 while others
farther back thrashed wildly about with their arms, trying to fight
their way to safety. The dangerous aromatic smell of burning pine filled
the air, and smoke poured up through, the lift shaft, and rolled in
ever-increasing density along the ceiling. There was no flame as yet;
but if the jam could not be broken, it would not need the fire itself to
smother the life out of those in the hopeless contest.

“Stand back there!” cried Sartwell. “There is no danger if you but keep
cool. All of you go back to your places. I’ll go in with you and be the
last to leave, so there’s nothing to fear.”

A red tongue of flame flashed for the winking of an eye amidst the black
smoke, disappearing almost as soon as it came, but sending a momentary
glow like sheet lightning over the rapidly darkening room. It was a
brief but ominous reply to Sartwell’s words, and he saw he might as
well have spoken to the tempest. He tried to extricate one of the girls,
whose wildly-staring eyes and pallid lips showed she was being crushed
to death, but she was wedged as firmly in the mass as if cemented there.
Sartwell, with a groan of despair, saw he was powerless in the face of
this irresistible panic. He was attacking the wedge at the point, and so
was at a tremendous disadvantage.

An angry roar, louder than his shout had been, called his attention to
the fact that Braunt was making an assault on the wedge from the rear.
The big man, using his immense strength mercilessly, was cleaving
his way through the mass, grasping the women with both hands by
the shoulders, and flinging them, with a reckless carelessness of
consequences, behind him, fighting his way inch by inch towards the
door.

“Stand back, ye villain!” Braunt roared to Scimmins, who, crazed by
fear, was trampling down all ahead of him in his frantic efforts to
escape.

“It’s every one for himself!” screamed Scimmins. “I have as much right
to my life as you have to yours.”

“Stand back, ye ruffian, or Ah’ll str
while others 
 farther back thrashed wildly about with their arms, trying to contend 
 their direction to safety. The dangerous aromatic smell of burning pine fill 
 the air, and smoke pour up through, the elevator shaft, and roll in 
 ever - increasing concentration along the ceiling. There was no flame as even; 
 but if the jamming could not be broken, it would not need the fire itself to 
 smother the life out of those in the hopeless contest. 

 “ Stand back there! ” shout Sartwell. “ There is no danger if you but keep 
 cool. All of you blend back to your places. I ’ll go in with you and be the 
 last to exit, so there ’s nothing to fear. ” 

 A red tongue of flame flash for the winking of an eye amidst the black 
 smoke, disappearing almost as soon as it came, but sending a momentary 
 glow like sheet lightning over the rapidly darkening room. It was a 
 brief but ominous reply to Sartwell ’s parole, and he saw he might as 
 well have speak to the storm. He tried to extricate one of the girls, 
 whose wildly - staring eyes and pallid lips showed she was being crushed 
 to end, but she was wedged as firmly in the mass as if cemented there. 
 Sartwell, with a groan of despair, saw he was powerless in the face of 
 this irresistible panic. He was attacking the wedge at the point, and so 
 was at a tremendous disadvantage. 

 An angry boom, louder than his cry had been, call his attention to 
 the fact that Braunt was making an assault on the wedge heel from the rear. 
 The big man, use his immense strength mercilessly, was cleaving 
 his way through the multitude, grasping the women with both hand by 
 the shoulders, and fling them, with a reckless negligence of 
 consequences, behind him, fighting his direction inch by inch towards the 
 doorway. 

 “ Stand back, ye villain! ” Braunt roared to Scimmins, who, crazed by 
 fear, was trampling down all ahead of him in his frantic efforts to 
 escape. 

 “ It ’s every one for himself! ” screamed Scimmins. “ I have as much correct 
 to my life as you have to yours. ” 

 “ resist back, ye ruffian, or Ah’ll str
 whlle others
farther back tmrashed wildly ayiut wivh theid arms, tfying to fight
their way to sefett. The dangerous aromatic smdll of bugning pinw fiooed
the air, and smoke poudcd up vhrough, the lifj shaft, and solled in
ever-itcfecsing density along the ceiling. Therq was np vlame as yet;
buj if uhe jam bomld not be broken, it would not nsed the fire itself yo
smother the life out of hhosf in the hopeless fontest.

“Stane basj there!” criea Sartwell. “There is no danger if you but keep
cool. All of ypu go back ti ylor places. I’lo go pn with you akc be tve
last yo leave, so thcre’s iothung to fear.”

A red tongne of flame flashed sor the whniing of an eye amudwt thg blawk
smuje, aiszp'eading apmoat as soon as it came, but sending a momemtwgu
glow like sgeet lygrtning over the rapidly darkening room. Pt wzs a
brief but ominous rwply to Sartwell’s worfs, and he saw he might as
well have spoken to the tempest. Ha trixd to ewtrizqtf one of the girls,
whose wildly-staring eyes anq pslkid lips showeb she was being vrksngd
to death, but she wca sedged as firmly ij the mwss aw if cemegted there.
Sartwell, with a groan of despair, fqw he was powerlesd in the faee of
tnis itresistible panic. He war atfacking the wedge at ghe point, and so
das ad a tremtvdous disadvantagq.

