The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-09-07

even now be safe in blessed out
doors had 1t not been for her and
her foolish woman's within. The
wind had slammed the door shut.
She wrenched 1t open. The clouds
of smoke that met her, rolling out
of their Imprisonment like pent-
up steam, choked her, blinded ner,
beat her back. She strove impo-
tently against it. Now Mary had
firm hold of her and would not
let her go. She struggled desper-
ately and tried to push her off,
but vainly, for Mary had twice her
strength.
Mary, l shall never forgive
you"
She did not finish her sentence,
for at that moment Gordon stag
gered out into the air. He sat
down on the bottom step as if he
were drunk, but little darts OF
flame colored the surging smoke
here and there in weird splotches
and, suddenly calm now that there
was something to do, Mary and
Louise led him away from the
doomed building where the keen
wind soon blew the choking
smoke from his eyes and throat.
1--WE swallowed ton" he
said, recovering himself quickly.
81 couldn't get them, Louise" He
did not know he called her SO.
"Oh, what does ity1 matter?"
cried Louise. earnestly. s Only for
give me for sending you"
"As | remember it, | sent my
SELF" said Gordon, with a humor-
Gus smile, land l am afraid, tum-
bled one little girl rather uncer-
enormously down the stairs. Did
l hurt you?" There was ca
ressing cadence in the question
that he could not for the life of
him keep out Of his voice. z
II did not even know | tum-
bled. How did you sget back?"
said Louise TREMENDOUSLY.
who opened the door," coun-
ter-questioned Gordon, remember
ing. 1.-The wind must have blown
1t shut. l was blinded couldn't
breathe. I CROPPED for it as long
as l could without breathing.
Then l guess / must have gone
off for a little, for | sprawled on
the floor of the lower hall when
felt breath of air playing over
me. Somebody must have opened
the door-because l am pretty
sure | had tainted or done some
foolish thing"
Louise was silent. She was
thankful - thankful! God had
been very good to her to do this
thing. She had not meant to do
it-she had not known what she
did; enough that it was done.
at was Louise" spoke up
Mary, land tried to hold her
back!" SO she accused herself.
But l didn't do it on purpose"
said Louise, with shining eyes.
IL"
Eyes you" prompted Gordon,
looking at her with tender intent
ness.
II guess l was trying to come
after you," she confessed. 1T
was very-foolish."
Gordon drew a long breath.
81 thank God for your-fool-
ishness," he said simply, smiling
the smile his friends loved him
for.
As the flames broke through
the roof, Langford came running
up where the group stood little
apart from the press.
Dick! l have been looking for
you everywhere" he cried,
hoarsely.
What's the trouble. old
MANI" asked Gordon, quietly.
II have something to tell YOU"
said Langford, in a low voice.
Come quick-let's go back to
your rooms. Why, girls
I'VE will go, too," said Mary,
with quiet decision. They could
not ask the protection of Gordon
and Langford back to the hotel
then, when Langford's handsome
tanned face was white with the
weight of what he had to tell.
TT will be best" he agreed,
Unexpectedly. Conceive must
hurry" ~
It was Williston's little girl"
whom he took under his\ personal
protection, diving up the street
in the teeth of the gale which
blew with force that kept Mary
half the time off her feet. All
was dark around the premises.
Everybody was dancing attend
ance on the court house ! o.
caust. Gordon felt for his keys.
How good 1t is to get out of
the wind" whispered Louise. This
proceeding smacked SO much of
the mysterious that whispering
followed as a natural sequence.
They stepped within. 1t was
inky black.
Lock the door," said Lang
ford, in low voice.
Gordon complied, surprised,
but asking no question. Then lie
lighted lamp that stood on his
desk.
Langford stepped to the win
dows and drew the blinds closely.
Now that I have you SAFE" he