The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-08-20

CurHel Oll HIS IlCCi.
Come along, mate" said he;
''tain't no good jawing with him.
We three will arrange little do on
our own account for another night.
And you, Jim Hawel, you 60 back
and sit by the fire along O. Bess."
But, after they had gone little
way, the three stopped again.
1T weren't no good going against
him. said the same man, After
all, he's right to look after the gal.
But that don't matter to US, eh9
Jim amt the man to round on his
mates. What do you say 60 having
the little flareup. after all?'
The bell in the steeple of the
church had just struck II, when in
the darkness Of night Pickering,
uncertain light sprang up on hill a
mile outside the town. Soon after
the electric bell in the fire station
connected by wire with Col. Traite>s
house rang out the alarm, and few
seconds afterward the quiet that had
settled on the little town was eX-
changed for a noisy hubbub as the
shout went around: "Hopsley
Grange is on fire! !'' For, undetected
by dog or man, the three plotters had
entered the grounds, gained the sta
Bile, carefully removed shutter, and
silently poured the oil they carried
over the straw that was packed
within right up to the very windows.
Then the man who carried the
struck whole handful on
the box and hurled them upon the
saturated straw. Instantly q blaze
sprang to the roof, and by the time
the three had gained the road out
sido the grounds the stable was
alight from end to end
Promptly as the engine had turned
out, and eagerly as the driver had
urged his horses along the country
road, the Grange was half consumed
when the firemen first arrived
Mounted on wheels and on foot,
the people were arriving in hundreds,
gazing awestricken at the blazing
pile, or forming long lines to hand up
buckets Of water.
Col. Traite, in bed and asleep when
the fire reached the house, had been
almost sulfocated before he was dis
covered, and being carried out in an
condition, was just now
The fire escapes, slower than the
engine, had arrived, when turning to
the crowd of frightened, half clothed
the chief of the gremen
asked:
Are you all here? Is any one left
in the Duilding?'
Col. Traitc, returning to his senses,
heard the words
My daughter!' he gasped. us
she out?'
At that moment a window, high
above the flames, was thrown Violent
" open, and with q scream for help
Il white robed figure leaned far out,
its arms extended toward the crowd
below.
"Ainyl" screamed the father as he
saw her, running toward the building
ITS if to catch her if she fell.
"Don't jump!" shouted the fire
man above the roaring OF the flames.
"Do YOU see the escape coming yet?'
he asked,
Far down the road, at the bottom
of the hill, that was Illuminated by
the light of the fire. the tall red
ladder was to be observed approach
ing slowly. The fireman glanced up
ut the window where stood the figure
of the girl. behind which dull,
murky light had now began to glow.
1T will he too late" said he.
And by the staircase it is impossi-
bic TO reach her"
Then Col. Traite turned in his
despair to the crowd behind him, and
in loud voice ne cried:
"a hundred pounds to the
He stopped suddenly. Some one
had seized his arm,
LOOK" they cried.
And Il tremendous shout burst
from the excited crowd as. at that
topu!ost window, the figure of man
and Il blanket was thrown
around the form Of the girl whose
doom Srpmo1 sealed
4 moment this man looked down
as if mcditating what to do and then,
catching the girl in his arms, he dis
appeared.
Its Jimmy Hawel!' exclaimed
some one.
Into the hall of the burning build
ing the iremen crowded, mounting
the stairs rs far as the contlagration
would allow.
There WAS crash, burst Of flame
and smoke. and Il whole flight above
collapsed, hurling Jim Hawel and
his burden onto the bottom landing.
Her hair singed, the blanket that
EMBODIED her already smoldering,
Amy Traite scrambled readily to her
feet. but her rcscuer did not rise.
Quickly they carried him out to
the fresh air and tore off his burning
Into waSonettc that
was handy he was trund!ed, Colonel
rraitc seized the reins, and. with
Amy, wrapped in many coats, sitting
behind him. raced back to the town.
Into q bedroom in the best hotel
Jim WIS carried amt medical aid i'm
summoned. Sister Bess
was also fetched to tend her nero
brother.
Next morning the patient was so
far recovered as to be able, while Y
ing in bed, TO hold an informal re-
ception, and wheeled TO the window
to bow his head in response to the
Of the people assembled out