The Grange advance., 1874-08-26
The uproar when the dense throng be-,
low caught sight of me at the window

was indeed alarming. I was chcered
and app!auded, as though I had been
popular candidate for election upon the
hustings. But above all these cries l
could plainly hear the mechanical pulls
ing sound of the engines in fun work.
the rush and gurgle, the hiss and splash
Of falling water--and the screaming Of
the flames, which seemed to issue chief
II from the floors above me, and from
the built-out shop at the back Of the
house. - -
Trembling all over. I stepped from
the window-sill on. to the projecting
cor1aice of the shop-front below. I then
let myself down gradually. and after
clinging to the ledge for moment,
dropped several feet on to the pave
nlent. was saved from falling by the
sturdy arms Of a policeman. Twas half
sufocated, and my eyes smarted ter
ri5ly; my hands were torn and bleed
ing, and both ankles seemed badly
sprained; otherwise, was uninjured.
in right, l suppose, of my narrow es-z
cape, and my lawful interest in. the.
catastrophe, was permitted to remain
near the fire engines and to watch the
progress Of the confagration. Twas
not conscious for some time that my
dress was most incomplete, and that T
was up to II y insteps in water.
Suddenly, I found Aaron Reklam
close beside me. He started hack when
he observed me-not merely with sur
prise, but also, as judged, with alarm
and aversion. He was in state of ex-
treme agitation.
IL never dressed 50 quickly in my
life he said, in tremulous voice, and
he rubbed his hands together nervous
1y. He was bareheaded-I could note
by the light Of the flames his partial
badness; but his attire was complete
IL other respects, even to the neat ad-
justment Of his shirt-collaI and neck
erchief. could not doubt that he had
never undressed at all.
He turned his cleaning eyes full up
on me; his gaze seemed to me more
banefui and malefcent than ever. For
(; moment I almost dreaded personal
violence at his hands.
s'You've had narrow escape" he
said.
''Very narrow He looked as
though he grudgcd me my life most
bitterly.
''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.
"''You can't either, suppose q he
asked.
II cannot tell,'' said family.
''lt will be the ruin of me-of the
tirm-the complete ruin.'
"You're not insured q
Eyes, we're insured. but not for the
full amount-not nearly-only for a
trihe.''
''And your brother-Mr. Nathan
is he safe?''
''He was, moment ago. But he
went back: told him there was plcn-
ty of time to save some documents uf
value.''
''And he's not been seen since %
''No not since. But it was only a
moment ago. He's all right. Nathan
knows what he's, about -
The horrid truth then burst upon
me. The place had been set on fire for
the sake of the insurance money, and 1
had been decoyed to be lodger, and
destroyed, in order to give color to
the proceeding. While this passed
through my mind, Nathan Reklam
made his appearance at the open pri-
vatc door. With a wild cry, Aaron
rushed toward him, and shut the door.
He wished to be 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
fremcn were forced to retreat.
The outer wall of the house had fal-
len.
l remember nothing more. Twas
found, as I afterwards learnt, senseless
upon the wet roadway, and was
carried, upon the shoulders of friendly
by-standers, to ncighboring tavern.
There l remained some days in an
alarming condition Of exhaustion and
delirium.
The Brothers Reklam were not again
seen alive. 1t was generally agreed
that they had both perished in the fire
Of their own contriving- -retribution
had overtaken them in a 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. My own belief was, and is,
that these had been carefully and
stealthily removed some time before the
fire broke out.
Brief paragraphs in the newspapers
were devoted to the ''Serious Confla-
grafton in Soho--Two Lives Lost. -
Nothing was ever said publicly, how.
ever, as to the suspicious nature of the