The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-12-29
Brian to the
Rescue
By ALICE DUANE
g by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.
WNU Service

at his perfectly appointed desk in one
of his uncle's spacious offices.
Brian was getting into shape a re-
port his uncle had asked him to have
ready that afternoon.
Once or twice that morning he had
been on the verge of interrupting this
report business, finding an excuse to
dictate a letter so that even for
short few minutes he could have had
a reason to have his uncle'S very
charming young secretary sitting at
the opposite side of his desk. But
there was always a chance that his
uncle might come in unexpectedly
and the report was urgent.
The steady dull drone of machinery
was becoming almost uncomfortable
and then the low, throaty growl fol-
lowed by the high deafening shrek Of
the fire alarm.
No special need for alarm, Brian
quickly assured himself. After all,
the factory people had probably been
given specific instructions for orderly
exit from the building in such an
emergency.
The factory side of the building
Brian knew was practically fire proof
but this older section that housed the
executive offices and the office STATS
was of wooden construction. There
was a sprinkler system and numerous
fire exits, but even then things some
times happen
Brian quickly gathered up the pa
pers strewn on his desk, crammed
them into his coat pockets and dashed
into the large bare room where the
typists and stenographers had their
desks. Most of the desks were al
ready deserted. Girls were hurrying
across the floor to an exit beyond. He
called to some who fingered and told
them to go without delay.
"Where is Miss Mason?" he called
to one of them.
"She ran into the accounting de-
partment." the girl told him.
Brian muttered an oath to himself
and dashed forward to the account
ing department. Miss Mason was
kneeling beside a small safe in one
of the smaller offices.
In a fraction of a second he reached
her, took the papers from her hands,
threw them in the safe and without
waiting to explain lifted her in his
arms.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
and then realizing that there was no
alternative let her slender young body
relax in his strong young arms.
There is no terrible hurry" she
told him. as he hurried down the hail.
But Brian assured her that he was
taking no chances. He would have
carried her down the fire escape If
she had not so seriously objected. In
stead he went down the stairs ahead
of her. turning back at every step to
assure himself of her safe descent.
Alice Mason breathed sigh Of re-
lief when she had reached the ground
and realized that none of the girls had
been looking on.
"They will all be over at the other
side" she told Brian, who stood look
ing down at her in a friendly, pos
sessive way.
"You had me worried for a min
ute" he said. "And don't you ever
take time to put letters in the safe
again."
But that's orders from your I'M
cle," Alice said. There's always the
chance that a letter might be valu-
able-so just as a matter of drill we
always do it."
Matter Of drillw Brian repeated
blankly. always do it! What do
you mean?"
"Just that every time we have fire
drill we are supposed to do precisely
what we would If there was a real
fire"
Brian looked amazed and then
laughed.
"rhe Jokes on me-" he told her
"But how did know It was only
drill? No one told me-"
"How did you happen to run across
me?" Alice asked. weren't you 60
ing to leave the building?" She was
trying not to laugh at him.
Not until I'd found you." he said.
"You see, that's the first thing I
thought of when I heard that shrieking
siren. suppose I thought was saw
ing your life or something-anyway,
I'm glad for your sake the other girls
didn't see the rescue" He looked
little crestfallen and foolish.
~ wouldn't have minded, If you
hadn't" Alice told him. II started to
cry out at first, because was so sur.
prised. Butt didn't mind. I'd been
hoping all morning you'd send for me
to take some dictation-"
"And I'd been wishing ! had a
| chance"
A gong rang. Alice said it was the
signal to return to the building. She
wasn't laughing now. "I'm very CRATE
full to you"
"Oh, pshaw," Brian told her, 81
really made a mistake-and incl
dentally let you know, as you must
know now, that I'm seriously inter-
ested."
Couldn't we talk about that some
other time?" Alice suggested. THAT
| is-I've got to get back in line to 90 in