The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-02-17

shouldn't have come; but couldn't
help it. and can't be sorry did"
"Certainly not" said Lottie. with
pretty warmth.
~ should like to come again." John
pursued; "but of course, this isn't the
way"
81 don't care.-so now!" said Lot.
tie, stontly. eff pa will be so I'M
reasonable, don't know what else
we can. Goodness, what is that,
Mr.. Stockham?"
She shifted the air apprehensively.
John shifted too.
"1t's smoked" he declared.
"Mercy! where?" cried Lottie,
"We'll have to investigate" said
John, taking up the lamp.
They went into the back entry. It
was blue with smoke. Lottie gave a
little scream.
"Something's afre," said John
Stockham. "Don't be alarmed, Miss
Lamphier." he added citously.
He opened the wood house door.
They were choked by the rush oil
smoke and hot air. Their startled
gaze revealed one side OF the wood.
house alive with licking, darling
flames.
John stockham's practical mind
worked quickly,
"Where' 8 the sink, Miss Lamphier?"
he demanded, land WATERFALL. Two
if possible. Well have to work to
stop it. It's got q good start"
They did work. They rushed to and
fro with heavy pals of water, half.
blinded by the smoke hot from the
flames, dripping with spilled water.
At the end OF q confused fifteen min.
utes, they sat down exhausted and
dizzy in the doorway, and surveyed
the scene.
One wall of the woodhouse was
burned black. At one point the flames
had burst through, and the moonlight
came streaming in.
1t Shone on the recumbent form OF q
redfaced, blousy, and obviously in.
ebriated tramp, sleeping peacefully on
a pile OF klndling wood. 1t shone on
a dirty clay pipe, thrust into u little
mound of shavings, which still
smouldered. 1t shone, furthermore,
on Mr.. Lamphier, standing in the
wood house door and staring in.
Lottie was more than equal to the
occasion. She was not n person to
let a golden opportunity escape her.
She rushed over to her father and
clasped both hands around his arm,
with a. tragic little shrek.
ooh, pa" she cried, Gust look!
just think what you've escaped! The
house would have been burned down
in another minute-in one minute
all burned down! Mr.. Stockham
has saved 1T. If he hadn't been
here and We hadn't smelled smoke
and come out there; found the wood
house all ablaze, and worked like any
thing to put it out, just think what
would have happened! 1t was that
horrid tramp. He'd got in here some.
how, and gone to sleep smoking, and
his horrid pipe had set things aGre
Pm so glad Mr.. Stockham was here
amt you, pa, dear?"
Mr.. Lamphier looked ut his daush-
ter and at John Stockham, and at
the blackened wall, and ut the serene.
ly slumbering tramp.
"Ah, yes!" he responded. at was
fortunate you happened along, Stock
ham,"
There was tinge of irony in his
tone, and some erimness in his smile;
but Lottie did not mind that-nor
did John Stockham.
They realized that by fortunate
turn OF events Mr.. Lamphier was de.
feated, and made to appreciate and
admit the fact.
They cared little for the burned
beams; they were not conscious OF
their dripping clothes; the slumbering
tramp seemed to be an angel in dis
guise.
"Well, it's the way to do" Lottie
declared a few weeks later, when she
and Stockman were safely engaged,
and Mr.. Lamphier had given them his
blessing and intimated that he'd
thought OF taking u partner, and that
John might possibly do-"it's the way
to do. If we'd just stood back as
meek rs mice; and waited for pa to
come round and invite you up to the
house-Mercy! Ican't bear to think
of it!'