The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-05-11

Seckonket sleeps AWAY from Maple
iarlS; and Mr. Balloon wondered. the
longer he thought of il. that some
frowsy Napoleon did not organize his
army 81 tramps and obliteratc Maple
park. sure that the deed would never
come to light q wandering peddle,
passed that way.
Mrs Balloon was not imaginative.
ana no such terrors ever oppressed her.
III She had formulated her rule Of life
she light have said that unpleasant
things were best let alone, 10 be dis.
posed Of ia bunch at the day of judg-
nent. She was young enough 10 en-
JOY her money. and old enough to an.
prcciatc her health; and since her
daughters had not reached n marriage
able age, neither her health nor her
money seemed In danger OF course
she should have been. as She was. a
happy woman. She spent her day as
the truly happy muslin small activi-
ties that amuse one and make one feel
useful but not fatigued So accustomed
was she to routine OF quiet, that
when the cook appeared excitedly be-
fore her She was slow to realize that
this particular day might prove an ex-
ception
The stables afire. Miss Balcom."
the cook proclaimed.
rs it?' the mistress absently an
swcred. Tell Henry to put it out.
please. oh. remember: allowed
Henry TO visit his sister" She closed
her writing desk and stood consider
ing. Can't you throw some water on
it?' she asked, presently.
ITS the roof. l s'pose 1t caught
with spark from one o. them pesky
ingines-bein's 3 everything's dry as
finder. Amt nothin' TO git scairt
about. cause the winds ava, from the
house. what little the is. But the boss
is in the stable, You recollec."
"Oh, my"' Moved beyond her wont.
Mrs. Balcom swept electrically through
the kitchen and out of the back door.
'Oh. my" she repeated as she came in
sight of the blaze. Zen Ezra will be
burned, won't he? What will Mr. Bal
com say? What can we do?'
ID know" was the depressing an
swer III sent Jane to the corner alter
the firemen: but the land knows how
long il will take TO git EN- here.
Ben Ezra must come QUIT" Mrs Bal
com asserted; but there was an accent
of despair in the words. determined rs
the sentiment was.
Cant break that door down. m that
air paytent lock on-Mr. Balcom's got
the key with him"
Mrs. Balcom stared straight before
her like one fascinated into helpless
ness. The servants conscience would
not let her rest until she had kicked
the door and thrown herself against il.
1t did not even tremble. She mopped
her flushed face with her apron and.
shaking her head mournfully, drew
back beyond the heat Of the flames
that were laying bare the rafters.
Ben Ezra must come Quit" Mrs. Bal
com said again The horses agonized
whinny had broken the spell that was
upon her. Her eyes filed at the sound.
and she ran forward aimlessly and
glanced desperately about her.
"Man. You man.. she cried, all At
once. Come here and get our borse"
Though the stranger had seemed 70
spring from the ground. he showed no
nlacrity about coming further. He
took time to survey the landscape be-
fore he climbed the fence. He looked
past the women. not at them. as though
he feared possible somewhat behind.
And when he had advanced to where
they stood, though he abruptly took
the manner of haste and impatience.
his shiny eyes still seemed to cover
every point of the horizon.
Now. them" he demanded, where's
your ax?"
I'm the stable. suppose" was Mrs
Balcom's de elected reply.
"'N' it's a paytent lock-" the cook
chimed in, tragically.
"IIey?" The stranger started and
stared at them suspiciously, but the
wretchedncss in their faces appeared TO
rcassurc him lie turned again to
scan the hill road. Then he ran up to
the door
Huh. That thing the women
heard him say. contemptuously.
Through the wavclcss atmosphere of
the August noon the smoke floatcd
lazily off and left the vision unob-
scurcd. and the spiteful snap OF flame