The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1916-12-08
WITHOUT ESCAPE
An Adventure of
Grant, Police Reporter
BY Robert Welles Richie
Story by Redheld ingalls,
" Redheld Ingalls,

HE'S the biggest crook and CRATER of
the whole bunch declared the chief hof-
". But you can't touch him-he's too
solid with the powers that be-"
I'm And seemingly ] can't touch
HYDE either, because he promised a libel
suit II did. Butch, / don't know
Hailoran looked at him keenlv. seYou
can't get in there again?''
Grant told him Of his little ally. the
I factory girl. She's the one that gave
me the tip by telling another girl about
~ ne said. 7 have a notion that If she
makes good I'll not only get the estima-
bic Mr.. Hyde, but maybe somebody higher
up
But how can she's began the chief.
and paused aiertly The combination
bell Of the fire alarm apparatus had begun
rafting in a call
'Four-six-nine- It's Hyde's, or I'll
eat my hatr' yelled Halloran as he leaned
into action
Grant ran outside the building and wait
ed tensely. In moment the big hook
and-ladder auto-truck roared out and the
reporter swung himself up beside the
CHIEF on the running board. The run was
too short for the old fireman 20 bother
with his red auto. And If his surmise
proved TO be correct there was need for
his presence on the scene with the least
possible delay.
Siren wailing and bell changing, the auto
truck charged down the street and whirl-
ed around a corner, seemingly on two
wheels. Ahead was a straight run to the
fire-box, but no directions would be need
ed there. The fire was in plain view
'Hyde'sr' yelled HaIloran, and Grants
heart leaped and dropped sickeningly. He
had never grown callous to a factory fire.
He peered ahead eagerly, and suddenly
groaned Already he could make out the
twisted remains of the fire-escape through
4 ha hat rFr Il a
building, and the tumbled heaps Of cloth
ing al the bottom. In the window whence
it had fallen was a group of screaming,
fighting girls.
Beside him Halloran raped out a saw
/ age oath. His experienced eyes had al
| ready gagged the distance from the side
walk to that window. THE extension
ladders too short" he shouted above the
clamor of their progress.
Instantly Grant sprang to attention. He
| snatched a hooked .'pompey." the scaling
1 ladder that firemeu use in an emergency,
and scrambled with it UP on top OF the
truck, shedding his coat as he went
I'm the lightest Of the bunch.' he
yelled. I'll get ont at the end of the ex-
tension. and you have 'em hoist 'er as we
gol' He began to scramble backwards
along the big ladder, like cat
Slowly but surely the huge ladder rose
vertically with Grant clinging to the end
4 W1lte the auIO-tTuCk scarcely SidGhenED
| its speed. And then it slid to a stop di-
rectly in front of the window.
/ Holding the ladder firmly with his knees
! Grant reached up and managed to hook
| the ''pompey'' in through the window
| Minnie Mason was there, fighting like q
tigress to keep the other girls from leap
/ ing out. And under her shepherding the
girls started down the scaling ladder one
by one: scramblinG over Grant. who held
on grinIy. half choked by the smoke, and
down to safety. Last Of them came Min
ME She was excited but self-posSessed-
did you get them" Grant demanded
as he handed her down to the fireman
below him.
eyes, but HYDE got wise she answered
breathlessly. And then: "Oh, my Lord,
forgot the lunch box
| without wasting words Grant started
up the 'pompey." ''In my locker neal
the elevator.'' cried the girl. and he wa.
In the srAoke-fllIed. sitting room. Bend
ing low. he charged blindiy. A few sec
onds' hreathless search, and he was back
at the window. triumphant Then :
scramble down tho scaling-ladder, witt
the box in his teeth; leap to the extern
sion, and he had slid to the ground IN
hurt.
'~You-you risHed your life for the girl!
lunch2'' cried Hallorau.
Grant grinned through a mask OF Crime
photographs of Hydes locked doors
that'H convict him. and maybe more" h
gasped. "That's q trick camerar'