The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-04
The Woman
He Married
A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
BY JANE PHELPS
Chapter SIS

Chapter So.
L had been asleep. We had retired
early, and Dick was sleeping soundly
when 1 awoke suddenly with a feeling
that something was wrong. I could
not detect what for few moments;
then the smell of smoke thereis
reused me. ..
/ had wakened Dick many times
telling him smelle smoke, only to
find I was mistaken, and to be either
laughed at for my fears or seeded
| for disturbing him. So quietly left
! the bed and in the dark CROPPED into
the public hall where the elevator
shaft was near our door.
A binding, suffocating rush of
smoke assailed me. l quickly shut the
door, altho 1 never remembered doing
| SO, and ran back to our bedroom cali
| ing to Dick.
"Fire!" Don't you smell the
/ smoker"
Nonsense, Come beck to bed.
| You'n catch your death of cold run
ming around that way"
! II tell you the house is en- fire!'
I was trying to get into my clothes.
and fright. Cant you smell the
smoke now?" I opened the door into
the hall and it was awful.
| BY this time he was up, and had
| by Jove. you're right! Get Junior
4up, I'll telephone the department
Then we must waken Clara and Jim
and the rest. Our elevator stopped at
| o'clock, and the switchboard also
was closed at that time.
| But by the time he had talked to
| the department, some one else in the
/ house had discovered the fire, and
we heard opening of doors, cries or
Fire. The house is on fire" etc,
1 dressed Junior, and then Dick
again opened the door, just as the
fire apparatus came up.
I'VE can't get out that way. We
would smother before we got down
wait here. We may have to get out
| by the window" Dick said with a
calmness L was sure he was far from
| feeling.
Everything we've got will be
f, burned up!' 1 sobbed. as the clang of
the engine, the shouts of the firemen
! reached u.s. Dick had gone to the
| window, but had not opened it. fear
ing to make a draught. The smoke
from the hall had curled in under
| the door, and thru the cracks and
| the acrid smell of it added to my fear.
"Get sheet and put the things you
value most in it!'' he ordered. Shut
the door into the hall'-our private
hall-"and I'll open the window for
moment and see if I can find out If It
1 Don't jump!" 1 heard a loud voice
say as Dick threw up the window.
Then kissing sound followed. The
flames had found their way into the
elevator shaft, and the flimsily built
house was doomed.
They will take us out the window"
Dick told me, just as helmeted head
made its appearance.
! Junior firsti" 1 said as Dick tried
to push me into the fireman's arms.
1. s,.rf
keep COOL he said as he disappeared
with my hoy. By this time the smoke
was becoming almost UNDESIRABLE. 1
| had thrown my best clothes. some for
Junior and Dick into a sheet. Dick
| laid his fathers picture and one of me
and Junior between the clothing, and
| tied the sheet by the corners into a
bundle which he said he could take
down. or toss to someone
The smoke had driven US to the
| window, where we were gaSping for
| air.
| Dick kissed me when the helmeted
! head appeared again. 1t frightened
me strangely.
| You, go first!" I pleaded, but he
took me in his arms and passed me
l.out to the fireman. Then when We
were almost down 1 saw him toss the
bundle out. and climb out himself, the
flames forming a red background as
he started to come down.
He'll be burned" I cried in agony.
as the fireman put me down.
I'll git him, Miss" and back the
brave fellow went. had not known
, it. but he had seen that the walls were
bullying. Afterward Dick told me that
the house seemed to burn like paper.
Anyway, in an hour after 1 discovered
the fire the house was nearly gone,
altho no one had been seriously hurt.
IF you hadn't smelled smoke, Nan,
Il guess we all would have been in
Kingdom Come by now" Jim Wat
son said, as We huddled together at
safe distance and watched all we
owned, burn.
(Temorrow--Just to be together
enough.)