Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-01-18

a long drawn "A-ah!" burst from the
crowd.
places. the high plastcred walls: to
sniff the clean new smell of it. Every
body admitted it to be the finest build
ing in the city.
On Christmas eve we went to bed,
strangely enough, very early. All the
rest OF the town was celebrating, but
we had been busy moving furniture
and fixtures. had worked late in order
to finish the job and were very tired.
The first intimation of trouble come
to me in my sleep. l dreamed we were
back on the Porcupine and that the
stream was in flood. l could distinct
ly hear the oar Of it as it swept by,
and | remember Johnny and myself
were trying desperately to climb a big
pine tree III order to get above the en-
croaching waters. \ wind sprang up
and shook the pine violently. came
slowly to waking consciousness, the
dream fading into reality. Yank was
standing by my cot. shaking me by
the shoulder. he was fully dressed
and carried his long rifle.
Get up" h" told me. There's a
big fire OH or two doors away, and
it's headed j'iiS way"
Then l re 'IiZcu that the roar Of the
flames had induced my dream.
Fifteen or twenty men were trying
to help Warrcn's place resist the heat.
They had blankets and pals Of water,
and were attempting to interpose these
feeble defences at the points most Sc
verely attacked. Each man stood it
as long as he could, then rushed out
to cool his Redeemed face.
Reminds me of the way [ used to
pop corn when l was a kid Srinned a
miner. II wouldn't care for that job"
Just the same, they'll save it," OBJ
served Talbot judicially.
Almost coincident with his words a
long drawn "A-ah!" burst from the
crowd. A wandering gust Of wind
came in from the ocean. For the brief
est instant the tall straight column Of
fame bent gracefully before it, then
came upright again as it passed. In
that instant 1t licked across the side
wall of Warren's place and immediate
ly Warren's place burst into fame.
Hard luck!' commented Talbot.
The fire fighters swarmed out like
bees from q disturbed hive.
"Our hotel next" said Johnny.
That's safe enough. There's a wide
lot between" I observed.
A fresh crew of fire fighters took the
place Of the others-namely, those per-
sonally interested in saving the hotel.
Lucky the night is so STILL" said
Talbot.
We watched Warren's place burn
with all the half guilty joy of those
who are sorry, but who are glad to be
there If it has to happen. Suddenly
Talbot threw up his head.
Feel that breeze?" he cried.
Suction into the fire. suggested
Johnny.
But Talbot shook his head inpatient
~, trying TO pesr t rough the glare
into the SKY.
1t was a very gentts breeze from the
direction Of the ocean. 1 could barely
feel it on my cheek, and it was not
strong enough as yet to affect in the
slightest the upward roaring column
of flame. Eo" a moment, I was inclined
to agree with johnny that it WIGS sim
ply a current of air induced by the
confagratiou. But now an uneasy mo-
ton began to take place in the crowd.
Men elboweh their way here and there,
met, conferred, gathered In knots. In
less than a minute Talbot signaled us.
We made OUR way to where he was
standing with Sam Brannan. Casey,
Green and a few others.
THANK God the wind is from the
northwest" Talbot said %fervently.
THE Ward block Is sa fely to wind
ward, and We don't need to worry
about that, anyway. But 1t Is n wind,
and it's f%reshening. We've got to do
something to stop this fire."
AS though to emphasiz Q the need for
some sort OF ACTION, a. second nn6