The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-10-07

thing before you smelIed smoke
asked the captain of the patrol, speak
ing for the first time. He was a quie
man, slow to arrive at an idea. but
had worked with him on several case.
and had been struck with his fairnes!
| of mind.
. i was in the study, the room be
low this, and do recall hearing, u
the sensation of hearing, something
like fall up here 1t attracted my
attention, because the chamber had
been unoccupied, and | was alone il
the house."
"'There has been fall, and likely
to be another soon!' he said, looking
up.
"A piece of plaster ceiling, perhaps
yard square, had fallen, and the
fragments were scattered over the
burned place, where also stood the
charred pieces of a small lamp stand,
the half melted remains of a lamp
and metal match safe. The captain
Of the patrol picked up the latter and
looked at it attentively.
Where did that usually stand p
he asked, pointing to the lamp sup
port. i" About where the legs now
rest l pointed to the spot, three or
four feet away from the burned spo
in the floor.
''The captain stood over the tripod
OF the lamp stand. Looking up, he
was just under the edge of the fallen
plaster. He was silent, for several
minutes turning the match safe over
and over in his hands. The fire had
burned away the gliding. and left
only the dull gray terne.plate, with
here and there splash and spelter.
One of the men who had been sent
to examine the house came and re
ported that everything was closed
undisturbed; doors locked, and win
dows bolted, and from cellar to gar
ret no trace of enhance. The inspec
tor asked few questions, but he eli
cited no new information. The cap
.ain of the patrol still holding the
match safe, did not seem to be aware
of what was going on.
"'Well, Jake said the inspector.
ARE you going to stand there all
night7 l guess we might as we'll be
moving
But have you no theory, have you
found no clew as to the cause of the
tire?' l asked.
"The inspector looked at me keen
ly. | sat on bed, whose dimity
freshness had been sadly marred by
fire and smoke, and no doubt present
ed a sorry spectacle. The fight with
the flames had been a harder one
than 1 realized. My face and hands
were badly blistered; beard and hair
schorched, and the study gown [ wore
half burned off me, and l could hard
Iy see, for the tears that heat and
smoke had started in my eyes.
Paying no attention to my question
he asked: "'Who is your family
physician?'
"'No matter who,' 1 said. what
want to know is about this fire. He
turned and nodded his head to the
policeman, who left the room, and
heard him go down stairs. l insisted.
Now, Mason, want your candid
opinion on this affair. For myself,
I'll confess I'm puzzled"
Don't you think he rejoined
sharply, the less you say about it the
better?'
"'WhatvI exclaimed, looking up as
Indignantly as my weeping eyes would
permit. You think l did it, and eau
ton me not to talk about it 1 must
say, Lige Mnson, that you have gal
enough for a Dozen l was hot.
There's no use mincing matters
judge. So FAR as appears the house
was either struck by lightning or sci
afire by some one on the inside. You
can draw your own conclusion"
"' Yon had better be careful how
you retailt yours retorted anSrily
There, there, gentleman inter
posed the captain of the patrol, paciti
c;.lly; before you annihilate each othel
suppose you both listen to me awhile
Sit down, Judge; you're not fit to bt
on your teet You had hard fgh
of it. If the insurance company were
my way of thinking they'd give you
premium. You must have saved then
close to S50.000.'
What are you talking al cut
Jaker asked the inspector in aston
ment.
Never mind, Mason. You're
pretty good officer, but just you stel
out of the way minute, please, 81
the Judge can see' Mason did as re
guested. Now continued the cap
tain, as he set up the tripod of th'
lamp, 'as l understand, this stoo,
about herea'
81 nodded affirm atively.
:" ith q lamp on it7' He put tn,
broken lamp in place. 1 nodded
again.
"'And beside the lamp was thi
toy filled with matches?'
Another ned.
Now, this confirms my theory
he said gsyly. MIR. Inspector. yo1
will observe that the matches in thi
safe are put in solid, fire end uI
Now, for my explanation: Here sa
the table; here was the lamp; her
the matches, fuse end up. On tn
r floor thick Administer carpet witt
paded paper underneath. Above
the water had dripped for days
through leaky pipe, on one SPOT il
!. the plasterlng. 1t percolated throug
it, ioosened it from the lath, it sag