St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-09-13

as Pauls party were getting worst
ed. A few shots, then breaking
and the two sides separated.
From among the strikers came men
bearing body, and, in the moment
that they laid it on the grass, before
the two sides closed again with
common interest, we saw the face of
him who would have taken Paul's
life.
We joined the crowd, where all
were saying "He is dead" Paul
Stowe was on the ground beside him
calling for Comte Heber, who knew
something Of surgery.
Mr.. Heber knelt too, and said that
the man was not dead, and that if
the bullet were removed at once he
had a chance. Bnt there were no in
struments. Then simultaneously he
and Paul remembered that, by
strange chance he had left his own
case in Paul's safe week ago, when
he extracted bullet from miner
who accidently had shot himself.
This Comte Heber was big, quiet
man of interesting face, whom Teddy
Farrel had picked up somewhere.
He was not a protesting surgeon,
but naturally one, and had studied,
he said, to take his mind, and prac-
ticed when it helped a body too poor
for any other help.
But the safe was in the office base.
ment, and the fire had spread to the
office roof and through the windows
broken by the conflict.
The crowd began to understand,
and looked at each other and at
their fire. Everything burned like
finder, even the dried, trampled
grass, wherever the sparks fell.
Paul Stowe slowly drew his keys
from pocket.
"Well, l will go for your case" he
said slowly, and not at all as they
say such things on the stage.
Comte Heber glanced up a moment
from the man he was tending and
looked at Paul with the sweetest
smile ever saw on mans face
then went on loosening the strikers
red shirt.
Babs and Teddy Farrell had joined
Paul, but the three stopped short
when the revolver dropped from the
UNCONSCIOUS mans shirt.
Don't go, boy" said Teddy Far
rell, impulsively, then blushed.
Not the danger, but it is a
horrible death" Paul gave his in
stinctive shudder, characteristic
whenever snakes or anything creepy
were mentioned) "for the chance Of
his life, which is not worth yours.
"He has family to suffer by his
death, and have not, said Paul in
the same cold tone, again starting
for the Office, with Babs and Wild
Teddy after him.
ut is no use, boys" said Paul. 81
am the only one who knows the place
and the lock. If any one can succeed
can, but it is foolhardy for you
Don't come. 1t may be the last
shall ever ask OF you"
They stood silent. A crash. and
one end of the building sank, flames
rolling and curling up like waves o.
the sea. Paul blanched as white as
his suit.
I'VE are losing time, and he passed
on; and was proud to be one tc
whom he gave his clammy hand be
fore entering. was never inside o
the office, but from its size | tried tc
picture the distance across the floor
the number of stairs to the little base
ment, and to take every step with
him, while my eyes measured the en-
croaching flames.
lust as, mentally, | had unlocked
and was feeling the dark inside of the
safe, the frame of the root cracked
swayed and caved to the floor, car
ried that through and cloud o
smoke and fire rushed over the base
ment.
But from somewhere appeared {
figure coming toward us with ia
miliar lope, but with a blackenee
face and "mess of a suit" that will
difficulty were reconciled with TIT
immaculate Paul Stowe. And in hi
left hand he brought the surgeons
case.
never heard anything better thar
the cry that rose from everyone Their
but the still man on the grass.