Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-07
4 Night OF ACCIDENTS.
NOW Mr.. HEREFORD PUT OUT A FIRE
AND MISSED TWO TRAINS.
wv p. Homer in nolforn,..l

Nv. 7. Hopper In Boiford'sl
Through the twilight and slush Harrison
pcrford. with his travelling-bag in his
hand was rushing TO the train, having
missed the only railroad hack in his little
town. He now must walk, or rather run.
II he had any hopes OF keeping his word
20 be with his dear. rich old aunt on that
evening.
Ablaze of light caught his eve from a
window. He stopped short and took a
second look. Yes. japanese lantern 6
lace curtain. and fame Of fire. ,.:,,
III. turned and ran mp the steps. WIN
ont stopping to ring he tried the door' u
opened. lie rushed into a large hali wnere
EIGHT expectant, excited little children
were waiting. He scarcely noticed them,
his only thought being 10 extingulsh the
Are and catch his train. He sprang TO the
door of the burning room; II was locked.
While demanding the key he put his
sboulder TO the panel and burst into the
room. The children IN the mean time, flying,
with many wild screams.
His arrival was none too soon; the lace
w.curtain was in flames. Pulling II
70 the floor and throwing rug over It the
fire was soon extinguished: then, catching
up his bag. his only idea was to reach the
Bnt the frightened children. being igno-
rant of the FIRE, had fed through the
house. saving strange man bad burst INTO
the dining room; and as Harrison heri9ru
was rushing for the street door a naioen
whose eighteenth birthday was 9eing
celebrated by these festivities. spec GOWN
stairs. and with the courage OF non
clutched his GOAT, crying, ihiefi bur
glar ;..o .ho loco
Eeet blue eyes he had ever seen. then,
wrenching himself free he rushed through
the door his train beng still upperInost
In his mind. Bounding down the steps
and almost knocking over two men, ne
few through the slush ana darkness,
reaching the station just IN time TO miss
che cars. .-,.hod
his dear. rich old aunt: " Missed connec-
tion will take A. VI. train.
With wet feet and saturated trousers, the
NEXT ouestion was how to pass the dreary
hours. Dreading the Loneliness OF
country hotel. he determined TO put IN an
bour or two by calling on his only ac-
ouaiptance IN this little town.
This time there was no dithculty IN get
fling the village hack, and away he drove,
bringing up at one of the most pretentious
mansions of which the town could BOAST.
His card being sent in he was invited
into what seemed to him IN his wet, DESC
late condition. a room OF lndescrloaDie
cneerfulness. and the welcome OF MS
friend. Jack Gibbs, warmed his heart.
Jack was making an elaborate tollet' ~
that evening a cOming-out parry wa "
eIi the house. and he had agreed 10 lead
the german. ,L,uo,,,Iod
.rousers were changed for "a dress-suit OF
ms friends. But, alas. the mt, or rather
lock of III of the clothes made him resolve
never 10 show himself in that condition,
till a bright idea struck him, ana IL was
agreed that heshould be allowed 10 ACT INC
part of assistant waiter.
Herf)rd carried out his part. though with
souc embarrassment, still with consldeTa-
lie rmusamopt TO Jack and himself. the
former taking great delight In heaplng
commands and reprimands on his defence
less head. u.,.
Jack md been informed of Harrisonss
adventure in extingulshing the nre ana
had duly appreciated the scene IN the hall
of the beautiful girl with the blue eyes
clutching the flying coat-talls.,
Harrison was doing fairly we'll III ms new
profession till, while bringing In tray OF
ices he suddenly observed among some
late arrivals the beautiful girl with the
blue ewes. With crash the dishes, with
perfect accord. shipped from the traN,'
while he abruptly retired covered Wltn
cream and confusion: ,,.,
clock ON the stairs prevented the amateur
waiter from forgetting the A. NJ. tram, ~
also attracted his attention to the fact that
fhe beautiful girl with the blue eyes
soucht the cool, shadowy retreat OF the
winding steps whenever an interval III the
dance occurred. when she was generally
surrounded by what seemed 20 Harrison
ioi IF supremely uninteresting young men;
or as occasionally happened. 1t was stlll
more ANNOYING TO see that she seemed par
t,cnlarly happy and bright when sitting
there with only one pallid, washeu-out
dude. .... A, -
From bits of conversation among the
quests Harrison understood that dlanlonu
robbery had been committed IN the niue
town that evening, and his interest IN no
wise abated on learning that 1t had nap
nened nj the home of the beautiful girl
with the blue eyes.
Finally. the german being over, tue
aoncers gathered on the stairs. and beg
ged her to tell them all the story of the rob-
berry. ,.5 ,,orcor
she hesitahngly consented.
well, YOU see. / don't know exactly
how 10 begin, and I've already told 1t to so
many of you that It rs iIhPOss,ose now ru ~
less. perhaps, tell 1t as 1t really happened.
WaliIohi Won see last summer Uncle
Dan promised if I'd be real quiet tins WIN
ier-that is. not spend three months IN
New York as / did last year-he promised
70 give me lovely pair of real big sol'-
faires on my birthday. Then, OF course
10 Lad to promise the same 10 COUSIN MAY,
annI1 content
Q.fh nothing less than diamond bracelet
man al course, the children all set up Q
~ for diamonds, and the number OF
.rf-pins and studs and rings he promised
~ buv would stock bazaar.
s'WeU ANYWAY, we knew that our soil
taires were all right, for he took Aun,
Rachel when making the purchases, anG
though I've never seen them-and WIN
a treIpor in her voice" never expect tt
now. still / know they were just toe
AZ this point words of sympathy came
from tho Young ladies IN the group. anc
the pallid. washed-out dude attempted &c
oct In a few words of consolation, which
s,emed TO add heightened color to thu
pink cheeks of the charming reeter.
"Well. ali Uncle Dams presents were II
little travelling bag. He intended givins
them to Us Just the last moment .pelor'
diping-room. They say the burglar, OF
Cracker man. as the Sheriff called him
what? craftsman ?-all right, brakeman
Won know we've had the Sheriff
and the town marshal, and the watch
man, all at the house this evening
LAYING plans to catch the thief, anc
they say he must be one of those rea
expert burglars from New York. No doub
be saw Uncle Dan making the purchases
and shadowed' him. think that is wha
the town marshal called it-that is, jus
followed him all the way from New York
Anyway. no was awfully smart-the bur
glar. meau--and oh, girls. how handsome
be wasl You ought 10 have Just seen hi
eyes-and such a lovely moustache." CA
this point another tray of dishes was hearC
10 collapse.)
"Well, let me see. You know he evi
IDENTIFY knew just what he was doing au(
selected the time-at twilight-befor'
Uncle Dan or any of the boys had CONF
home, and Richards was in the dining
room. While all the children-my lttl
nephews and neces- We're playing in tn
front hall they heard man run mp tn
steps. and, thinking IL was Uncle Dan. un
locked the door, aud in rushed this awfu
L.. =. %. no door az tk