Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-05
CHAPTER XVI.
4 Ere and . Rna~s.A


that we shipped very little va.
ter. When we landed I was thankful
to note that there were no lights In
the house. Apparently every one had
gone to bed for a much needed rest. I
sent Bill up to get Clair's clothing,
while 1 unloaded the supplies and hid
them under the dock. I expected to
telephone Jim in the morning and tell
him where they were so that be could
cook breakfast for the castaways.
When Bill returned 1 helped him put
out to sea again. This required consid-
cradle persuasion and So In money. I
also had 10 promise to make it all
right with the newspaper man whom
be had brought oven
Now the next adventure in this
Arabian nightmare occurred. At first
| thought It was the reflection of the
rising sun in the windows Of the cot
taee which caused the red light, but
when looked to the east I saw that
the sun was not up.
Then the house must be on FIRE!
Clearly had no time to lose. Proba-
bly, every one was sleeping. I ran up
the path from the beach to the house,
my temples bursting with the exertion.
By the time got to the front door the
flames were beginning to lick out Of
one Of the upstairs windows.
threw myself against the front
door and broke the lock without cere-
mony. The stairway was still clear.
dashed up, yelling, "Fire!"
The people began to come out in
various stages of undress, carrying
clothing and valuables. Vida's stage
experience stood her in good stead.
She emerged@from her room complete
ly dressed and went downstairs as II
she were answering a rehearsal call.
All were accounted for but L1cile.
/ pounded on her door again and
again.
Hurry" commanded at frequent
intervals
I'm hurrying" she always an.
swered.
At last the smoke began to be un.
bearable in the hallway, and the
cracking Of the flames warned me
that in an instant the stairs would be
impossible. / stood on ceremony nc
longer threw open Lucile's door
She was looking aimlessly about her
with a stocking in one hand.
Il can't find my other stocking" she
announced calmly.
Don't be excited" l shouted. 1.-THE
house is on fire, and we've got to gel
OUT
I'm not excited. But how can es
cape with only one stocking?'
There was no time for argument.
grabbed a blanket that was flung ovel
the foot of her bed, wrapped her in Il
and swept her off her feet and int
my arms.
The rescue was very simple. There
was a little smoke on the stairway
and in a minute It would have beer
hard to get down. but as 1t was l only
had to hold my breath for a few sec
onds and We were safe on the frs
floor, which had not caught yet.
However carried Lucille clear out
in the front yard and deposited her ir
the little group of scantily clad sur
vivOrs.
Where's the fire Department.
asked Vida.
There isn't any fire department.
Kent volunteered gently.
Cant anything be done?'
Not much now" l shrugged my
shoulders. when a fire gets that
much Roadway in country house
built of wood there Is nothing much
to do but save the nearby buildings"
How could it have caught?' asked
Bopp, trying to put his left shoe on hi:
right foot. He had carried them both
out In his hands.
"No one was up" said Jim, the Ore
man.
How did you come to be around
Monty" Bopp Strengthened up witt
q quick glance at me. Mrs. Greer
telephoned that you were going to thu
mainland"
IT hardly seemed possible, but knew
that for n moment they all suspected
me Of having set fire TO Lucile's house
In revenge for our quarrel OF the eve
ming before.
Il came back to the island for some
thing, and I noticed the fire l e1
planned weakly. THE flames wef'
coming out OF the window Of the north
east ROOM"
who slept there?" Captain Perkins
asked practically.
No one answered.
That's funny" Captain Perkin'
wss sarcastic. Didn't anybody sleel
10 the northeast room, or don't yo'
know where you siepti'
You slept there yourself" Jim ex
planned, rather hesltaDt about caiiihi
bis superior officers attention TO such
damning fact.
OH The captain collapsed. "
guess ! did"
Where did you empty the ashes 0
your pipe before you went to get tha
drink Of water?" ! INTERCEPTED.
why. lemme see. l must hav'
dumped iem in the wastebaskef. bu
the IRE was all out"
Any further discussion was cut snof
by the violent ringing Of the telephon
bell inside the burning building.
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