Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-02-25

seat of his book, settled his chin in hi
palms. and, gazing serenely upward
observed the phenomenon of red creep
ing up the wavering line of stovepipe.
Miss Molly's pencil dropped from hel
stiffened fingers, and, STOPPING to picl
it up, she spied through crack the
image of Pouley's placid contemplation
beneath her feet. Drawing the con-
gealed muscles of her face TO frown
she opened her lips to issue sharp
summons, when out popped Pouley into
the middle of the room, pointing up
ward and shouting:
Quick! quick! The house done
caught afire!"
The smaller children huddled toward
the door. Some of the older ones
scrambled for their books and hats
Miss Molly stepped swiftly from the
rostrum to Pouley's desk, thence to the
floor.
Ordelia, big Hayes, Thad and Lor
stood beside her. Looking up through
the pipehole in the ceiling, they plainly
saw the danger. A length of the stove.
pipe had settled, leaving an open space
between it and the next length. Swift
flames were pouring into the pipe, striv'
ing toward the draft of the brick chin.
ney above; but the wind, breathing un-
der the caves, blew the fiery column
aside so that the hot flames licked the
roof. The curling shingles were al.
ready smoking; in a moment they
would be afame.
With three bounds Lon was out of the
door. He seized the ak from the wood.
pile, dashed back into the room, and
leaped to Miss Molly's desk.
That's the go! Rip her down! Hi.
big Hayes, catch hold!" shouted Thad,
excitedly.
With a mighty spring Hayes caught
the board that Lon had pried loose, and
both swinging from it, they peeled ii
down, leaving a wide opening in the
ceiling overhead.
'Now, then, up with you and wipe he1
out!" directed Thad, even before thei1
feet had touched the floor.
Ordelia turned upon him. ''Wipe ii
out yourself!" she flashed.
Thad gave her one surprised look
then swung up into the loft. Filing
me something to work with" he shout
Lon ierked off his coat and tossed it
up; then, snatching the bucket from
Miss Molly, he threw the stove door
wide and began TO dash cautious cups
of water upon the kissing fire. Choking
smoke and steam poured into the room,
but the leaping flames died down quick
ly, and the red-hot glow soon began to
fade from the stove and pipe.
'How are you coming on up there?"
coaghed big Hayes, trying to peer up
through the smoke.
''All right-Tve put it out. Look
away there! I'm coming down."
Thad's cowhide shoes appeared, swing
ing out of the smoky atmosphere.
Hold on, there!" shouted Lon. But
his caution was too late. Down pumped
I had with jar that shook the house.
The frail stovepipe ratified to the floor.
I had lost his balance and sprawled upon
the floor, one Of his clumsy legs kicking
out two brick props from the stove.
The end of the stove dropped with
a thud; another moment its entire fiery
contents would have been belched forth
upon Thad's PROSTATE form had not
Lon caught the stove with his bare
hands without seconds hesitation,
and raised it to level.
Ordelia darted for the scattered bricks
and drove them into place, feeling the
" lille that hot rim smoking into Ions
hands, and smelling the singing flesh.
When she sprang to her feet she saw
Tkad leap to Ions support.
'Lor! What did you do that for?"
ne gasped, his lips quivering.
Lon rallied. Didn't promise to get
even with you2" he shouted. Then he
When he came to himself the sullen-
ness that had possessed him for the
past week was no longer i'll his eyes, and
ne could smile, spite of the smarting
wounds.
OrdeIia anointed his blistered hands
vith sweet gum salve, and skillfully
wound them in torn handkerchiefs.
Hayes picked up the fallen pipe. A
moderate fire was awakened in the
stove, and the school resumed their
eats.
Contrary to the expectations of the
school, Lon did not sit beside OrdeIia.
1ut neither did Thad. The two boys,
,nemies that morning, sat side by side,
ooking over the same book, Thad
lushed and ashamed, Lon pale but tri-
for had he not returned evil
With good?
Ions coat had been ruined by the fire,
o Ordelia did not have the pleasure of
sewing the button on; but this was of
% consequence, for during a week of
resolution Lon had learned to
ecite without it.-Youth's COMPANION.