Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-06-16

burning, and he knew with what dan
ger the fire threatened Kendall. The
tank was one of a group on the bank
of the creek, and if it should over
overflow, or another tank be ignited
and burst with an explosion of gas,
the burning fluid would surely be
borne on the stream among the hous-
es that further down lined its banks.
From these houses the town lay in
the direction the wind was blowing,
and the wooden, canvas-lined dwell
ings were as combustible as finder.
Ii a fire should break out among the
houses on the creek, the town would
soon be in ashes and many families
homeless.
All of this Gabe comprehended
in moment, and he rode right into
the village, shouting to the women
whom he saw standing in their door
ways and gazing curiously at the
shovels and picks you can find"
Looking back over his shoulder, he
saw fire running up the side of the
hill, the blazing leaves blown by the
wind apparently in a hot race to
spread the confagration, to carry de-
struction far and wide. At glance
he saw the direction of the fire was
toward his own home and lease-to-
ward his wife and children, whom he
| had left but a half hour before.
At the telegraph station of the
"Lines" he drew rein, and yelled to
the operator ''Tell Hartford we want
him with picks and shovels, and we
want them quick. Wire the railroad
company for a special train.
The operator, who had already re-
ported an iron tank on fire, promptly
sent Gabe's message. Before it
reached Hartford, Gabe was on his
way at full speed of his horse. He
rode to within hundred yards of the
burning tank, and hitched his horse
securely to tree on the windward
side of the fire. Then snatching a
shovel from one woman and pick
axe from another, he ran to bend
of the creek, and began the construc
ton of dam.
Two old men and some boys came
to help him, while the women brought
picks and shovels, and laid them on
the bank of the creek, in readiness
for use by husbands and brothers,
who to man were attending mass
meeting of the producers in Hartford.
The blazing oil heated the tank,
the blaze roaring and struggling to
maintain a perpendicular against the
wind, growing in force and blowing
steadily.
Gabe was working with wonderful
energy, making a sluice for the es-
cape of the water, at the same time
directing his assistants how to build
the dam, which was to be constructed
of stones laid one on the other and
| banked with dirt. The old men,
whose strength was unequal to the eff
forts they put forth in the excitement,
leaned on their shovels presently land
took an observation of the progress
of the fire, and reckoned on the prob
ability of the small force being able
TO complete the dam before the over
flow would come.
"Why, Gabe, how can you work
so hard in this heat with your coat
on?'' one of them inquired querulous-
ly, as he wiped his brow with his
soiled handkerchief.
'Didn't think of that" said Gabe,
and in a moment he was at work
again without coat or vest to impede
him. "Does go easier" he said
cheerily, as he strengthened the side
of the sluice with large stone. "Now
if you old fellows amt played out,
you can shovel some dirt behind that
rock"
81 amt played OUT one of the
old men said ''but I'm thinkin'
you'd better git fast as your boss can
carry you, or you won't save much
from that little house of yours up to
| Summit.
One of the boys stopped in his dig
ging, his breath growing short, and
looked at the conflagration sweeping
up the mountain side. "Gabe, hadn't
better ride up and tell your wife the
fire is comin'?" he said.
ono; you stay here and dig. Mrs.
Harris knows as much about the fire
comm her way as we do. She's got
eyes"
Yet with all his cheerful manner
and the courage in his voice, Gabe
did not dare to look up from his work
for fear the sight of the tempest of
flames that was rushing to the de-
struction of his home would overcome
his resolution to save Kendall if pos
sible.
"But don't you think you'd better
go, Gabe9" the old man queried.
"Charity begins at home, you know"
'eStop pesterin' me and work, or
get out of the road"
The old man, offended, shovelled
in desultory way.
"Spoonfuls don't count; faint
the little grains of sand we want here,
but shovelfuls,' and suiting action to
word, Gabe dumped pile of sand
against the stone he had just put in
place. The old man. feeling that he