Newspapers / Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, … / Dec. 15, 1940, edition 1 / Page 12
Part of Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
t SERIAL STORY DUDE COLLEGE COPYRIGHT. 1940. BY OREN ARNOLD_NEA service. .ncl YESTERDAY: A mysterious vis Mot watches flames rise from th< Bailey ranch house, sees the mei Ib Hie hangars rush to fight thi fire. Swiftly he hurries to the planes, cuts the bomb sight fret from its fastenings. He makes careful measurements, then disap pears. The woman who accompa nied him had done a good jot building a fire. * * * WES SAVES A LIFE CHAPTER XXIV Ronnie Bailey darted across the •moke - hazed liv**g room and opened the door leading to the big baH. , , In an instant she was enveloped in a black cloud. The force of it was audible, like some gas giant suddenly released from captivity. The six other girls near Wesley broke then in a literal stampede. One grabbed Wes himself, hugging him from the side and clawing wildly at his shoulder like a drowning person. Two others were sobbing in weird little hysterical noises even as they fled and one girl jumped, insanely, onto a chair. The smoke-filled hallway, licking now with increasing tongues of flame, seemed to hold Wesley spellbound. Ronnie had just stepped back to safety when Wes cried out. “Mr. Bailey—where is he? . . . Your father!” Ronnie was coughing but she pointed through the smoke and shrieked back, “Upstairs! . . . There!” She might well have shouted to Mr. Bailey in person, for his voice answered. In the crackling and roaring now he seemed very far off. “Ronica!” he was crying in des peration. “Ronica . . . RONica! Get out! Everything is burning! It’s all around men and—” He broke off in a sudden fit of cough ing and gasping. * * * Wesley had run to the dining room door, opened it and closed it. He ran now to a second door at the end of the big living room, opened it a crack and slammed it shut, too. “Smoke and flame everywhere!” he shouted. “The hallway is cut off! Mr. BAILEY!” They heard no answer. Ronnie ran to the hallway door again any way and would have plunged into the black gases there but for Wes ley. He jerked her back. “It will kill you, Ronnie!” he warned. “We must—I—here! Here!” He had glanced quickly around. Stretched diagonally and beautiful ly on the rustic wall of this living room was a Mexican serape, a woolen fabric six feet long. and a yard wide, knit by hand in gor geous stripes and patterns. In one arm motion he jerked it down. On a table a vase held two dozen roses, a gift to Ronnie from Andre Girardeau, but Wesley didn’t know that. Wes threw them out, took the vase and poured water over the crumbled serape. In another instant he had put the damp cloth around his head and disappeared in the hall blackness. He heard more shoutings. He had a vague impression of the fleeing girls, but he knew these new noises were the voices of men. He could hear his own shoes pounding up the wooden stairs, and when he i . - . felt he should be at the lop ne : yelled again, “MR. BAILEY” , Air under his improvised hood ■ had become exhausted, especially when he opened a crack to look out. He could see nothing, and he dared not inhale. But he shouted once more, “MR. BAILEY!” He still got no answer. The float ing death was tangible now. He could literally feel the soot as well as the hot gases, and up here the flames roared as if blown to a fury by some huge forge. This, his or derly mind knew, was due to a normal suction up the insides of hollow interior walls and up the well of the stairway itself. He knew that the stairs had been burn ing underneath because flames had touched his feet and ankles. A man can hold his breath a minute or more in emergency. Wesley York had powerful lungs from long practice in swimming. Opening his eyes brought only pain, no visual help. Hence up here on tne second story landing, Wesley did a char acteristic thing, he paused to think —literally to force calm reasoning. Mr. Bailey had been awakened in his room, no doubt. He had thought of Ronnie and run out. They had heard him call, and stop short. Where, then, would he have been overcome? To Wes it seemed log ical that Mr. Bailey should be here on the landing itself, perhaps with in a few feet even now. That deduction took but a flash ing second or so. Wes dropped to hands and knees, feeling. He swung one leg in an arc, reached every where with his hands. “Unh!” he suddenly grunted, ex hailing a bit. He had found his man! He picked Mr. Bailey up and held him, a limp form, while he reasoned again. The stair would be too dangerous but surely there would be windows to his left. Flames had attacked mostly from the right or east side of the building. Wes turned left , He progressed by sliding a foot out far in front, bringing up the other and eliding again, thus avoiding obstacles. Mr. Bailey was fat, he recalled. Must weigh a good 160 pounds. This left-right hallway, a sort of T-top for the stairs, proved indeed to have the end window that Wes ley hoped for and reasoned it should have. Wesley’s foot touched the wall and then one free hand touched the curtains and window reached up, kicked out once, twice, thrice, striking furiously, then bent there and re-filled his lunge. The air he got was tainted but it was verily life itself. Next instant he yelled. “HELP!” Men below heard him, then saw him in the light of the blaze which now was overhead. “Hang down from the window!” somebody shouted. “We’ll catch you and break your fall! Don’t jump!” He obeyed—by grasping Thomas U. Bailey’s hand and draping him down this wall, which as yet was free of the fire. Five men were