The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-10-13

well they can
wait Now, don't strike any matches.
Get me that big pan you use for the
starch"
In the bathroom Helen emptied the
whole half gallon Of gasoline into the
starch pan and dipped into 1t her chif-
fOn waist.
The filmy material wilted down as
ii soaked up the fluid. Her hands in
rubber gloves she swished IT around,
held it up to drain. and pinned it to
the shade before the open window.
After dipping a lace collar and the
net yoke and sleeves Of her gray taft
feta, the gasoline was still clear
enough for something else. While she
was at it. she would clean those pink
satin slippers.
Even with the open window, the
stupefying fumes were now sickening-
ly strong. Hastily, with held breath,
she immersed the slippers, brushing
them with a soft nailbrush.
The soiled gasoline she always
by standing, but now, too dizzy TO
pour il back into the small-mouthed
bottle, she emptied it out into the
washbasin. Then, escaping from the
bathroom, she closed the door on the
sitting fumes.
Here, Dora" as she took the starch
pan out to the kitchen, wash this out
well. This gasoline bottles empty
I'll put it here ON the lower shelf. Be
careful not to use it for anything else"
When. little later. she went back
10 the bathroom, the waist. except for
the thicker parts around the neck and
sleeves. was almost dry. 1t was beau
tifully white. Had she sent 1t TO the
cleaners. they would have charged 81
and done 1t no better
1t was now after three. and she was
anxious for the things TO dry quickly
so there would be no traces of OdOr
when Warren came home.
He had repeatedly forbidden her to
use gasoline. insisting that he would
pay any amount of cleaners bills rath-
er than have her take chances with
this inflammable fluid.
The dress on the towel rack she re-
arranged so the air could get to the
yoke and sleeves, but the slippers on
the stone ledge outside the window
were still quite wet.
She had just examined one and set
It back when lighted cigar butt,
tossed from window above, fell
straight into the pink satin toe.
A sizzling flash and the gasoline
soaked slipper was aflame. For Sec
ond Helen stood petrifled. Then. jerk
ing up a long-handled bath brush, she
thrust 1t Off the ledge. But it was too
latel The blaze had leaped to the
thin lace waist.
Screaming for Dora, she hurled the
waist into the bath tub and turned on
the water But now the dress had
caught and the flames were leaping up
the tiled wall.
Dora, bursting open the door. stared
panic-stricken, then rushed back
shrieking: Fire! Fire
The water. now filling the tub, ex.
tinguished the waist; but the dress
which hung on the towel rack, was
still ablaze. Frantically Helen tried to
poke it down into the tub with the
long-handled brush. Then, reaching
over to turn on the shower, the flames
caught the lace Of her kimono sleeve
saturated with the gasoline fumes.
She might easily have smothered II
with the heavy bath mat, but now
paralyzed with terror. she ran wildly
out, too frightened even to scream
BIindly she dashed through the hal
door that Dora had left open.
After that everything was a dazed
blur. The draughty elevator shaft
famed the flaming sleeve as she flew
stumblingly down the encircling stair
way. Excited voices, rushing feet and
DOra's still piercing shrieks Of Fire =
Someone caught her. Something
heavy was thrown about her. The
rest blurred into oblivion.
1--WE sent for her husband" II was
a woman's voice, lowered to n discreet
whisper.
shell soon be all right" a man:
voice. deep and restful.
For several moments after the con
sciousness Of the voices, Helen. still
clinging to the sheltering darkness
kept her eyes closed.
A sharp pain In her shoulder. Some
one was bandaging her arm. Then sh'
realized that the man bending over he
was Doctor Marden, whose Office wa
on the first floor.
you're all right now" reassuringly
as he met her bewildered gaze. "Drinl
a little Of this" raising her head T.
the glass.
Dropping back on the pillow, sh'
saw Dora and Mr.. Thompson, thei
superintendent, at the foot Of the bed
Standing Just back of the doctor wa
Mrs. Reed, who had an apartment oil
the floor below.
Still dazed, Helen again sough
refuge in the protective darkness o
closed eyelids. The heavy odor o
iodoform added to her sense OF strange
ness. Her mind was struggling q
bring order and clearness from he
chaotic thoughts.
| She heard Mr.. Thompson murmu
something to the doctor and tipto
heavily from the room Then the tel