The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-09-16
IN THE
TWILIGHT
By GEORGE z. COBB

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Copyright. 1890, wsstsra Newspaper Uaioa
It was q strange, q terrifying and
perilous position. that In which Wyli
Burton found himself, and after II
climax the details Of the peculiar en-
vironment impressed themselves upo
his mind during all his life.
He had entered an upper floor OF
large mercantile building and wa
busy adjusting disputed accoun
with the cashier Of a wholesale mil
linery firm, when there rang out tn
echoing ominous cry of:
"Fire!
In an instant all was alarm and con
| fusion. Shouts above and below in
creased and dense smoke filled tn,
building. There was rush for the
windows and fire escapes and Burton
was hustled about in the vortex Of
madly crowding men and shriekine
women and girls. He ran into hall
way to find that the elevators had
stopped running, the stairway I'M
passable.
He noted the figure Of a woman
rushing back from the suffOcatine
smoke into large room. He followed
her. thinking she might be more ia.
miliar with the structure than him
self. He saw her lift up the sash of
broad window looking out upon the
street. She strained her gaze below
and then sprang to the sill, amid her
terror designing a leap to destruction.
Don't think Of that!" cried Burton,
reaching her side and drawing her
back from the abyss she so desperate
ly courted. See! Escape is impossible
that way"
Wylie Burton thrilled. She was
young woman past twenty with deli
cate refined face presenting rather
soulfulness than mere beauty. It was
the helpless appealing expression of
her eyes that somehow lifted his
thoughts beyond fear or danger. She
spoke not, amid perfect trustfulness.
Her eyes quivered, dropped, and. as If
reading in his own power, strength,
sacrifice, with gentle sigh she drew
closer to his protecting arm and buried
her face at his breast like frightened
child shutting out some dread-iIspir-
ing spectacle.
A sense Of power, patience, heroism
caused Wylie Burton to feel that the
charge of precious human life was
his. He glanced past the window sill.
The street below was chaos Of fire
engines. scaling ladders and a surging
mass Of humanity. He freed one hand
and waved 1t, shouting wildly. There
came responsive call and he knew
that he was seen. Then he pityingly,
almost tenderly, gazed down at the
fair head pillowed so trustingly on his
breast. The girls hands clasped his
shoulders, but the terror had died out
and she was calm, resigned. in his
companionship appearing to feel that
he was her refuge of hope and secur.
ity. A great breath Of relief swept
Burton's lips as the top of ladder
from below shattered great pane of
glass.
'They are coming to our rescue"
he spoke soothingIy. Fearless eyes
met his own, her lips quivered as II
eager to frame some message Of graft
tude, then they grazed his cheek, only
once, softly, tenderly, and 1t seemed
to him he would brave any peril to
continue to hold that clinging form
in his embrace
A helmeted fireman appeared and
lifted the girl through the sashless
aperture. He instructed Burton to
wait until they were near the ground
and then make his, own descent. There
was but one thought in the mind Of
the latter-of the being he had met.
loved as in hypnotic flash. and part
ed from all within few moments.
She had disappeared in the crowd,
however, and inquiry then and for
days succeeding failed to establish her
whereabouts or identity.
"She was probably some country
buyer" surmised one Of the statesmen,
"and was caught In the fire before she
had made any purchases"
At the end Of year Wylie Burton
was still impressed with the recollec-
ton Of the girl Of the terrible, yet
precious, vital moments when he ex-
pected to perish with her.
His business took him half way
across the state several times year,
and because train service was poor he
had started to walk from Wolverton
to Espay, towns only four miles apart.
He had accomplished over half the dis
lance when he came upon farmers
lad seated on log and holding a
bandbox on his knees
TOh, say, mister" ne spoke ''You
aren't going to Espay, are your"
"Why, yes" assented Burton.
"Well, maybe you can do something
for me. See this bandbox? Well, 1t
holds lady's hat found it by the
roadside where It had probably fallen
from some automobile. This label on
1t shows that 1t came from Miss For
sythe's millinery store at Espay.
Would you mind delivering 1t there?"
Il will be glad to-" replied Burton,
and started on his way with It to
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