Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-02-27
ONE KIND
OF A HERO
BY JOHN B. OXFORD


ing piano factory the explosion came.
Inc whole building rocked with the
force OF 1t. and the roof beneath their
1eet undulated in an alarming fashion.
Great clouds Of coppcr-hued smoke
shot upward through the hole. that
mad just been opened.
The three practitioners looked cues.
honingly at one another with hlancb.
Gu races. One Of them turned. rs II
involuntarily. toward the open scut,le
oy which they had gained the roof.
out before he could take 4 step In
that direction Reilly's hand was laid
nrmiy on his shoulder aud Reilly's big
voice was giving assurance to all
three impartinily:
mat amt nothln' but hot mir. More
hoise'n anything else. Git your mauls
no" 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
Scnrried unceremoniously TO the omen
scuttle. Two OF them had already dis.
appeared within. and the third. a man
named kerrSan. had just reached the
opening when Reilly spied him and
charged toward him. believing hoarse-
~ at the top OF his voice:
Here. you damned cutters! Come
back here. dyer hear? Come back. you
white-livcred tabhieS ~
The man Mt the scuttle made q mo-
ton rs If h@ were about to step in
side. In sudden blind rage Reilly
tore OF his helmet and hurled it with
all his strength at the man before him.
1t flew true rs an arrow and caught
kerrigan squarely on the left cheek.
The heavy rim cut great cash in
the flesh, and the force Of the impact
sent Kerrigan sprawling backward ut
full length. Before lie could get to his
feet Reilly was on him.
EYER would. would yer?" he snarled
between his teeth, reaching down to
twist his fingers into the collar of the
PROSTATE mans rubber coat.
"Oh, yer would. would yer? III learn
you n few things about Guittin', yer
damned little scut!
He yanked Kerrigan roughly to his
feet and pushed him forward. at the
same time landing vigorous kick.
go on now, and bust in them dead
lights. I'll do for them other two the
first time l lay eyes OH 'em. s'help lue
I will !"
Don't be damned fool any longer
than you have to-" Reilly yelled at
him. "Git your maui an git into them
headlights"
He took a step toward Kerrigan.
who slowly backed away. III his re-
treat he tripped over one Of the mauls,
which had been flung aside in the re-
cent flight to the Scuttle. He stopped
quickly and picked it up. A sudden
blaze Of anger and hatred came to his
eyes. He leered at the lieutenant like
cornered beast.
You keep away from me, under
stand" he said thickly. Don't you
come a step nearer. Keep back !"
His voice rose to almost scream !;
he swung the maui threateningly
above his head.
Reilly caught his breath IN a great
gasp. What" he yelled. whats
this? Would you bc tryin' Inutiny on
me?"
He drew back a step, lowered his
head. and hunched his shoulders. as If
he intended to rush the man before
him but at that moment voice shout
ing stridently through a megaphone
from a roof across an intervening nj
ley drew the attention Of both bel
ligerents.
Get Off that roofw II beloved.
"Get off that roof It's going down In
a minutev'
Reilly sprang at the man facing him.
swung him about, and showed him on
before him.
run for the tank - he roarch above
the din; otis our only chancc!"
Stumbling bllndly. choking, gasplng
for breath, the two men pushed across
the roof, gained the tank, and scram
bled up the footholds on It's side Just
as the remainder Of the roof went
crashing down.
They reached the top Of the tank,
swung themselves over the side, and
clinging 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, It was only
q question of time when the steel sup.
ports of the tank would warp and
twist and the whole thing topple over
into Tho iufn,nn hoJo1u fbo,n to- ~
time they chung there. breathlcss, ST.
lent. spent. Reilly was the first to
speak.
"Well be goin' over In a few min
utes. The supports Of this thing will
warp and let us down." Ne said with
the calm Of despair.
Sure" said Kerrigan simply. His
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