there waiting. They could almost touch Mr. Bailey’s feet. “LET GO!” they yelled. They caught the limp form and two ran with him to safety. In another moment the remaining three had braced again to break Wesley’s own fall. He recognized these men as army officers and mechanics from the hangars. He saw Ronica and Colonel McDavid with her father. He saw still other men carrying furniture out of the living room, at great risk, and ran forward seeking a way to help them. His car, parked near the porth, had been rolled to safety along with that of the girls. He saw car lights coming up the trail from the highway and knew the blaze had attracted passersby. • * * He ran back to Ronnie and saw that Mr. Bailey was reviving. She told Wes that no one else Was in the house, and she was crying while trying to thank him so that Wesley took her aside and held her comfortingly as one might hold a little child. The top of her head came just to his chin, and his strong forearm pressed across her back while she sobbed against his. chest. He gazed at the blaze now with a feeling of utter helplessnes. There was noth ing more any man could do. The house was being consumed. He felt a deep, sympathetic sob rise in his own breast, for there is something infinitely final and tragic about a burning home, no matter how new it is nor how wealthy the owners. 1 (To Be Continued! i A New Home on Our Income? i' Even families with incomes under $2,000 are able to build homes these days. And not just “small” homes. You can build a MODERN home—and pay for it out of your income, on the FHA Plan. The down payment is usually covered by the building lot. And you pay the balance just like rent. But come in and we’ll give you the story in figures. Figures to fit YOUR home— \ AND YOUR BUDGET. No obligation at all on your part. Even though you’re not ready to build, the FHA Plan is something you should know about. We’ll be glad to explain it! Low interest cost—only 4V2% Small Down Payment—As low as 10% Liberal Terms—Up to 25 years Small Monthly Payments — Often less than Rent No Red Tape—All details are attended to by us. The Wilmington Savings and Trust Co. MEMBER THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK MEMBER THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORP. S' ' \ f J YULE SHOPPING HOURS ADOPTED Stores To Stay Open Longer, Take Two-Day Holiday For Christmas Wilmington merchants planning the Christmas trade and lighting program at a representative meet ing in the offices of the Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 23 concurred in a two-day holiday for the Christ mas closing. _ - - ne weaneauaj1, wcv. -- Day will be observed as usual with all stores closed and Thurs day, Dec. 26, was also designated as a holiday. Merchants presen' voted without dissent, because of the hard work put in by employes, for the extra holidays. It was pointed out that in most cities this practice is observed and that Wilmington shopkeepers and retail stores in general would be doing their personnel a humani tarian act in extending the Christ mas day observance for an extra holiday in order to give them a much deserved rest and chance to visit with families and friends. At this meeting it was also agreed that stores would generally observe the week starting Wednes day, Dec. 18, preceding Christmas by keeping their stores open late evenings as on Saturdays, in order to permit everyone full opportunity to shop. C. L. Efird and W. B. Beery are co-chairmen of this years Christ mas lighting and trade committee and N. L. Foy is chairman of the budget committee. R. Stewart is chairman of the publicity commit tee. The street lighting area cover ing 24 retail blocks and with extra lights on important street ap proaches to the city is the largest Christmas display in the city’s history and has attracted favorable trade and comment from out of the city visitors. The financing of this program is handled through the joint ef forts of the merchants, the city government and the Tide Water Power Co. 5 N. H.H. S. Today Bf GLENWARP BLOMME Wednesday the Dramatic club held its regular weekly meeting in room 308. Harry McGirt, vice-pres ident, presided in the absence of Sara Stanton, president. Minutes were read by Betty Davis, secre tary. The idea of awarding a cup at the end of the year for the best acting of the year was discussed. Two plays were presented by the members of the casts which pre sented them over the local radio station last week. HOME EC CLUB The first meeting of the Home Economics club was held during the homeroom period Friday morn ing in room 118. Former members and new members were in cfttend ance. CHEER LEADERS Mary Davis was elected head cheer leader for New Hanover High school for 1941-42. Mary has been a member of the cheering team for the past two seasons and has done a fine job. P.-T. A. TAG DAY The County Council and ine High school P.-T. A. held a tag sale in the downtown section Saturday morning. Several students of the High school assisted in the sale. BIBLE CLUB The Bible club will hold its regu lar meeting Monday afternoon at 8th period in room 109. All mem bers and interested students are cordially invited to attend. SOUTHERN TEACHERS T. T. Hamilton, Jr., principal, has returned from Memphis, Tenn., where he attended the meeting of the Southern Association of Second ary Schools and Colleges. 