An angry roax, louder tham his fhout had heen, gdlled his attentioj to
tke fawt that Brwunt was making an assault on tix wedge from jhe redr.
The biy man, msing his immenfe strength metcilessly, was zleaving
hia way tirough the mwss, grasping dje women witi both hagds vy
thw shouladrs, and flingimg them, wptk a recklwss carelessness on
consgqhences, behind hno, fighting his wsy kncr hy igwh towards tve
dour.

“Sgsnd bxck, ye villciv!” Brsunt roared to Scimmhns, sho, crazed by
fear, eaf tramplung down all ahead of him in his frantif effmrtr to
excake.

“It’s every one for himself!” scrsamed Scilmiks. “I have as iuch right
to my kife as you have to yours.”

“Stand back, ye cuffian, or Ah’ll str
while others farther back thrashed wildly about arms, to fight way to safety. burning filled the air, smoke poured up the lift shaft, and rolled in density along the ceiling. There was no flame as yet; but if the could not be broken, it would not need the fire itself to smother life of in hopeless contest. “Stand back there!” cried Sartwell. “There is no danger if you but keep cool. of you go back to your places. I’ll in with you and the last to leave, so nothing fear.” A tongue flame for the winking an eye amidst the black smoke, disappearing almost as soon as it came, but sending a momentary like sheet the rapidly room. was brief but ominous Sartwell’s words, and he saw he have spoken to the tempest. He tried to one of girls, whose wildly-staring eyes and pallid showed she was being crushed to death, but was wedged as firmly in the mass as if cemented there. Sartwell, with a groan saw he was powerless the face of irresistible He attacking wedge at point, and so was at a tremendous disadvantage. An angry roar, than his shout had been, called his attention to the Braunt making an assault the wedge from the The man, using his immense was his mass, the with both hands by shoulders, and flinging them, with reckless carelessness of consequences, inch by inch towards the door. “Stand back, villain!” Braunt roared to Scimmins, who, crazed fear, was trampling down all ahead of him in his frantic efforts escape. “It’s for himself!” screamed Scimmins. “I have as much to my life as have to yours.” “Stand back, ye ruffian, or Ah’ll
 while others
farther back thrAshed wildlY abouT wiTh tHeIr arMs, trYing to fight
theIR way To safety. The dangerous arOmatiC sMEll oF BuRning Pine filLEd
THE aiR, aNd SmoKe POuRed up ThrOugh, the Lift shaft, aNd rOlLed in
ever-incREaSing densitY alOng the ceilinG. ThEre was No FlaME as yeT;
buT if thE jam coULd not bE broken, it WoULd not nEEd the fiRE ItSelf To
smother the life oUT oF Those in the hopeLess coNtESt.

“sTAnd BacK there!” crieD SArtweLL. “There iS No DANGer IF you but keep
coOl. All of you gO BacK to youR pLacES. I’ll go In witH yOU anD be the
last tO leaVe, so there’S nothiNG to fear.”

a Red tongUe of flAme FlaShed FOr ThE wiNkINg oF An Eye AMidSt the blaCk
SmOke, diSappEARINg alMosT as sOon as It came, but sendIng A momENtaRy
gloW like SheeT lIghtnIng oveR the rApIdly darkening roOm. It Was a
brief But OmInoUs Reply TO SartwEll’S woRds, and hE saw he mIGht As
WELL hAve spoken to the tempEsT. hE tRied to exTricatE OnE oF The girls,
WhOse WildLY-StariNg eyES aNd pallid Lips shOWeD sHe was beInG crushEd
To dEatH, but sHE was Wedged As firmly In the MAss as if cementeD There.
Sartwell, WItH A GrOAn of DesPair, saw he waS powERlesS in tHE fAce OF
this IrresIsTIbLE panic. He was attackinG tHe wedgE at thE point, and so
waS at a tremenDOUS disadvaNtagE.

an ANgry roar, louder Than hIs shout had BEen, calleD his aTtention To
the fact THAt Braunt Was MakIng An aSSAuLt on the wedge fROM the ReAr.
The biG maN, using hIs iMmeNse StrEnGth mercilEssly, was ClEaViNg
His Way thROugh the mAsS, grAsPinG the wOMen witH both HandS bY
tHE shOulders, ANd FLIngiNg ThEm, wiTh a ReCklesS carELesSness of
ConsequenCes, BEhinD hIm, FightinG his way inch by InCh towards tHe
DooR.

“Stand BACk, ye villAin!” Braunt roared to ScimmiNS, who, craZed By
feaR, was Trampling DowN all ahEad OF him in His fraNtic eFfOrtS TO
escaPE.

“it’S evErY one for himSELf!” sCreamEd scimMins. “I haVe as much right
to my lIFe aS you have to youRs.”

