The Red Cloud chief., 1919-08-28
Through
Fire
Copyright. 1919. By Western Newspaper Uaion.,
By ALvAH JORDAN GARTH

nearly every one In Walden cOnsid-
cred that Miss Esther March and Roger
Brill were entitled to the distinction
In a modest way they lived amid the
retirement Of quiet street, they were
courteous toward their neighbors,
their comings and golngs were we'll or.
dered, and altogether they were es-
teemed and respected as helpful and
welcome residents OF Walden.
Miss March was just past thirty.
She was a reserved being, but not
to any extreme Of prlmness. Roger
Brill, bachelor. was shy and retiring,
but always came forward In any move
nent for general good and did not
shrink neighborly or community re-
sponslbllities.
"She's better looking than she was
ten years ago." declared Judge Adams,
the wiseacre of the village, "but some-
how she's let her chances of marriage
slip by and now fancies she's old
enough to be laid on the shelf"
Roger Brill had lived In Walden for
few months only. A relative had
left him coal and feed business, and
the cottage half square, down the
street from the March home. There
he had installed himself, the place
oil ready for housekeeping when he
inherited II. Without wife, chick or
child, however. he got most his own
reals and existed quite by himself.
Brill was a great lover of flowers,
and after he had settled down In the
village he sent to friend in his old
home town to ship him some rose
bushes of bewlderingly beautiful
species. always favorites with him.
The order was filed In profuse man.
ner and Brill was prodigal in distribut-
Ing the surplus. Everybody I'm the
block received a donation. Brill had
placed bundle Of the bushes on the
porch of the March place, and was
anxious to get away without being
discovered, bashful man that he was.
when Miss March came around the
corner of the house. Brill flushed
red as peony and fairly stammered
amid his embarrassment.
. "A few rose Slips" he lamely ex-
planned. "Friend sent me great
overplus. Was glad to pass them
along"
"Why, thank you," responded Miss
March brightly. love roses and
shall value your kind gift very much.
presume you are going to keep up
the garden at the old Wilder place."
T-I think SHALL" answered Brill.
wherever have lived have al
ways had a lot Of flowers" and he was
backing away In culpritlike fashion
when a remark Of his neat appearing,
pleasant faced hostess halted him:
II wonder II you would have time
and patience to make a bed OF petu-
niasT" she submitted. mine are quite
too plentiful. and shall have to thin
them out. don't like to throw the
extra growth away"
Brill expressed positive delight at
the offering and fluttered like some
modest schOOlbOy at the graciousness
Of this charming neighbOr. After that
he never met Miss March that he did
rot receive smiling. friendly greet
Ing. and II came to be not unusual for
her to he In the garden when he pass
eG to aud fro from his business
place In the town.
I; Late one afternoon Miss March,.
half dOzing In a hammock. reused up
at q sudden .cOmmOtiOn. Confused
sounds. a taint Of smoke In the air
caused her to look across lots to
observe that the third house down
the block from her own had flames
shooting through its roof Then a new
variation OF the usual dullness Of the
neighborhOOd attracted her. Leaping
the fence Of back yards and just then
crossing her own was Mr.. Brill Ap-
parently he had been called Into ac-
tion by the blaze. He recklessly tram
pied a flower bed. intent only on reach
ing the direct scene Of the hre.
He did not notice, Miss Brill. She hur-
ried from the garden down the street.
Outside OF the burning house a crowd
was gathering. In their midst was an
agOnized woman who they had to hold
back by sheer force.
my child--my Dorothy" she was
screaming. "She is asleep In the up
per back room"
One or two of the bravest among
the crowd ventured to approach the
open lower door but they were in
stantly driven back by smoke and Gin
ders. The entire front of the house
vas roaring mass of flames.
Miss March shuddered as she made
out Roger Brill. He had not waited
to ask questions, nor for g ladder at
distance some one had gone for.
He was up post OF the veranda.. agile
AS young college athlete. A quick
pallOr Overspread the face Of Miss
March and she shuddered and gasped
as, reaching the roof above. Brill dis
appeared past a bhzing curtain into
fame-deluged room. Then there
was a commanding cry at the rear,
and thither half dozen arms reach
ed out to catch the little child drop
per from the window Sy her he
roic rescuer. After that, feebly,