The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-01-31

ror, that our tree was a tower OF
fire. sssNs $3.50 sesi,.s.'
/ snatched one Of the blankets
draping the doors and tried to smoth-
er the flames. But it was too late.
The blanket took fire. Even my
Santa Claus gown started to burn,
and tore 1t off in the nick Of time.
I knew, as / did so, just what would
happen to that old Undertook Of a
building il it ever got going. And
] remembered there were six or
seven helpless children UP in the
inirmary.
Katie must have remembered the
same thing, for she shouted for me
to get up to those children while she
got the milling and wailing school
room group safely out Of the build
ing.
Even in the outer hall the smoke
was thick as raced for the infirm-,
ary. There / caught up wailing'
little redskin from the first bed,
calling back for the others not to
move as ! ran for the door and hur-
ried down the stairs to the west-end
door, where Miss Teetzel, unexpect-
eddy active and efficient, was COM
manding the bigger boys to clear
out the building known as the Ware
house and spread blankets on the
floor. Then I raced back for my
second patient. a .g
The smoke was thicker along the
hall and stairway, and found it
harder to see. But knew a surge
of relief when Katie passed me,
carrying child in her arms.
Two minutes later I was safely
down the stairs with the third help
less tot in my arms. Miss Teetzel,
as she took the patient from me,
looked sharply into my sooty and
Redeemed face. For the first time
in my life I failed to see hate in
her eyes.
A village Indian who'd been vast
ing water and energy as one Of
bucket brigade tried to stop me as
/ started in through the door. He
shouted that the stairs were on fire.
But ! pushed him to one side and
raced up through the smoke.
found what was left of the chill
dren out Of bed and huddled in one
corner of the infirmary. There were
four Of them. They shrieked when
they saw me, for Katie had given
me wet sheet with which to COW
er my head. That seemed to keep
some of the smoke away and made
it easier to breathe as CROPPED my
way down with little Nitchie in
my arms. Again Miss Teetzel eyed
me as I handed over another patient.
mo 60 back" ragged half-breed
beloved at me as faced the burn
ing building. He stood there, block
ing my way, with one hand clamped
to either side Of the door. It was
Katie's vigorous kick, coming down
with a child in her arms, that sent
him sprawling out on the ground
and gave me gangway.
could hear the crackle of timber
and see flames licking through the
stair boards as / fought my way
back to the infirmary. It would, I
knew, be my last visit to that room.
So ! caught up the two remaining
children, covering their heads with
my wet sheet, and felt my way to-
ward the hall. Their weight, when
/ was so in want of breath, made
me stagger. But they helped me,
in their terror, by hanging on like
leeches. / thought, for a moment,
that I was going to faint.
I staggered down that runway Of
licking and dancing flames, with my
shoes scorching from the heat and
my lungs aching for one Whit of
pure air. / had. by this time, no
sense OF place or direction. But
through the murk could make out
the pale oblong Of the open door.
And out through that open door I
stumbled, stumbled straight into the
arms Of Katie O'Connell, who huski-
ly croaked, "Glory be to Godl" as
she eased me down on the trodden
dooryard snow and started failing
my burning clothes with the wet
end of blanket. Then, for a min
ute or two, everything went black.
When I opened my eyes Katie was
trying to make me swallow cupful
Of brandy and water.
That's the ticket" she said. Then
she busted herself rubbing olive oil
on my scorched hands and cheeks.
! didn't know it at the time, but
my eyelashes were missing and a
goodly part of my front hair had
gone glimmering.
ibid ! get them all?" asked. It
hurt me to talk, for my throat was
sore from the smoke.
"You did, old-timer," affirmed Ka-
tie. "But it nearly got you."
And with that she picked me up in
her arms and carried me to the inn
provised barracks that had once
been our Warehouse, where a stove
had been put up and floor hunks
were arranged for the children.
It wasn't long before Doctor Rud-
dock arrived on the scene.
stTyo1lo cfolxox. - ho oo;I hTsulrsv.r -