Alma record., 1920-03-18
ONE KIND
OF A HERO
BY JOHN B. OXFORD
(Copyright)


smoke vents In tho 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 probstioners looked ques-
tiOningly at one another with blanch-
ed faces. One OF them turned. as IL
fnvoluntarily, toward the open scuttle
by which they had gained the roof.
but before he could take q step In
that direction Reilly's hand WAS laid
hrmly on his shoulder and ReIlly's big
voice was giving assurance 10 all
three lmpartially:
THAT amt nothIn' but hot air. More
noise'n anything else. Git your mauls
now an bust in them headlights over
In the corner"
Reilly, turning 10 steady his men
once again. found he was alone. Al the
second explosion the probationers had
scurried unceremonlously 20 the open
scuttle. Two OF them had already dis
appeared within. and the third. man
named Kerrigsn, had just reached the
opening when Reilly sped him and
charged toward him. believing hoarse-
ly at the top of his voice:
Here, YOU damned cutters! Come
back here, dyer hear? Come hack. you
whte-livered tabbies,"
The man al the scuttle made a mo-
tion as If he were about to step in
side. In sudden blind rage Reilly
tore off his helmet and hurled II with
all his strength at the man before him.
IL 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 sprawling backward at
full length. Before he could get To his
feet Reilly was on him.
yer would, would yerf" 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? I'll learn
you few things about quttin', yer
damned little scut
He yanked Kerrigan roughly 20 his
feet and pushed him forward, az the
same time landing a vigorous kick.
go on now, and bust in them dead
lights. I'll do for them other two the
first time | lay eyes on 'em, s'help me
! will :"
Don't be damned fool any longer
than YOU have to-" Reilly yelled at
him. cit your maui an git into them
headlights"
He took 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 flight 10 the scuttle He stopped
quickly and picked II up. A sudden
blaze of anger and hatred came 10 his
eyes. He leered at the lieutenant like
q 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 n scream !;
he swung the maui threateningly
above his head
Reilly caught his breath In great
gasp what" he yelled. What's
this? Would YOU be tryin mutiny on
me?"
He drew back n step, lowered his
head. and hunched his shoulders. as if
he intended 10 rush the man before
him but at that moment a voice shout
ing stridently through megaphOne
from roof across an Intervening al
ley drew the attention ~ both bel
ligerents
Get off that roof - il beloved.
"Get off that roof It's going down in
a minute"
Reilly sprang al The man facing him.
swung him about and showed him on
before him.
Run for the tank :" he roared above
the din; ITS our only chance!
Stumbling blIndly. choking. gaspins
for breath. the Two men pushed across
the roof gained the tank. and scraln.
bled up the foOtholds on It's side lust
as the remainder of the roof went
crashing down.
They reached the top of the tank
swung themselves over the side. and
clinging desperately 10 the edge. low
cred themselves into the cooling water
which. fortunately for them. nearly fiji.
cd the tank.
The heat from the blazing pile he
low was terrific Moreover. il 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 the inferno below them. For
time thcy clung there. breathlcSs. 81
lent. spent. Reilly was the first to
speak
"Well hc goin' over in a few min.
utes The supports of this thing will
warp and let us down" he said with
the calm of despair
"Sure," said Kerrigan simply Ills
voice was quite rs steady aS Reillys
From the street far below came The
laborcd putting of pumping engines. II
sounded pairly even above the roar
Of the flames. Reilly's hands closel
convulsively ON the edge of The tank
"Oh. my Cod he groaned lnvolun
tarily
Beside him kcrrigan moved rncnslls
in the water
I'D like to get out Of this he a.
serted Stolidly.
There was sotupthipo - VorV mai