The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1917-06-29

Helen, waiting in
GREATNESS 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 mean7 What
had happened?
Snatching her dressing gown, she
sprang to the door. but Warren, en-
tering. pushed her back with a
brusque:
Don't be frightened! It's moth
Ing much-you stay In here"
What Is 1t? Who's out there7" in
shrill excitement.
"One Of our awnings afire-but
they'll soon have it out. Now you
stay here. I tell you" He rushed
back, slamming the door fOrbiddingly.
But Helen. gathering closer her
robe, flew after him. 1t was q terrify-
Ing scene. The flaming bay window
awning lit the room. Burning frag-
ments fell cracking against the
glass.
"Oh, II the glass breaksw screamed
Helen. flake 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 ~
roared Warren. as he pitched the cur
tains. rods and all, In a 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
dowl"
Got to smother that out before the
woodwork catches" Warren threw
up the sash. !.. 4.,.4..a 3.
"Oh, dear, don't-dont pleaded
Helen. trying to drag him from the
open window. through which poured
clouds of smoke and q shower Of
sparks. ..... .'...
Get me something-Quickl A
heavy towel-anything'l do"
She flew out and was back with a
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 hands !" she
was Juggling at Warren's arm.
you keep out of this!" wrenching
of the mass Of charred rope and
slamming down the window.
The place was filled with smoke,
but outside the flames were dying
down. The awning was almost
burned out. Only. few shreds Of
smoldering canvas still chung to the
iron frame. The fierce heat had
cracked but not broken the glass.
The Waterman rushed to answer
another clamor Of the bell. 1t was
the superintendent, his coat buttoned
over his collarless shirt. the sleep still
in his eyes, and tumbled hair.
"It's about over" Warren informed
him briefly, with a smoke-choked
cough. "Some idiot threw out a Gig
arette."
"Ninth floor" grimly. 'That's
twice they've done this" Then at the
sudden shrek of fire engine: THAT
fool elevator boy turned in an alarm.
Well have the whole department up
here in u minute"
The screaming whistles now filled
the midnight quiet, the bedlam grow
ing deafening as they neared the
house.
Then commotional sounds from the
hall, and a dozen flremen trooped in,
their heavy boots gathering over the
hardwood floors. Without even glano
ing at Warren or the superintendent,
they swarmed about the window and
tore out the sashes..
"Trip out that cornice," ordered the
chief. ION the top there-where it's
burning"
With a devastating ak, recklessly
they chopped loose the heavy white
molding.
1.-THE fires all out! Oh, why're they
doing that?" quavered Helen. They're
running the wall!'
"They know what they're about"
grunted Warren, girdling closer his
bathrobe.
"Oh, don't let them do that! Can't
you stop them?" turning frantically
to the superintendent. "Weu never
match that paper"
"No use my saying anything
shrugged Mr.. Thompson. "You can't
do anything with firemen."
Gr,t <ha orfiD0nisher Mike ~