The Grange advance., 1874-08-26

The uproarss hen enses sthronr be-s
low caught siight sofs mo at the window
MAS indeed ahf ming was cheered.
andsapplauded, as though I had been d
popular ca,1d date for cleo on upon the
hastings. But above al. these cries /
could plainly hear the smee hanical pulls
ing sound sofs the engines in fuH. work
the rush and gurgle, the hiss!and splash!
Of falling water and the screaming e Of
the Hames, which seemed to issue chief
" from the floors; above me, and from
the built-out shop at, the back of the
house: s s5!ilf zsssi ~ Z sssEa e / y.
!; Trembling, all over. Ifstepped from
the .Window-sill on. to the projecting
cornice Of. the shop-front below. then
let myself down grad ually, and after
clingings to- itheasledge for, moment
dropped several feet V on. to the pave
ment.a ,Itwas saved. from falling by the
sturdy @rms Of Q policeman. i was half
sutiocated, and my eyes smarted ter.
ribly; my hands were torn and bleed
ing, and both ankles seemed badly
sprained; otherwise I was uniniured. +!
~ ln3right, i suppose, of my, narrow ess
cape, and my lawful nc interest in the
catastrophe, was permitted to remain
near the fire engines and to watch the.
progress of the confagration. Iwas
not conscious for: some time that my
dress was most incomplete, and that I
was up to, n y insteps in water. ,.>r~ III
Suddenly, I found Aaron Reklam-
close beside me. He started back when
he observed me-not merely with sur
prise, but also, as Judged, with alarm
treme agitation. =, 81. :. i: & a~.:
81 never dressed, so quickly in my
life,'' he said, in tremulous voice, and
he rubbed hisahardss together nervous
ly. He was bareheaded-I could note
by the light Of the flames his partial
badness but his attire was complete
in other respects, even to the neat ad-,
justment Of his shirt-collat and neck
erchief. could not doubt>that he had
never undressed at ALL. T.s- ~ ~ =
He turned his cleaning eyes; full up
on me; his gaze seemed to me more,
baneful and maleficent than ever. For
a moment | almost dreaded personal
violence at his hands. 'S'' :,
''sYou've hada narrow escape; he
said.s.. T.t..5,-- ...-.r uss- 49,. = -. -.
every narrow He looked =, as
though he grudged me my life most
bitterly. '.,'5>
''It was an accident ); though it broke
out in two or three places at cnce. I
can't think how it happened. And
again he glared at me-, il. :.55ss ..~.ns
-..You can't either, I suppose e. he
asked.
"Tcannot tell,'' I said family
sslt will be the ruin of me-of the
frm-the complete ruin.'' r.' -s.
"You're not insured!' .:
s'Yes, we're insured. but not for the
full amount-not nearly-only for a
trife.'' '-. -. ,,''''
: s'And your brother-Mr. Nathan
is he safe g.. > H..'&:y*z} r.<. -
'sHe was, q moment ago. But he
went back: L told him there was plcn-
ty of time to save some documents of
value.'' -
''And he's not been seen since -
s'No not since. But it was only q
moment,ag He's all right. Nathan
knows what. he's about p ..,..
The horrid truth then burst upon
me. The place had been set on fire for
the sake of the insurance money, and
had been decoyed to be q lodger, and
destroyed, in order to give a color to
the proceeding. While this passed
through my mind, Nathan Reklam
made his appearance at the open pri-
vatc door. With 4 wild cry, Aaron
rushed toward him, and shut the door,
He wished to.'>;5be i the sole
beneficiary. The confusion was SO great
that few took heed of, the. brothers.
Thick clouds Of, dust now mingled with
the smoke. The crowd was driven far.
ther back by some yards. Even the
firemen were forced to retreat.
~ The outer wall of the house had fal-
I remember nothing more. Twas
found as I afterwards learnt, senseless
upon the wet roadway, and was
carried, upon the shoulders of friendly
sby-standers, to a neighboring tavern.
There remained ) some days in an
alarming condition Of exhaustion and
delirium. r "a s' - .,5i
The Brothers Reklanl were not again
seen alive. It. was generally agreed
that they had both persisted in the fire
Of their own contriving- retribution
had overtaken them in q terrible way.
No trace of them was ever discovered
in the ruins Of the building. Nor were
any relics found Of the treasures that
had once filled their premises to over
flowing. NY own belief was. and IS.