“Her muscles must be like steel,” said a voice near Dollie. The young girl did not heed it. Her eyes were riveted upon her sister.
Then the crowd saw something that made them breathless. Marion was helping Miss Allyn to a place on the sill, and it looked for a moment as if the two girls were arguing with each other.
“Quick! There is no time to lose! Jump!” cried the fireman, sharply.
With a sudden violent motion, Marion pushed Miss Allyn from the sill. She landed squarely in the fireman’s arms and was promptly handed down the ladder.
At the next command Marion let go her hold. As she was caught by the fireman a great cheer went up—the crowd had recognized and were rewarding an unusual heroine.
A half hour later Marion opened her eyes. She had fainted and been carried by the crowd to the nearest drug store.
“Not a scratch,” said the physician who was bending over her. “She’ll be all right in an hour. All she needs is rest and a bath to make her less smoky.”
“I looked like a nigger when I first got here,” said Miss Allyn, laughing, “but as some one was kind enough to wash my face, I don’t feel quite so much like a herring.”
“I’m all right,” said Marion, with a feeble smile, “and if both of my friends are the same I am more than thankful.”
“We are safe and sound,” said Miss Allyn, calmly, “but I was as mad as a hornet when you pushed me, Marion. I thought of it myself, but I didn’t have the courage to do it.”