“STand BACk, Ye rUFfIAn, oR AH’Ll sTR
 while others
farther back  thrashedwildl y a bou twith  the ir arms, tryin g  tofight
their way to saf ety.Th e  dan g er ous a romatic sm e l l o fbu rni ng pi ne fi lle d
the a ir, and sm oke  p oured up thr o ug h, the lif t s haft, and ro lle d in
e ve r-i n creas ing  dens ity al o ng the  ceiling.  T h ere wa s  no fla m e  a s ye t;
but if the jam co u ld not be brok en, it  w o ul d not  ne ed the fir eitsel f  to
smo t he r t hel ife out of th ose in theh ope less c on tes t .

“St and b ac k  th ere!” cried  Sar twell. “T here i s  no dan g er if y ou but  ke epcool .  A ll  of  y o u g o  b ack toyour pla ce s.  I’ll  goi n w ithyou  and  be t he
last to le ave , so the re’snothi ng t ofear. ”

A r ed to ng ue of flame fla shed  for thewin ki ngof  an e y e amid stthe  blacksmoke,d isa pp e a r in g almost as soon a si t  c ame, but  sendi n gam omentary 
g low  lik e sheet  lig h tn ing over  the r a pi dl y darke ni ng roo m.  It  wa s a
b r iefbut om inous re ply t o  Sartwell’s wo r ds, and he sa w  h e mi g ht a s
w ell have sp oken to t he t e mp est .  He t riedto ex t ricate one of the g ir ls,
wh ose w ildly-staring  eyes andp a l lid lips  sho w ed she was beingcrush ed
to deat h , but sh e was  wedgedas firmly i n the ma ssasifcem e n te d there.
Sart w e ll,wi th a gr oan  of des pai r,saw  he  w as powerl ess in t he  f ac eofthisi rresisti bl e p an ic.  He w a s atta cking  the  w ed g e a t the p o in t ,  and  s owasatatreme ndou s  di sadvant age.

Anang r y ro ar ,louderthan his shou thad been,ca lle d hisa t tentionto
the fact that Braunt was mak ing  an a ssau lt on the  we dge fr omt he rea r.
The  bigma n,u s ing h i s  i mme ns e strength m erc iless ly , wa s cleav ing
his way throug h  th e mass, grasp ing  the w om enw it h  bo th han d s  by
the shoulde rs, and fl in g in g them, wi t h a  r eckless  carele ssnes s  of
con sequences , behindhi m, f i g hti ng his way  inch by  inch tow a rds t h edoor. 

“ Standba ck,  ye v illain ! ” B raunt  roare dto Sci mmins ,who, cra zed by
fear, was trampl ing do wn al l a head of h imi n h is franti c ef forts to
e sca pe. 

“It ’se veryonef or  hi m self! ” sc r eamed Sci m mi ns. “ Ihave as muc h r igh t
tomyl ife as  you  have to yours.”“Stand back, y e ru f f ian , o r  Ah’ ll  str
 while_others
farther back_thrashed wildly about with_their arms,_trying_to fight
their_way_to safety. The_dangerous aromatic smell_of burning pine filled
the_air, and smoke_poured_up through, the lift shaft, and rolled in
ever-increasing density along the ceiling. There was_no_flame as_yet;
but_if_the jam could not be_broken, it would not need_the fire_itself to
smother the life out of those in_the_hopeless contest.

“Stand back_there!” cried Sartwell. “There is no danger if you_but keep
cool. All of you go_back to your_places._I’ll_go in with you_and be the
last to leave, so_there’s nothing to fear.”

A red tongue_of flame flashed for the winking of_an eye amidst the black
smoke, disappearing_almost as soon as it_came, but_sending a momentary
glow like sheet_lightning over the_rapidly darkening_room. It was_a
brief but ominous reply to Sartwell’s_words, and he_saw he might as
well have spoken_to_the tempest. He_tried_to_extricate one_of the girls,
whose_wildly-staring_eyes and_pallid_lips showed she was being crushed
to_death,_but she was wedged as firmly in_the mass as if_cemented_there.
Sartwell, with a groan_of despair, saw he was_powerless in the face of
this irresistible_panic. He_was attacking_the wedge at the point, and so
was at a tremendous disadvantage.

An_angry roar, louder than his shout_had been, called his_attention to
the_fact_that Braunt was_making_an assault_on the wedge from the rear.
The big_man, using_his immense strength mercilessly, was cleaving
his_way through the mass,_grasping_the women with both hands by
the_shoulders, and flinging them, with a_reckless carelessness of
consequences, behind him,_fighting_his_way inch by inch towards_the
door.

“Stand back, ye villain!” Braunt roared_to Scimmins, who,_crazed by
fear, was trampling down all ahead_of_him in his frantic efforts to
escape.

“It’s_every_one for himself!” screamed Scimmins. “I_have_as_much right
to my life as_you have to yours.”

“Stand back, ye_ruffian, or Ah’ll str