Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-07-26
ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 26 1929
NO. 49,.

he could see his fond hopes shattered.
Dolly would marry some one else
and
But something at that moment sud
denly brought him to decision. Il
was the sound of a second alarm. He
tried to speak to Dolly, but words
failed him. lie saw grief In her eyes
and yet he could see the love In them
that tells more than mere spoken word.
He paused II moment, turned hastily
and dartcd from the room. But dur
ing that moncnts pause he knew he
had lost Dolly forever.
The next morning the headlines In
the papers told the stOry-"Young
Fireman Hero" and Dave Harris,
Fireman, Saves Lives" But praise
from all quarters Of the city did not
awaken him from the realization that
he and Dolly had separated. 1t was
paying dearly, he thought to win glory
only to lose happiness. His hand I'M
consciously touched the little box In
his pocket and the thought Of the fu-
ture that might have been made this
the saddest day In his whole life.
Perhaps II he could see her he might
straighten things out. Yes, he would
resign this very day and the unhappy
yesterday would be entirely forgotten.
He ran to the telephone and called up
her office. While he waited for the
connection 1t seemed that weight
had been suddenly lifted from his
heart lie stood there nervouSly long
ing to hear the sound Of D0lly's voice.
And then he was told that Dolly did
not come to work that day. Poor child,
he thought. no wonder she Is feeling
Ill from the strain Of yesterday. And
then he called up her boarding house.
And here he was told that Dolly had
moved the night before-address I'M
known Dave mechanically hung up
the receiver. He unsteadIly walked to
a chair and sat down. Dolly gone
Dolly gone The words ran through
his brain and tortured him. And he
sat there staring at the floor.
Weeks passed. Dave had pulled him
self together, but the little box-a sa-
cred cmlnder-remained In his pocket
always. His promotion had been rapid
and his savings had been well Invest
ed, and Dave not only had money In
the bank, but an equity In little
house off In the country. He would
have his mother come and live with
him In his loneliness.
And then came an alarn-the third
of the day. To Dave one alarm was
the same as another. But to each fire
he gave all that was in him.
i"Where Is 1t this timer yelled
passerby as Dave swung onto the
speeding ladder wagon.
"In the nelghborhOOd Of James and
Pine" he called back as he adjusted
his helmet. And the nelghborhood
came to his mind immedlately-rows
OF old residences turned into roomlng
houses.
As usual, Dawes truck was the first
to reach the scene of the fire. Dawes
trained eyes told him at once that the
house was doomed. Smoke and flames
poured from the top windows and a
reddish glow could be seen through
the windows Of the third floor. Dawes
wagon pulled up directly In front OF
the burning house. The chief began
to give orders.
~ ladder to the third floor, Harris"
he called out. Look out for the walls
they look bad"
The crowd gave out roar as the
lndder extended itself and was tilted
over to the building. Dave was the
first to mount the rungs. And he
started upward. Small flames now
were coming out of the thlrd-story
windows and the sound Of cracking
wills could be heard above the din Of
the pulling engines.
"DOwn from there" megaphoned the
chief to Dave. "Walls coming down
down, Hnrrls." But at one OF the win
dOws Dave saw hgure-arms out
stretched, and he heard smoke-muf-
lied cry And he continued up the lad
der. The multitude below yelled to
him IN alarm. "The walls are falling"
came to him from hundreds Of mouths,
but Dave SIN saw the figure In the
window and continued upward I'M
mindful OF the warming
Through the smoke he put his arms
around the figure and pulled II
through the window. The crowd be-
low gave out mighty yell. Dave
steadied himself and carefully began
to descend. Great Kisses OF flames
now shot from the thlrd-noOr windows
and bricks began TO fall. Dave con
tnued In his descent his only thought
being to protect the figure he firmly
held In his arms. And he suddenly
realized II was woman he was hold
Ing. To protect her face he started
to cover It, and then he stopped. And
her eyes opened just few Inches
from Dawes eyes. And then the din
below seemed to cease suddenly and
all was quiet except the sound Of two
beating hearts.
dolly" he said tenderly.
"Davle," she murmured. II want
you always" And underneath his
great helmet he kissed her.