The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-07-04


came. and he counted tho seconds
before the sound reached him.
Sound Travelled something like a.
thousand feet "a second he reflect.
ed. that bolt must hnyc struck
about milo distant. Nothing
alarming about that surely. A mo.
mont then he blinked and rubbed
his eyes, Tor out OF the murk was
born another bonfire Ike that 20
the westward
Hearing an exclamation behind
him. Gray turned 10 behold Allie
Briskow's dim figure In tho door.
"Heuog' he cried. cxeltsdly. ibid
YOU see thatf Yonder are two wells
afirr."
Il know haven't closed my
eyes, You can see another one from
my window" Allie snapped the
light from pocket fash upon
Gray and. noting that he was only
partly clad she urged him 90 come
into the house when he ignored
tho request she Joined him. and
together they stared az the mount.
ing flames.
"Jovo' That's terrlble~ he NUT.
tered
Look here" Allie directed the
beam Of her light down over the
edge % the porch, and moved il
slowly from slide 60 side. Tho sur
face Of the water was not only
hurdened with debris, but also Il
was thick with oil ITS Just like
that on the other side That gusher
on sixteen must be Wild"
why didn't you call meg'' tho
man inquired. sharply
What was tho use7 There's no
chance for Us 90 set out"
How FAR il Il back TO high
groundT'
quite a ways Too far "a wade.
II would be over our heads IN
places too I don't like the look OF
Il, do your Not with those fires
going, and"
Il dare Say il won't get any
worse Gray spoke with care.
leHsnesE that he was FAR from feel,
ins, but his tone did not deceive
tho girl
II doesn't have 70 get any
worse" she declared. impstientiy.
There's oil enough here TO burn.
We're IN the middle Of lake OF
it. what'll happen II It catches
fire."
Frankly. don't know I've
nhyer been marooned In lake Of
oil Probably this rain would
qucnch it,"
You know better than THAR AZ
Die cried, Don't act as II were
a Kid. Were Ia "a bad tx, with
fire on three sides Of u.s.
AT least wen be as well OF in.
side as out here" Gray declared.
and his companion agreed, 40 70.
Ee,her they went into her room.
where. slide by side. they peered thru
her window what Allie had said
was true. and the man pinchsd him.
self TO see II he were dreaming.
This couflaEration was even closer
than tho others. and no could not
doubt that, thegu wis every ukelI.
hood Of itA spreading 20 tht sur
face u tho lake itself Here was
a situation. truly. For the life Of
him he could think Of no way out
OF q,
1--WE read about this sort Of
thing" Allie was saying Tanks
bursting and rivers atirc II
spreads all over. the fire does, and
there's no putting Il out"
one thing sure. this lightning
won't inat long"
4 blue glare and a ripping *.
ploslon gave the lie 90 GraysI
cheering words. Allie RHskow ~.
coiled from the window
Wen b burned alive she
gasped Roasted like rats IN a.
trap. lin frightened. Mr Gray u
She drew closer 70 him
no need ~ that Wen get on,
Of this scrape somehow people al.
ways do" A flicker NJ the room.
And he saw that tho face upiurned
10 his was wide eyed. strained
That brief glimpse % Allie. like
picture seen thru the shutter ~ a
camera. remained long with tho
man. for her hair was unbound. her