The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-07-07

sse note, of disaster.
-. u, Accident death?
Helen, waiting in
breathless suspense, tried to visual
lie the brief, baleful message within
the dreaded yellow envelope.
The sound of voices-excited
voices! Then heavy, rushing feet
through the hall, past the bedroom,
and into the library. 1t was not a
telegram. What did it mean? What
had happened?
Snatching her dressing gown, she
sprang to the door, but Warren, en-
tering, pushed her back with a
brusque: E.. II.
"Don't be frightened! It's moth
Eng much-you stay in here"
"What is til? Who's out there?" in
shrill excitement.
"One of our awnings afire-but
they'll soon have it out. Now you
stay here, / tell you" He rushed
back, slamming the door forbiddingly.
But Helen, gathering closer her
robe, flew after him. 1t was terrify-
ing scene. The flaming bay window
awning lit the room. Burning frag-
ments fell cracking against the
glass.
"Oh, If the glass breaks!" screamed
Helen. "Take down the curtains!"
Apparently neither Warren nor the
night Waterman had thought Of the
curtains, for instantly they were up
on the window sill, snatching down
the thin null hangings.
"Told you to stay in the bedroom u
roared Warren, as he pitched the cur
tains, rods and all, in corner.
"That ropes afire!" cried the
Waterman, for the awning rope
wrapped around the hook, was now
ablaze against the easement.
Hold on, I wouldn't raise the win
| dowr'
"Got to smother that out before the
i woodwork catches" Warren threw
up the sash.
"Oh, dear, don't-don't" pleaded
Helen, trying to drag him from the
open window, through which poured
clouds of smoke and a shower OF
sparks.
"Get me something-quick A
| heavy towel-anything'll do"
She flew out and was back with O
bath mat. Terrified, she lowered near
as he smothered the blazing rope
while the Waterman stamped out the
menacing sparks that blew into the
room.
"Oh, your hands-your handsT" she
I, was Juggling at Warrens arm.
"You keep out of this" wrenching
off the mass of charred rope ano
slamming down the window.
The place was filled with smoke
but outside the flames were dying
down. The awning was almost
burned out. Only a few shreds Of
smoldering canvas still chung to the
iron frame. The fierce heat hat
cracked but not broken the glass.
The Waterman rushed to answer
another clamor of the bell. 1t was
the superintendent, his coat buttonet
over his collarless shirt, the sleep still
In his eyes, and tumbled hair.
tits about over" Warren informed
him briefly, with a smoke-choket
cough. "Some idiot threw out Gig
! arctic"
"Ninth floor" grimly. "That''
twice they've done this" Then at thu
sudden Shrek of fire engine: "Tha
fool elevator boy turned in an alarm
Well have the whole department VI
here in minute"
, The screaming whistles now fillet
| the midnight quiet, the bedlam grow
I ing deafening as they neared tn
house.
| Then commotional sounds from tn,
? hall, and a dozen firemen trooped In
j their heavy boots Gathering over tn
hardwood floors. Without even glanc
ing at Warren or the superintendent
they swarmed about the window ant
g tore out the sashes.
"Trip out that cornice," ordered tn
chief. "On the top there-where til
. burningw
With devastating ak, recklessl,
they chopped loose the heavy whit
. mOlding.
"The fires all out Oh, why're the,
doing that?" quavered Helen. '"They'r
: running the WALTZ
} "They know what they're about,
grunted Warren, girdling closer hi
bathrobe.
"Oh, don't let them do that! Can
you stop them?" turning franticall
to the superintendent. "Well neve
match that paper"
mo use my saying anything,
shrugged Mr.. Thompson. "You can
do anything with firemen."
UGof tho ovtin o,,;chor AT;J-a :