Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-04-01

and upholstered. the flames made rapid
ururress, so that Slipson, the proprietor,
had barely time to save two or three arm
Culs of bottles. With these he retired TO the
opposite side of the street, where the specta-
tors stood and he was mournfully con-
templating the effect of caloric upon alco-
hol, when he suddenly started and ex-
claimed:
Good God Injin Mary's in the loft
over the saloon!n
who's that" asked the deacon, who
had now joined the crowd.
She's-well. not exactly one of your
kind, Deacn," replied Jim. She came
las night with her young'un and wanted
TO sleep thar till mornin'."
Some poor, depraved creature, s'pose,"
sighed the deacon.
2 Well :" said Jim, prudently massing on
his front most of bis outlying bottles, 81
reckon Iniins in general were off huntin'
when religion was gave out, deac'n, an
Nary amt no better'n the rest. But any
body's too good to be roasted-leastways in
his world,n continued Jim Slipson, re-
Numbering the deacon's groundworks of
belief, and treating it with polite Difference.
She don't intend to risk 1t now, at any
cate,u exclaimed the Major. as a dark
figure dashed out of the flames, and, roll
ag on the ground to extiDguish its flaming
clothing, disclosed the coppery, duh, heavy,
" Hooray!" shouted the crowd. Mary
had been seen very often at Spurtin, but
never before had Spurtin felt itself called
upon to exhibit any respect for her.
1t was very evident that Mary had been
asleep or drunk, or both, for she stood
stupidity rubbing her eyes for several min
utes.
Didn't you say she brought child with
her,?p asked the professor of Jim Slipson,
Good Good, yes !" exclaimed Jim, seiz-
ing Mary by the shoulders and shaking her
violently.
Mary, Mary where's the young 'un q"
Mary stopped rubbing her eyes, and
started vacantly at Jim for a moment /;
then she uttered piercing scream, and at
tempted TO enter the burning building u
gain. The in tense heat, however, drove
her back, and she stood i'll front of the
crowd with fierce, hopeless glare in her
eyes, while every few seconds she uttered
a horrible cry, half groan, half yell, which
made even the most whisky-hardened
men shiver and turn pale.
- hundred dollars for whoever'll get
that baby" shouted the Major.
Nobody stirred. There wa plenty of
impecunious men at Spurtin but none
seemed iuclined to earn money in exactly
this manner.
Two bundled !" cried the professor.
~ roaed the deacon. It's lit
.!e heather, au' it runs a double risk"
"Taint no use tryin', y remarked Seven
department. "No Teller cud live in that
ERE fire more'n half minute. He'd hev
90 breathe, an then 'twould be all up
with him.
THAT you a yellin' over your. loss,
Jim >" pleasantly asked Joe Backsey, edg~
ing into the crowd, and patting the u1fort-
mate bar-keeper on the back.
-. ~; no hob I'M ba l,ff
o Lord, just listen to the poor devil ~ said
Jim, as Mary uttered another cry. ..
Joe picked up bucket of water and
poured it over himself, and in an instant
later dashed into the flames and up the
blazing ladder which led 10 the loft. Not
- man spoke ii seemed that no one breath
III for q moment. The deacon closed his
eyes, and his lips were seen to move rapid
~; and many men, though unused to such
exercise, followed the deacon's example.
Suddenly mighty roar broke from the
crowd as Joe Backsey, hatless, hairless,
beardless, and almost black, emerged from
the blazing building with dirty bundle in
his arms. He had nearly crossed thestreet
when suddenly he stopped, screamed
% catch T." threw the child, ana dropped
face down ward on the ground.
The deacon was by his side in an instant,
shouting for water and oil, as ne tenderly
turned the insensIble form over.
No CO." said seventeener, giving Joe's
face a critical glance. He's breathed
the fire; know it by his lips an nose; he
won't never breathe nothin' else,
Joe, Joe ~ cried the deacon ~hile big
tears fell from his rugged face, g God hey
mercy on yer soul"
From beneath the cruelty singed eye
brows and lashes, JOe's gOod-natured eyes
opened; his cracked lips opened anc
smiled; he tried to speak, but suddenly h'
gasped shivered, and then the deacon
knew by the way Joe's head hung over th'
kind old arm that supported il, that hi
partner had drawn his last dividend.
For some minutes the crowd stood II
respectful silence; then Jim Slipson IN
yitel the crowd TO open his few remainin
bottles and drink to Jee's good luck in thu
next world. A stretcber was then lmpro
Used and j Oe was carried - the Office o
the Guickledge Company. There was IL
formal lying in state there was not
single flower placed on the cgtaiaIlue, bu
men of all degrees crowded TO see what re
manned OF the hero, and many OF then
when they went away showed the flrs
Indications Of eoal that had@yer been seer
in their faces.
The three partners sat down TO supper
and gaZed sadly at the empty chair. In
Major finally broke the silence.
A ClrisliRu couldn't have died NOR
aobly,n said he.
"Christlanp' exclaimed the deacon
The publicans and harlo shall 70 int'
he kingdom fore you-sn' me We onl,
offered our money, while he gave his life
Blessed be the PROMISE said the pre-
fessOr. "Gve and IL shall be given INT
yOu. Joe gave his life. Can we believe u
viii ct anything less in return2'
Ell burn otI7rips II make an atonemen
Ia, 70 .-,l -