Evening star., 1936-08-01
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box in her dresser drawer-the ring
that had saved her life-and she had
to have 1t. To get it now, to never
lose it again, became q sudden, fierce,
unreasonable obSeSsion. 1t was as II
that ring was all that she would have
of Lee in the bleak years to follow.
The smoke was thick when she
palm over her mouth and nose and
ran quickly up the winding stairs.
coughing violently, fighting against
the overcoming suffocation OF the
blaze. AS she reached the top land
ing there was another thunderous
roar, and with terrified eyes she
looked back and saw that the stair
way had collapsed behind her. No
one saw her The f1remen were
fighting the flames in the left wing.
Richard, below, was carrying out
Duncan Phyfe pedestal table; Tippy
was struggling with the brass-framed
portrait Of the first seafaring War;
field. Old Ephraim and several of
the servants were hauling out an old
sofa on which Warf1eld ladies had
sat and been wooed for many gen.
erationS.
Patsy tried to scream to attract
attention, but when she opened her
lips the smoke breathed hot and
thick into her lungs, choking her
into silence. She struggled wildly
for breath and tried desperately to
reach the hall window, but the front
of the house turned all at once into
cracking with the heat, glass flying
out in dangerous splinters. There
was nowhere to turn-no place to gol
In that horror-stricken moment
Patsy crumbled to the floor, uncon-
scious of the flames that licked TO-
ward her as If greedy for the devour-
ing of her blond nveliness.
Saved by Lee.
Slowly Patsy's blue eyes opened.
They stared unbelievingly at Lee
Cavendish, who was leaning over her
on the sofa, holding a wet cloth on
her forehead whispering, Patsy!
Patsy!" in a voice filled with love and
apprehension.
She didn't ask any questions about
the incredible fact of his presence.
Nor did he tell her how he had driven
to Tree Tops with the hope of get
ting just a glimpse of her and had
seen the terrifying sight of the fire
from the road. He had leaped out
Of the cab, had been told by woman
that few minutes before Patsy had
gone into that blazing inferno.
Fighting his way through the
flames, he had found her lying on
the second-floor gallery, unconscious,
and had carried her in his burned
arms to old Ephraim's cabin out Of
the deluge that had followed the
storm. Patsy just sobbed like a
frightened, unstrung child and
wreathed her arms around his
shoulders.
"Oh, Lee! Lee darling"
Then her eyes lifted and over Lees
shoulder she saw Richards thin.
dark face, his calmly comprehensive
brown eyes. She said quickly:
I'm all right now. Give me a
lift, will you. Richard?"
Richard helped her to her feet and
she stood there then, very straight
and slim and lovely. She wasn't
burned, but there was still tightness
in her lungs that made her talk
little breathlessly. She said: Did
did Tree Tops"
Not quite to the ground" Richard
said. Really not half as bad as We
had feared The whole structure OF
the house held up. because 200 years
ago they really built houses. Your
grandfather said that every stone OF
it was going to be built back just as
it was. Until then you all are going
to stay at my house"
Patsy said: Take me there now.
will you, Richard? I'm aWfully tired"
Then she turned to Lee and held out
her hand But before she spoke she
heard Richard saying: I'll wait for
you outside, Patsy. could use a
little air. And don't forget to thank
Lee for saving your life. He did, you
know"
Patsy had a feeling suddenly Of
her heart slipping sideways in her
breast. To be alone with Lee was
the last thing in the world that she
wanted. But she couldn't call Rich
ard back now; she couldn't reveal her
emotions that way. Lee held her
hand close in his, and she was look
ing steadily into his eyes, loving him,
hating herself because she was re-
membering another night of storm
when he had held her in his arms