The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-02-23
Continued from page ~
] A ROMANCE IN A FLAT.

The fireman struck a match and lit
thick candle, as she flung back the
door. Coats of past season, two
trunks and number of dress boxes
made up the contents of the closet.
Against the far wall leaned a short
ladder, one of the fold-up variety,
quite tall enough for housekeeping
purposes, but not within five feet Of
the height of the trap-door.
Nora turned from it with dismay.
TOO short, isn't it?' she asked.
Might be worse" cheerily answered
right. Is there anything you want
to bring with you. If there is, let US
go get it, though 1 doubt if this cor
ner will go at all. Still" as the girl
stood hesitating, cts no place for
you for a while, and if we don't go
now we may be cut off.
This was what was needed to send
Nora flying back for her bundle. AT
the last minute she secured the best
hat with four black pins. While it
might be foolish to try to wear a hat
down a ladder she could see no good
reason for not wearing one up a lad
der.
The young fireman looked admir-
ingly at the shy, sweet face beneath
the blue velvet brim and laughed as
he remarked: ut certainly would be
shame to lose that hat" He closed
the window and told Nora to lock her
suitcase and also the drawers in the
old-fashioned bureau. "You never can
tell what kind of fellows making out
to be reporters, will come poking
around after the fire is out" he said.
Below them in the alley the great
engine had not desisted in her eff
forts to give out the force that was
in her. "Why don't we see any smoke
from the fire." asked Nora, as they
turned toward the closet.
The wind is blowing it the other
way, thank goodness, or | never
would have seen you" he answered.
The short ladder was opened out
and placed Just beneath the trap-door.
The wide top, made to hold a scrub
bling pail, called for words of praise
from the young fireman. Tell you
how we'd better do it, he said. ''Tll
open up that door with thisI broom
Che had picked up one standing out
side the closet door,. There tbs,
now come up here beside me, and I'll
push you up through the hole
ooh, I can't" cried Nora. WED
both fall off the ladder"
Don't be silly. I don't fall off any
thing! I could 60 up first and pull
you up, but it's such height I'd be
apt to jerk the arms fairly out OF
you. This way you can touch the
sides of the hole with your hands and
almost pull yourself up" He illu-
strated by catching at the hole and
swinging from the ladder.
"Oh, | can do that. I've done it in
the barn, and swung myself up to the
loft lots of times" exclaimed Nora.
"Of course you can. Come on, .
and he stepped to the farther side OF
the ladders broad top. Give me that
bundle. I'll throw it out first" Nora
handed it up, and an instant later
heard it drop upon the roof. Then
she stood beside him on the step.
Stand on your tip-toes. That's
how Now, up you co. Nora gave a
faint gasp, drew in a long breath and
then grasping the edge Of the hole
with her very finger tips, gave little
jump up, at the same time "muscling
up as her cousin Dick had long ago
taught her.
At the same moment pair of iron
bands seemed to have been clasped
about her ankles and she was pushed
through the hole. 1t was done in a
second, and she was sitting in heap
on the snow-coyered roof, aimlessly