Alma record., 1920-03-18

|
about 10 die horribly, and who knows
| II.
| II seemed TO nettle Kerrigan. "rhere
amt nOthin' funny about H." he said
IL mean IL. | want 10 get out OF this
! an what's more. want 10 get you
ont. too. | wouldn't give damn to
get out without you"
Reilly seemed not 10 have heard.
TO him, Kerrigan's talk was but ir.
responsible babbling. Now and then
q faint. far-off human voice drifted NJ
to them, and Reilly bit his lips until
| the blood came.
Suddenly Kerrigsn began to thrash
shout. lie lifted his chin to the level
| OF the tanks edge and looked up
steadily for a time. Then he gave a
grunt OF satisfaction and lowered him
self TO his former position.
"Sny maybe there's way, after
ALL" he hazarded hopefully. Reilly
made no reply.
"Just look at that wire cable up
there" kerrigan chattered on. ut runs
right above the middle of this tank,
and see that plank across the top Of
The tank over AT the farther side. Now.
if we could get up on that plank and
get hold OF that cable"
"Oh, hell" Reilly interrupted dis
gustedly.
"COme on" Kerrlgan persisted; 1--WE
might just as well make a try"
He began To pull himself along the
edge OF the tank, and instinctvely
| Reilly followed him. They reached the
place where the plank lay across the
top. Kerrigan scrambled on 10 this
| and helped Reilly up after him.
They stood painting on the narrow
| board. The heat. swelling up In great
waves from the fire below, scorched
| their faces and nearly strangled them
| Some feet above their heads swung "A
| heavy wire cable, its long loop dan
| Cling from . bracket on roof on one
| side OF them tu similar bracket on "A
roof across the alley.
Kerrigan kicked off his heavy boots
and threw aside his rubber coat.
Hold steady. now" he cautioned
| Reilly; wen make a try for IT,"
With the ease OF an acrobat lie
| mounted Rellly's shoulders, but, reach.
| ing upward az full stretch. the cable
| still dangled Just beyond his grasp.
Reilly. watching intently. groaned but
Kcrrigan was by no means at the end
| OF his resources.
give me your belt" he demanded.
scrambing down from his precarious
| perch and standing beside Reilly on
the board. Reilly unbucked his heavy
ax-beIt and kerrigan strapped it about
! his own waist.
Once again hc mounted Rcilly's
shoulders and stood there poised for a
moment. estimating The distance to the
! cable
Hold tight now, will ycrf' he
shouted I'm goiD' To jump for it,
Reilly was aware that the man on
his shoulders had assumed a crouch
Ing attitude ihcn suddenly there was
an upward spring the rccol of which
| nearly sent him staggering into The
| tank. He lifted his eyes 10 see Kerri'
gan clinging trumP1lanty 20 the cable
"All right" the latter called down
| 10 him "lump for my legs. an when
| you get EN-. climb up till YOU can get
| hold Of The ax-belt.'
Rellys leap was successful. lie
caught Kerrigans dangling legs and
slowly. painfully. worked his way up.
| ward bit by hit, until his fingers closed
| firmly on the heavy belt about Kerri
gan's waist
"Hang on hard" Kerrigan painted
"If the cable don't bust well get
across
Inch by inch with Reilly's dead
weight dragging AT his belt, Kerrgan
worked his way ont on the cable
| toward the roof across the allof Pain.
| fully almost mpcrcepthly they adj
vanced along he >agging wire.
Once in that racking journey. when
| Kerrigan paused for momcntary rcst,
| Reilly voiced his doubts as Ia the ulli.
mate success of The venture
you'll never make II, Kerrigan." he
piped "lcastwANS. not with me hang
in ON to Won. III best leave 90 the
belt an give yer ~ show. TN be one
| of us that goes out then. at any rate"
"You hang on an keep your blamed
mouth shut - gaspcd kerrgan rs the
Journey along the cable began again.
For untold ages-So ii seemed to the
two men--thcv tangled in mid-air. like
some ungainlA insect on the thread Of
spiders Web kcrrigan's arms were
numb and ncrveleSs the pounIlng ~
his heart nearly suffocatcd him, and
red mist SWAIN before his eyes.
Time and again he WAS sorely tempt.
ed TO loose his hold on the wire and
end il an Vet always hc worked his
way slowly and with Infinite agony
toward hat roof across the alley
A, last hc heard great corninotiop
Just below him. The dragging weight
on the hcli suddenly ceased
His first thought was that Reilly had
dropped 10 the pavement, and duh
anger pierced The torture Of his mind
but looking down. he found that they
had gained The roof. and that Reilly
had dropped into the waiting arms of
pair OF hosemsn.
Three other hoSemcn caught kerri.
gan as he felt He staggered 10 his
feet and shook them of.
..yXhnr.'s Rcitly2' he demanded