1 Wallace Scouts W in Eagle Ranking _ Ten Wallace Boy Scouts have been awarded Eagle ranks. This number is thought to be a record fr«>ni one troop at the same Court of Honor. Left to right, front row, Alvin Powell, Cecil Worslej^ Paisley Bonej, III, Theodore Southerland, back row, Carl Williams, C harles Brooks, Francis Townsend, _ Robert Watson, James Floyd Knowles and LeRoy Lanier. According to Paisley Boney. district commissioner of the Tuscarora Council, as far as can be ascertained, Wallace is the only town of its size in the country which has a complete Scouting program consisting of Cubs, Scouts, Explorer Scouts and an Emergency Service Dorps Unit. Scout Paisley Boney, III is the youngest Eagle in the four-county Tuscarora Council. Paisley urns 13 in Julv. ! The Duplin District Court of Hon or was held in Wallacce Tuesday at 8 p. m. in the Wallace High school auditorium. This Court of Honor was unusual in that presentation of certificates to a Senior parol, a new troop, the installation of a Tenderfoot and the_award of Merit Badges and advancements were made. Ten Scouts received the highest rank that Scouting gives, the Eagle rank. The presentation of badges was made by Judge Henry L. Stevens, Jr., past National Com mander of the American Legion, of Warsaw, who is chairman of the Advancement committee of the Tuscarora council. Before present ing the Badges, Judge Stevens said the twelve Scout Laws were the fundamental principles in citizen ship and that he felt that the boys now receiving the Eagle badges through pass*ng certain require ments and practicing these re quirements, were certainly on the road to good citizenship. He also reminded the Scouts of the big honor of American citizenship and the symbol of the American Eagle, which is also the symbol of an Eagle Scout. Following the custom of presentation, Judge Stevens asked the mothers of the Scouts to pin the badges on their sons, adding that they more than anyone else were responsible for the boys success. Judge Stevens then read one ofthe letters received by each individual boy, together with na tional certificate from Dr. James E, Wes, chief scout executive. A large crowd attended the meet ing representatives from the Council were: P. L. Borden, pres ident, W. P. Kemp, immediate past president and present com missioner, 3. E. Jerritt, .Duplin district chairman, Kenneth Taylor, Duplin district camping and ac tivities chairman, Lewis Outlaw, Duplin district training and leader ship chairman, E. R. Ackerman, Duplin district advancement chair man and Paisley Boney, Duplin district commissioner. 5 CORONER MAKES IT OFFICIAL KANSAS CITY, Mo. —(£>)— Joe Wheeler, Harrison county coroner who also operates an ambulance service, recently picked up an in ebriate. Here Is the conversation inside the ambulance after the “cus tomer" revived slightly: "Who are YOU?” "I’m the coroner." “Oww-w-w-w (holding his head). I thought so. I’m dead!” Barber Found Slain In Lot Near Home CHARLOTTE, Dec. 14.—(A*)—Clar »nce C. Ritter, Charlotte barber, was found dead with a bullet wound in the back of his head today in a' va cant lot near his home. The body was found by his wife and a neighbor whose aid she had sought when she became alarmed over Ritter’s failure to return home at his usual time after closing his shop. Police said he had been dead for several hours when he was found. They found indications that the slay er had calmly eaten an orange as he waited in the lot for the barber to approach. • No money was found on the body, and a robbery theory was therefore advanced. STRANDED When the Missouri . river changed its course s -me years ago, a portion of Iowa was left on the west side of the river, adjoining Omaha, -Neb._ 1 Casey And Simmons Paroled By Gov. H0(} RALEIGH, Dec. 14.— Casey and Halcomb Simmon J”"* serving- terms for second degree '1C”h der, were among eight prisoner, T roled today by Governor Hoey Casey was serving a 20-year t imposed in Craven county jn uary, 1938, and Simmons a ^ ( a.n' year term imposed in CumberlJ county in May, 1929. Governor Hoey’s statement there was some doubt of CaJ “participation” in the “actual ci J ' of which he was accused. NEW FIRMS RALEIGH, Dec. 14.— Eure, secretary of state, today isJ; charters to the Gold Star mnl corporation of Asheville, the 0 \y Slane Glass Company, Inc , of gj'at ville, and the Kelsey Mutual Burial Association, Inc., of Salisbury, Wet matches usually will w if rubbed through the hair sev eral times before striking. Holiday Prices Holiday prices prevail on the Beautiful Homesites and Estates in New Forest Hills Homesites of unusual size and quality—will make a wonderful Gift for the entire FAMILY. Do not wait for the anticipated BOOM. Buy Now and Save Special Holiday prices this week. The Forest Hills Development Company W. A. McGIRT, Manager W. A. Davis,-Realty Dept. 217 PRINCESS STREET Announcing Another Section Of ' T\ Pineywoods Development \ \ SECTION "B" p'V'P Due to the immediate response to our opening announcement of Pineywoods we are pleased to offer another section adjacent to Section "A" and the City Golf Course for homesites. 43 lots comprise Section "B" of Pineywoods— Most of them face directly on the Wrightsville Beach Highway or adjoin the Golf Course. These lots are amply large to meet the usual requirements for home builders. Adding io ihe desirability of ownership in this new section are cer tain facts such as: All lots are spacious—emphasizing the policy of ample room for each owner in Pineywoods. Midway location between City and Wrightsville Beach. No objectionable or unsightly surround ings. Pine covered area conducive to health. Prices In Pineywoods Are Very Reasonable CALL FOR APPOINTMENT TO HAVE US EXPLAIN ALL DETAILS H(JGH MacRAE and COMPANY DEVELOPERS
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 15, 1940, edition 1
12
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75