t five-dollar bill,
could induce the drayman to cross the river. He dumped on the sidewalk
all that remained of the Livelies' earthly possessions, and disappeared
in the press.

Again and again, but all in vain, Dr. Lively offered his forlorn hope,
his one greenback, to procure the transportation of his goods across the
river. But that five-dollar bill was so scorned and snubbed by the
ascendent truckmen that the doctor found himself smiling at his conceit
that the poor, despised thing, when returned to his purse, went
sneakingly into the farthest and deepest corner.

As he could not leave his goods, it was decided that Mrs. Lively and
Napoleon should cross the river without him. He sat down on Mrs.
Lively's big Saratoga trunk to await developments. He did not have to
wait long. The double row of fireproofs, which was to have held the fire
at bay, was attacked and went down; then the Chamber of Commerce melted
away; shortly after the court-house was assailed. Dr. Lively gave up his
trunks and bundles as lost, and as too insignificant, in that wild
havoc, to be worth a sigh. He did feel a desire, however, for a clean
shirt in which to face the heavens. Then, too, he wanted to bring
something through the fire--to preserve something which would serve as
a memento of his ante-igneous life. The best thing in the way of a relic
which he could secure was a case of sea-weeds mounted on cards. He made
a hasty bundle of these and a few articles of underwear, tucked it under
his arm, and then looked about him, considering which way he should go.
The wind had again risen to a hurricane. All around him was a storm of
fire-brands, as though the flakes in a snow-storm had been turned to
flame. Great sheets of blazing felt-roofing were driving overhead.
Everywhere timbers and masonry were falling: walls a half square in
length came down with the thunder's crash, and in such quick succession
that the noise ceased to be noticed. Thousands of frantic people were
pushing wildly in every direction. The crowds seemed bewildered, lost,
frenzied. And what wonder? The world seemed to be burning up, the
heavens to be melting: a star looked like a speck of blood, so that the
whole canopy of heaven when visible seemed blood-spattered.

As the doctor was gazing at the terrible spectacle the cry ran from
mouth to mouth that all the bridges across the west branch of the river
were burned. There were thousands of spectators from the West Division
w