The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-04-13

llc SUCK 30 Oh
the shelves but a moment before, was now
on the floor a mass of hopeless ruin.
Ira sank into chair discouraged. Babe
gazed wildly at the result of her work.
80, Ira, Ira, Irar she screamed. 81 shall
never forgive myself" and sue threw her
self at full length down upon the floor and
sobbed and moaned as If her heart was
breaking.
Ira reused himself "Babe," he said in
a choking voice. you poor child, it's ter
rible, but you didn't mean it,"
Babe raised her face-she almost smiled.
"Oh, the fire insurance, Ira that will
paw for it,"
Ira shook his head sadly. "No, Babe.
not fer goods destroyed like that. They
must be burned to get the insurance"
The girls grief was piteous. She could
not listen to words of comfort. Finally
Ira took her by the hand and led her to
her room in another part of the house,
and firmly babe her to go in and lie down.
You are nervous and worn out with all
this sickness and Overwork," he said, land
you must have some rest"
He controlled his own emotion only by
an effort of the strongest will, and as he
raised up her face and kissed her, she
never forgot the anxious, almost fierce
look in his ewes.
He went down to Nancy's room. Sam
was frightened by the awful crash and was
trying to explain to his sister what had
happened. Although her mind was way-
ering Nancy seemed 10 dimly comprehend
that some dreadful catastrophe had taken
place, and kept repeating over and over
those words she had heard Babe say
oh, the fire insurance, Ira, will pay for
it" Ira soon partially quieted the ex-
cited Nancy and gave her a sleeping
draught and she dropped to sleep mutter-
ing fire burn, fire burn" Then he eau
toned Sam to keep awake and told him
he would be back after little. and went
to his own room. He was too excited to
stay in the house and lie picked up his
hat and walked out into the night, and,
lost IN thought walked on and on uncon-
sciOusly.
Sam sat by Nancy's bedside and strug-
Gied In vain to keep awake. His head
sank lower and lower; he was asleep.
Nancy awOke; her ewes glared about the
room. Fire burn, fire burn" she NUT
tered, and with the cunning of insanity
crept softly out of bed and passed into the
kitchen. From instinct she knew where
the can OF oil was kept. and she got it and
the basket of shavings, and ran stealthily
about and still muttering, 'Iire burn, fire
burn" poured the oil upon them and
upon the floor. Noiselessly she put the
basket and empty can back into their
places and taking some matches returned
to the store. She lit match, and chuck
ling in her delirium to see it burn,
dropped it on pile OF shayings
Sam had wakened and guilty started to
look for his missing sister. He saw the
door of the store open and got there inst
in time to see the crazed woman drop the
lighted match. Nancy - he cried. horror
struck, and she bounded past him and
back into her room and into bed. Sam
saw the bright fame leap high up, and ut
terly stupid with fear and horror, skunk
back into the bedroom and gave Nancy a
drink from her sleeping potion, and sank
into chair, his teeth chattering and his
senses benumbed with fright.
Shouts of "6re-fre!" rang out into the
night though the quiet street. A load OF
| young people coming home from a party,
in passing the house had seen the bright
| flames almost before Nancy reached her
room. Ira, hurrying homeward, heard
the cries and was there directly after the
store had been broken into by the young
men and the fire smo:hered and stamped
| out.
"By Crymusw said Tom Dowdall, who
was one of the party. "A smashed drug
| shop, shavings and kerosene! Looks
ratty, don't it, boys?"
Babe came in from the hall Immediately
after Ira got there, and looked in dumb
| establishment at the scene. The fire had
Teen so quickly discovered that it had
| gained little Roadway, and the discovererE
| and those who had heard the alarm and
| had come flocking in, looked at the
wrecked shelves and the too evident at
tempt to burn the building, and went
away in q state of great wonder.
As soon as he had satisfied himself that
there was no further danger from the fire,
| Ira went into Nancy's room; she was
sleeping quietly; evidently not yet ovel
the effects OF the draughs he had given
| her. Sam sat in a state OF speechle ss, i'd
otto fright, but Ira had seen him in cases
of excitement before and that was per
fectly natural state for hin 10 be in under
the circumstances.
There is no more danger; 90 home anC
go to bed. Sam" he said quietly. San
went sneaking slowly out without word
Ira returned to the store. Babe stood
looking vacantly ct two persons who were
examining the broken shelves and talking
/ III lOW bOicS.
Nancy is very SICK" he said to the two
won't YOU please go homer"
They looked at him suspiciously anC
walked out.
He closed the door and walked up e
Babe. He looked at her curiously for
moment. Except that her eyes were oper
she seemed standing there asleep.
Babe. please 90 to bed" he said gently
She looked at hum earnestly, searchingly
for q moment then dropped her eyes
took up her lamp mechanically and wen
to her room. lie watched her closely
When she was gone he went into Nancy't
room and sat down. There seemed to bt
great weight on his brain. He could
not think. For long time he sat very
still. 1T must be all dream" he said
and he took the light and went into tn,
store and looked carefully around. Hou
after hour he sat in the chair, his eye
wandering vacantly, and but one though
continually in his mind and on his lips
Gould 1t be that Babe grieved so that sh
set the fire for the insurance?"
And Babe tossing on her bed through
the weary hours cried out: "Oi Stubby
| Stubby you must have been crazed--yo
| muat hava ham 10