The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-24


and went out to see what was the matter,
and perhaps got choked by il. | know I
was nearly ehoked myself by the time /
got my head out of the window again.
he may have got to the upper story"
jacob Carey said. I'VE had best keep a
lookout round the house so as to be ready
TO put tho ladder up at once if we see him.
There IS nothing else to do, is there, Mr..
Armstrong; You are accustomed TO all
sorts Of troubles aud may know best what
we ought TO do"
II can't think Of anything Mr. Arm
strong replied. mo, if he's not in his own
room it seems hopeless 10 search for him.
You see the flames have broken out from
several windows of the first floor My own
idea Is, from what you say as to the fire
having spread into all the rooms on the
ground floor when you discovered it, that the
poor gentleman must have set fire to the
house himself in half-a-dozen places, and as
likely as not may have been suffocated al
most at once.n
II shouldn't wonder if that was it,n the
smith said. IT'S not natural that the
fire should have spread all over the lower
part Of the house in such a short time. You
know what we were saying this evening.
It's just the sort of trick for a mailman to
playn
The smith was interrupted by sudden
exclamation from those standing round,
followed by a shout of There he is"
dormer window on the roof of the Oldest
part Of the house opened. and figure
stepped out on to low parapet that ran
round the house.
'All right, sir, all right" Jacob Carey
shouted out at the top of his voice 1--WE
will have ladder for you in no time,n and
he and score Of men ran t. lift the ladder
that was leaning against the side of the
house.
1t was soon lowered. brought round, and
placed against the parapet close to whore
Reginald Carne was standing.
Now then, sir" Jacob Carey shouted
again, tits all right. You can come down
safe enough"
But Mr.. Carne paid no attention to the
shout; he was pacing up and down along
the parapet and was tossing his arms about
in a strange manner. Suddenly he turned,
seized the ladder, and pushed it violently
sideways along the parapet. Those below
val lily tried TO keep it steady.
Look out" the smith shouted, "leave go
and clear out, or he will have it down on
your
Themen holding the ladder dashed away
from the foot, and the ladder fell with q
crash upon the ground, while peal of
wild laughter broke out from above.
1.-The Squire has goae clean mad" JAG OBJ
Carey said to Mr.. Armstrong, as he Joined
him; 'either the fire has driven him mad, or
what is moro likely, ne went mad first and
then lit the fire. However, we must save
him if we can"
Look there, Carey. If we lifted the lad
der and put it up between that chimney
and the window nexG to it, he can't slide
1t either one way or another, as he did be-
fore; and he certainly could not throw il
back wards, if we plant the foot well away
from the house"
THAT'S right enough, the smith agreed,
but if he wont come down, he womb
1--WE must go up and make him, Carey.
If you and | and couple of strong men go
up together, we ought to be able to master
him. OF course, we must take up rope
with us, and bind him and then lower him
down tue ladder"
"We might do that" the smith said, "but
supposing the ladder catches fireg'
the fire won't touch it at that point,
Carey. You see it will go no Just between
the rows of windows"
80 il will; anyhow we might take up a
long rope, if they have got one, so as to
lower ourselves down if the ladder does
catch fire."
He spoke to one of the grooms. "Have
you got plenty of roper
PLENTY" the man said. 81 will fetch
you couple Of long coils from the stables.
Here, one Of you, come along with me.
T..
Armstrong said.
With the aid OF dozen mentor the
whole village was now upon the spot-the
ladder was again lifted and dropped so
that the upper end fell between a chimney
end dormer window Reginald Carne
again attempted to cast it down, but a
number of men hung on to the lower part
OF the ladder, and he was unable to lift it
far eIougl to get it out of the niche into
which it nad fallen. Then he turned round
and shook his fist at the crowd. Some
thing flashed in the light of the flames, and
half dozen voices ex claimed-"He has got
a knife" At this moment the Clergyman
and doctor arrived together on the scene.
whats to be done, doctor?" Jacob
Carey asked. 81 don't mind going up.
with some others to back me, to have a tus-
sic with him on the roof, but he would
knife us one by one as we got up to the
parapet, anu though don'C thiak as [ am
coward, l don't care about chucking
away my life, which is of use to my wife
and children, TO save that of mailman
whose life amt of no use to hisself or any
one else"
''No, | don't see why you should, Carey"
the doctor said; "the, best plan will be to
keep away from the ladder for the present.
Perhaps, when he thinks you ore not going
to make the attempt, he will move away
and then we can get up there before he
sees us. will go first, because he knows
me, and my influence may quiet him, but
we had better arm ourselves with sticks so
as to knock that knife ouo of his hand"
Reginald Carne stood guarding the ladder
for few minutes. By this time the whole
of the first floor was in blaze the flames
rushing out with fury from every window.
Seeing that ne did not move, the doctor
said at last:
"Well, we must risk it. Give me stick
Cary, and we will make try, anyhow"
'You can't go now" Mr. Armstrong
said, suddenly, "look, the ladder is alight"
This was indeed the case. The flames
had not absolutely touched it, but the heat
was SO great that it had been slowly char
ring, and light flame had now suddenly
appeared and In a momont ten or twelve
feet OF the ladder was in flames.
cit is of no use," the doctor said, dropping
tine stick that Jacob Carey had just cut for
him in the shrubbery; I'VE can do nothing
for him now"
There was scarcely a word spoken among
the little crowd of spectators on the lawn.
Every moment was adding to their number
as Mr.. Volkes, the magistrate, and several
other gentlemen rode up on horseback and
men ran up from all the farm houses and
cottages within a circle of a couple OF miles.
All sorts of suggestions were made, but only
to be rejected.
SIT is one thing to save a man who wants
to be saved, =" the doctor said, "but quite an-
other thing to save one is determined not to
no eavad o.