, 1883-08-25

| once or twice, Dut on She Speu, mel
large dark eyes strained and fixed
on the faring red light, 1t seemed
hours to her before she reached the
mill. She had been there before tC
take Phil his lunch once when he had
forgotten it, and she knew the way
perfectly well. In at the dark yawu.
ing door she darted, and up two or
three narrow steps. There was smoke
in the air-surley.
She opened the door of the engine
room, and closed it hastily behind
her, with a quick, shrill cry Of dis,
may.
"PhnI Oh, Philip
For the room was full Of smoke.
Through it the lamp-light showed
pale and dim. Little tongues Of
fame were running over the flooI
before the great furnace, tapping up
shaving here and there, and crawl
ing, smoke-like, up the wall. very
near the window. And Phil sat by
the rough table, his face buried in
his arms, asleep and so Supplied by
the smoke that Katie's first cry failed
to arouse him.
She screamed with all her might,
and shook him5hen.
"Phil dear Phil !' she cried. "Oh
fire.
1t all happened in very little time.
That two last words shrieked in
Phips ear awoke him effectually.
He understood the situation and
sprang to his feet.
"Don't WHISTLE ~ cried Katie,
catching his arm. "DOn't rouse the
town, Phil. We can put it out"
They fell to work then with a will.
After all it was not much of a battle.
There were pals and an abundance
Of water at hand, and the fire was
not really under headway. The
flames, though widespread had not
begun to burn through the solid
floor, which was soon thoroughly
flooded. In a very few minutes il
was all over, and Phil had opened
the window. He turned to Katie
then, who stood pale and trembling,
as she had not trembled before.
ooh, Katie !" he cried, chokingly.
"How did you"
And Katie told-or tried to tell
him ; but long before she had finished
she was crying Historically around
his neck.
"Oh, Katie darling, don't. Don't
Katie"
The door opened at that moment.
Phil knew who stood there before he
heard Mr.. Medway's voice.
"Heyday! What's all this fuss
about"
''There has been a fire, sir" an.
swered Phil, readily, though with a
shake Of his voice.
"But it is out now."
Mr.. Midway stepped into the room
without another word, and taking up
the lamp proceeded to examine the
wall, the floor, and the furnace itself
carefully.
"Gibbs must look after this little
in the morning." he said and he
placed the lamp on the bench again,
while Kate and Phil stood by with
sinking hearts. Suddenly he looked
at Phips sister. "Why what are you
here for ?" he asked, not unkindly.
All, how easy it would have been
not to tell him-to say that Phil was
lonesome and wanted her for COM
pany to say anything but the dread.
ful truth. But Katie's honest little
nature abhored a falsehOOd.
"T-I-he wasp she stammered
with many painful pauses, q"
But right here Phil came bravely
to the rescue.
81 was asleep, Mr.. Medway," he
said, "and if it hadn't been for Katie
your mill"
"Asleep !" repeated Mr.. Midway,
his face stern and cold.
1t was an awful moment, and Katie
ended it by springing forward and
grasping Mr.. Medway's hand.
ooh, If you please" she cried,
"may l tell you how he happened to
do it? Mamma was III, and he could
not sleep at all yesterday. 1t was
not his fault, sir-indeed it was not.
Poor Phil! oh, sir"
Mr.. Medway was not at all hard.
hearted man, though perhaps a little
too intent on his own particular in.
terests. His voice was husky when
he spoke to Katie.
"HOw did you happen to see the
fire ?"
"Why-I-I-"
"She looks out Of her window q
dozen times a night to see that am
all right" said Phil with brusque
earnestness; "and she prays for me
before she goes to sleep. That's how
Mr.. Medway. Oh, Katie, little sis.
ter"
''well well p said Mr.. Medway,
who seemed to be having a great
deal of trouble with his throat and
eyes.
"Well ! Well I" And he was silent
for what seemed to Katie and Phil d
long, long time.
81 TsupposeIneedn't-needn'tc comt
here again." Phil mustered courage
to say presently. "Why not my
boy? Ofcourse YOU will come again
every night" He put his hand on
Katie's head. "And l am going tC
pay you a mans wages after this re.