The Lamar register., 1920-02-18
ONE KIND
OF A HERO
By JOHN b. OXFORD


smoke vents In the roof of the burn
Ing piano factory the explosion came.
The whole building rocked with the
force Of II, and the roof beneath their
feet undulated In an alarming fashion.
Great clouds Of copper-hued smoke
shot upward through the holes that
had just been opened.
The three probationers looked ques-
tioningly at one another with blanch-
ed faces. One OF them turned. as II
involuntarily. toward the open scuttle
by which they had gained the roof.
but before he could take step in
that direction Reilly's hand was laid
firmly on his shoulder and ReiIly's big
voice was giving assurance to all
three impartially:
That ain't nothln' hut hot air. More
noise'n anything else. Git your maulS
now an bust In them headlights over
In the corner"
Reilly. turning to steady his men
once again, found he was alone. At the
second explosion the probationers had
scuried unceremoniously to the open
scuttle. Two of them had already dis
appeared within. and the third. man
named Rerrigsn. had Just reached the
opening when Reilly spied him and
charged toward him. believing hoarse-
ly At the top OF his voice:
Here. you damned quitters, Come
back here, dyer heart Come back. you
whitelivered tabbiesl'
The man At the scuttle made q mo-
tion as II he were about to step in.
side. In . sudden blind rage Reilly
tore OF his helmet and hurled II with
all his strength At the man before him.
II flew true as an arrow and caught
Kerrigan squarely on the left cheek.
The heavy rim cut a great cash In
the flesh. and the force Of the impact
sent KerrIgan sprswlinE backward at
feet Reilly was on him.
"Yer would. wonld yer7' he snarled
between his teeth. reaching down to
twist his fingers into the collar Of the
PROSTATE mans rubber coat.
"Oh. yer would. would yeri ri learn
you q few things about quittin' yer
damned little scut.
He yanked Kerrigan roughly to his
feet and pushed him forward. at the
same time landing a vigorous kick.
Go on now, and bust In them dead
lights. I'll do for them other two the
frst time ! lay eyes on 'em, s'help me
will 20
Don't he a damned fool any longer
than you have to-" Reilly yelled at
him. GIT your maui an git into them
headlights"
He took q step toward Kerrigan
who slowly backed away. In his re-
treat he tripped over one Of the mauls,
which had been flung aside in the re-
cent night to the scuttle. He stopped
quickly and picked II up. A sudden
blaze Of anger and hatred came to his
eyes. He ieered al the lieutenant like
. cornered beast.
"Yeu keep away from me. under
stand.- he said thickiy. Don't you
come Q step nearer. Keep back"
His voice rose TO almost a scream;
he swung the maui threateningly
above his head.
Reilly caught his breath in great
gasp. "whati'' he yelled. What's
thisf Would you he tryin' mutiny on
msr'
He drew back step. lowered his
head, and hunched his shoulders. as II
he Intended to rush the man before
him but st that moment q voice shout
ing stridently through a megaphone
from a roof across an intervening al
ley drew the attention OF both bel
ligerents.
Get of that roofr' II beloved.
Get OF that roof, It's going down in
q minutei"
Reilly sprang at the man facing him.
swung him about and showed him on
before him.
Run for the tank l' he roared above
the din; ats our only chancei'
Stumbling blindly. choking. gasping
for breath, the two men pushed across
the roof. gained the tank, and scram
bled ND the footholds on its side just
as the remainder OF the roof went
crashing down.
They reached the top Of the tank.
swung themselves over the side, and
ciinging desperately to the edge. low
cred themselves into the cooling water.
which. fortunately for them. nearly fill
ed the tank.
The heat from the blazing pile be-
low was terrific. Moreover. II was only
q question Of time when the steel sup
norfs Of the tank would warn and