Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-10-02
NO. 40.

ragged stranger-fellow, whom l had before
observed working 80 vigorously, came run
ming up. He had been too busy in another
place 10 know what was going forward soon.
or. That was scarcely a time for taking any
particular notice Of peoples looks, yet had
an impression that he was not altogether
stranger TO me.
He looked up to the roof. The delay Of a
few minutes had given fearful advantage TO
the FIRE.
There is death up there" he said !. ''is
saving this mill so Gerry important to you ?"
"If It is burned, am a beggar. Every 10
peck l am worth Is in It. A hundred roubles
If you will help me TO save IT,"
1--WE can talk of the reward afterwards, " he
said, as he sprang past me and up the ladder
like a cat.
was following, too eagerly, perhaps, TO be
CAREFUL and l am q heavy man. A round
broke, and down l came, with knee so much
twisted that could scarcely stand. II was
no longer in my power TO climb 10 the roof.
But from where propped myself against
avail could see that ragged fellow, who was
up and doing enough for three or four ordi-
nary men. You should have seen how he
sent the shingles rattllng down. Seen from
below, he seemed at times to be working with
fire all around him but he went on without
minding it. never saw an Englishmsn-let
uiOhc hu5elhu-B IL Win D6tteI Will.
heard the people round me say that he work.
ed more like 6end than a mortal msn-snd
so he did. He handled the burning wood as
though his fingers had been iron instead Of
flesh and bone, and scarcely seemed to shrink
from the flames that blazed up around his
face. He never appeared to rest or stay for
breath till he had succeeded in cutting of the
communication between the fire and the mill
l made the men below set the ladder as
handily as they could for him to get down,
and be did his best to reach it. But he must
have been quite used up, besides being pretty
much blinded and sutfocated with the smoke.
Anyway, he lost his footing and down he
went through the rafters and crashed among
the burning rubbish below. 1t was an ugly
fall.
We got him out as we'll as we could and
such scorched, blackened smsshed.up copy
OF Gods image l should never wish TO see
again. But be was still alive, and TO the pro-
posal to carry him straight to the hospital, 1
said, No take him into my house." So
they took him in.
After we had got the fire quite under, and
made all safe about the mill, limped to the
side Of the bed where they had laid the poor
fellow. He bad come round a bit bv that
time. He tried to open his eyes, but it SEEM
ed to me that the ERE and smoke had not left
him much power Of seeing with them. He
spoKe however, more distinctly than might
have been expected, and his first question was
whether the mill was safe
told him that owing 10 his pluck 1t was.
was surprised to find that he recognized my
voice, and still more when he spoke my name.
"You do not know me, he said-and, indeed,
it was not likely that any one should know
such crushed and shspeless mass Of cinder
as he was-"You do not know me-Feodor
Stepsnovitch. They caught me and took me
back. knew you when you spoke to me in
the street, but dared not speak lest they should
suspect you Of having befriended me. have
escaped from them again. and am going home
to Ivanova. nust see my wife, and that
villain Makarof"
He lay quiet little, and then added: 81
am glad / was here to help you tonight. l
am glad they did not take me before got
here. do not think the p0litzid will take me
again"
And they did not for he was dead within
an hour of that time.
That, sir, is the end of my story OF Sibe-
riak. Do you happen to have light handy?
for somehow, have let my pipe out. And
bless me my pipe-bowl is quite wet 1 be-
lieve I'm crying What an old ass 1 am
London Society.