not
tell the flamingo story another-what's
that? Oh, she's pretty, is she? That's
encouraging. Say, Belle, have some
Of that crab meat again, will you? All
right-good for you! I'll be there
sure"
When Friday night came and Con-
ME was presented to the young per-.
son he was to take in to dinner, his
first impulse was to hunt up his hos
tess and weep tears Of Joy and thank.
fulness upon her shoulder. Miss May.
well-such was her name-was q
vision Of sweet delight.
At dinner his hostess kept nodding
and smiling at him as much as to say,
IT'S your reward, Connie, for long
period Of martyrdom."
Then gradually-so imperceptibly
that no one noticed 1t for a while
the air, heavy with the scent of Amer
lean Beauty roses, became pungent,
a blue haze began to fill the room and
finally an eddy Of smoke trailed across
the low circle Of light thrown by the
candles.
"Fire!" woman breathed con-
vulsively and the guests sprang to
their feet. Bellies husband, Max
Wells, threw open the door into the
hall. There was solid wall Of white
smoke.
Dorothy MAXWELL laid a hand on
Comics arm. do you think it's up
stairs?" she whispered. live got
to 60 up and get some things II It
is."
"You mustn't think OF that" he in.
sisted kindly. Lives first. you know"
He laid his hand reassuYingly over
the one resting nervously on his arm.
But I've got to. Doesn't anyone
know where It ISL"
Then, before he realized what she
was doing. she dashed a glass of wa
ter over a napkin, caught It up to her
face and was out Of the door, through
the wall Of smoke and tearing up the
stairs.
Connie was at her heels. but he
could not stop her. There had been
no time for him to protect himself.
and the smoke in his eyes and lungs
strangled him, but he kept on.
Upstairs the smoke was less dense.
Dorothy ran along the hall and into a
room at the right.
"You can't come in," she called.
But Connie, with eyes alert for flames,
paid no attention.
Hurry" he urged. Get what you
want. But for heavens sake hurry"
She flew to bureau, opened a
small top drawer. got something that
looked like card, slid 1t into the
front of her gown and faced him. e.
I'm ready" she choked.
Comics eyes were smarting so he
could scarcely see. But they CROPPED
their way along the hall, keeping as
close to the floor as possible. They
almost fell down the stairs. In an
other instant they were outside on
the porch Just as the firemen arrived.
The men rushed into the smoke
filled house, upstairs, down cellar,
garretward-yet there were no flames,
only dense, acrid smoke.
mo fire in the house at ALL" yelled
someone. TITS all coming out of the
registers Something wrong with the