The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-05-30

COuEbS bnb buOulu ndNb btbhs 10 b4o
was, happy woman. She spent her
day as the truly happy muslin small
activities that amuse one and make
one feel useful but not fatigued. So
accustomed was she TO routine of
quiet, that when Abbie the cook ap-
peared excitedly before her she was
slow to realize that this particular day
might prove an exception.
''The stables afre, Miss Balloon !"
the cook proclaimed.
els it?" the mistress absently
answered. "Tell Henry to put it out,
please. Oh, 1 remember; l allowed
Henry to visit his sister" She closed
her writing-desk and stood consider
ing "Can't you throw some water on
itP" she asked, presently.
''It's the roof / s'pose it caught
with a spark from one O. them pesly
ingines-bein's 8 everything IS dry as
tinder. Amt nothin' to git scairt
about, cause the winds away from
the house, what little the is. But the
hoss is in the stable, you recollec'."
ooh, myl' Moved beyond her
wont, Mrs. Balloon swept electrically
through the kitchen and out of the
back door. ooh, myl" she repeated
as she came in sight of the blaze,
"Ben Ezra will be burned, won't he ?
What will Mr.. Balcom say? What
can we do?"
''D' know" was the depressing
answer, 'I sent Jane to the corner
a'ter the fremen; but the land knows
how long it'll take to git 'em here.
''Ben Ezra must come out!' Mrs.
Balloon asserted; but there was an
accent of despair in the words, deter
mined as the sentiment was.
Cant break that door down n
that air paytent lock on-Mr. Bal
CONS got the key with him. "
"Mrs. Balcom stared straight be-
fore her like one fascinated into help
lessness. The servants conscience
would not let her rest until she had
kicked the door and thrown herself
against it. 1t did not even tremble.
She mopped her flushed face with her
apron and, shaking her head mourn
fully, drew back beyond the heat oi
the flames that were laying bare the
rafters.
"Ben Ezra must come out !" Mrs
Balcom said again. The horses agon
lied whinny had broken the spell that
was upon her. Her eyes filled at the
sound, and she ran forward aimlessly
and glanced desperately about her.
"Manl You mani" she cried, al
at once. "Come here and get oul
horsei"
Though the stranger had seemed tc
spring from the ground, he showed NJ
alacrity about coming further. HI
took time to survey the landscape be
fore he climbed the fence. He looked
past the women, not at them, al
though he feared possible somewha
behind. And when he had advanced
to where they stood, though ht
abruptly took the manner of haste anC
impatience, his shifty eyes seemed tc
cover every point of the horizon.
"Now, then" he demanded
"where's your ax?"
SIN the stable, suppose, was Mr.
Balcom's detected reply.
"'N' it's paytent lock !" the cool
chimed in, tragically.
"Hey?" The stranger started an(
stared at them suspiciously, but thu
wretchedness in their faces appeared
to reassure him. He turned again to
scan the hill road. Then he ran UP
to the door.
"Huh! That thingl" the womeI
heard him say, contemptuously.
Through the waveless atmosphere o
the August noon the smoke hoatet
lazily off and left the vision unob
scured, and the spiteful snap of fam'
overruled every other noise. Th'
women looked and listened with al
intentness that would have been pain
full had it long endured. From tn,
bag he carried the stranger took
glittering something which he applied
to the lock. Instantaneously, almost
the door swung open. Stripping of
his blouse, the man passed through
and when he reappeared the horse
safely blinded, uninjured, was witt
him. Mrs. Balcom huttered after a
he led the trembling brute to safe
place. Events had shaken her accus
toned calm. For once in her life sh,
could not meet the occasion witt
graceful words.
"Oh, don't know how to than
you !" she faltered, at length. ''Mr
Balcome values Ben Ezra sol Pn
sure hell" Why, here he comes
Oh, James |" she cried, as her husban,
-hatless, coatless and visibly perspir
ing-took the fence at a bound AM
dashed up to the group. "Oh, James
If it hadn't been for this-this homes
workingman, Ben Ezra would hav
been burned"
Mr.. Balcom's eye was on his favor
ite, but his hand went into his pocke
and brought out roll of bills.
"Thank ye, boss, the stranger said
sourly.
"Not-enough I" Mr.. Balloon foun
breath to add, "Call tomorrow at m
office-give you as much againl" Tn
thought of another duty occurred t
him at the same instant. and it mad
him face toward the road. "All right
i Parker /" he called ''No hurry"
Gan rightl" The man who had jus
j come into view moderated his pace
After the first keen, compreSensiv
glance in the direction of the Others
he conspicuously ignored them, an
looking at the stable delayed his az