The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-03-10
..You Know I,d be dellghted. MS,

II
Lamphier." he almost gasped. ed"
.'Stockhamr' Mr.. Lpmphier's voice
was alarmingly near. 81 want that
box of spices opened Immediately.
'.Mr. Lamphier's head projected it
self over the counter; he glared down
at the startled pair beneath it.
John looked at Lottie. There was a
daring light in his eyes.
'1'll come this evening""
He formed the words inaudibly with
his lips, and hurried away.
MIR. Lamphier slapped the package
of rice on the counter, frowningiy.
Lottie brushed off her dress. read
justed her veil, extracted piece of
citron from jar and nibbled at it and
went out with parting smile for John
Stockham.
If Lottie put on her best dress and
| her prettiest ruchings, and her silver
hair pin and bracelets that evening af-
ter her father had eaten his supper and
| gone back to the store; and if some
body knocked at the kitchen door about
8; and if the kitchen resounded for two
hours thereafter with pleasant chat and
harmless badinage and light hearted
laughter-If these things occurred,
surely it was nobodys business.
81 don't need to tell you how I've
enjoyed the evening. Miss Lamphier,"
said John Stockham earnestly. as he
rose at last lingeringly. Il know l
shouldn't have come; butt couldn't
help it, and can't be sorry did"
Certainly not" said Lottie. with
pretty warmth.
81 should like to come again." John
pursued; "but of course this isn't the
| way"
II don't care-so now!" said Lottie
stoutly. eff pa will be so unreasona-
BILE l don't know what else we can
Goodness, what is that. Mr.. Stock
| hamP"
She shifted the ar apprehensively.
John shifted, too.
'It's smoke!" he delared.
mercy! where?" cried Lottie.
"We'll have to investigate" said
John, taking up the lamp.
They went into the back enty. 1t
was blue with smoke. Lottie gave a
little scream.
Something's afre,' said John
Stockham. Don't be alarmed. Miss
Lamphier," he added, solicitously.
He opened the WOO dhouse door. They
were choked by the rush of smoke and
hot air. Their startled gaze revealed
one side of the woodhouse alive with
licking, darting flames.
John Stockham's practical mind
worked gu ckly.
"Where's the sink, Miss Lamphierp"
lie demanded, ''and water pail. Two
if possible. Well have to work to
stop it. It's got 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 confused fifteen min
| utes they sat down exhausted and dir
zy in the doorway, and surveyed the
scene.
One wall of the woodhouse was burn
ed black. At one point the flames had
burst through, and the moonlight
came streaming in.
1t shone on the recumbent form of a
rcd-faced, blowsy, and obviously
inebrated tramp, sleeping peacefully
on pile of kindling wood. 1t shone
on dirty clay pipe thrust into little
mound of shavings, which still smoul-
dered. 1t shone, furthermore, on Mr..
Lamphier, standing in the woodhouse
door and staring IN.
Lottie was more than equal 10 the oc-
casion. She was not person TO let g
golden opportunity escape her.
She rushed over to her father and
clasped both hands around his arm,
with tragic little shrek.
''Oh, pa ~ she cried, just look just
think what you've escaped The house
would have been burned down in an
other minute-in one minute-all burn
ed down! Mr.. Stcckham has saved
it. If no hadn't been here and we
hadn't smelled smoke and come out
here, found the woodhouse all ablaze,
and worked like everything to put it
out, Just think what would have hap
pened! 1t was that horrid tramp.
He'd got in here somehow, and gone to
sleep smoking. and his horrid pipe had
set things afire. I'm so glad Mr..
Stockham was here-ain't you, pa,
dear ?''
Mr.. Lamphier looked at his daughter
and at John Stockham, and at the
blackened wall. and ut the serenely
slumbering tramp.
'Ah, yes!' he responded. 1T was
fortunate you happened along, Stock
ham,"
There was tinge of irony in his
tone, and some grimness in his smile;
but Lotto did not N nd 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 slumberng
tramp seemed to be an angel in dis
guise.
"Well. it's the way to do" Lottie de-
clared a few weeks later. when she and
John Stockham were safely engaged
and Ii. Lamph:er had given them his
blessing and int;mated that he'd
thnnnht of taking mariner and that