The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-25
orssys mouse IN nere. raern wuns 70
$50 IRA Barry. snppose, first thing

1
| But to this remark Mr.. Cook merel,
replied by the double question, "Who'l
her friend in here and what time doe,
that big stage go inf" He referred te
an old red stageooaoh that had somehow
become the property of the United States
for which the quartermaster at Fort
Russell was accountable, and which,
behind spanking four horse team, was
driven in those days 10 town every
morning with the mail and market bas-
kets and orders of the various house.
holds OF the garrison. In addition it
carried such enlisted men or domestics
as might have permission to 90 to town
In the morning
Don't know who her friend is---tbe
cook probably. As for the stage, that
gets away about 10 or half past 49,"
said Warner. "Why2'
well, l want to know If Miss
o'Meara attempts to go with it." And
Mr.. Cook spoke as though the name of
the lady was sweet to his tongue.
NOW, let's go back to the she'd"
The shed referred to was the rear por-
ton Of the annex, which, thanks par.
TALLY to the efforts Of the soldiers in
one direction. but mainly to those Of
the wind in another, still stood, charred,
blaokened, but only partially consumed.
The fire seemed to have broken out in
the kitchen, possibly about the stove
The interior of this finder box was
mass of flame when Mary opened the
dining room door, and way for the
flames to flash in and lay hold of every.
thing inflammable there. Already they
seemed to have eaten their way through
the roof to the caves Of the main build.
ing and had attacked the projecting
"dormer" Of Nathalie's room. Then,
driven by the fury Of the gale, they had
poured through the house, destroying
all before them, but leaving this melan-
choly wreck behind. Only the inner end
of it, that which adjoined the kitchen,
had been burned, but against that parti.
tion hung the wardrobes of the two do
mestics. Under the gowns and garments
stood their boxes ary's modest, old
fashioned little trunk, Bridget's brace
Of saratogas-and Of these was left little
beyond oharred and water soaked frag-
ments.
And yet SO valuable did Mr.. Cook
consider these relics that one of the first
things he did was to ask that a sentry
be posted there with orders to permit no
one to disturb anything about what was
left of the premises, and 1t was done
forthwith.
Meanwhile Mrs. Barry, kind soul,
though very weary and distressed had
been informed by Mrs. Ray that Bridget
was in the kitchen and begging to be
to see her mistress. And it
wasn't to weep oyer her own losses that
Bridget came, but to deplore the dread
full danger and shock to which Mrs.
Barry, mum, and Miss Baird, too,
mum, had been subjected. All three
ladies were greatly impressed with Miss
O'Meara's expressions Of SORROW and
"She never seemed to think
Of her own losses, )" said Mrs.. Ray later.
"She was sure she had banked the
fire and taken every precaution before
starting for town., added Nathalie.
"She could go down on her knees to
Mr. Maynard, smiled Mra Barry, "fcT
The brave, big, splendid young man
hat he is, and wasn't IL Gods mercy
lie was there9 And was be SO awfully
burned as they said in town.
At this recital Nathalie smiled not at
ii. She listened with trembling hands
md averted face. Then the news had
ot to town, said Mrs Ray after the
aithful cook had been led away for q
youthful Of breakfast in the kitchen.
Why. surely, yesl Mrs. Ray forgot the
elearaph ofaee at the post and the fact
hat the glare Of the Ere could have :
cen seen from Cheyenne and that the
ose and truck companies from the ,
reat quartermaster's depot at Camp {
'arlin, half way to the town, had start !,
d with their heavy apparatus, only to '
30 the flames die away before they had
lade the first half mile over the guile y
vept prairie. 4
And then by 10 o'clock the ladies Of =
le post began locking to the Rays to
iiuAio oieoi DaIs' 1aIIy, uuu VI CUtITb6 l z
.iss Baird could not be omitted then, +
I'd after the first few clangs on the bell 9
I'd made her patient start through :
sryousness Mrs Ray had posted bull
tin on the door: "Please do not ring.
rs. Barry and Miss Baird are doing
Try we'll and trying to Sleep"
The little doctor was striving to get
aynard into doze, but with no re- Y
1t. Anodynes seemed to have no effect uv
8 insisted upon seeing Cook immedi- M n.
oily, or Warner at least, and at last al
ey were sent for, came, Miss Maynard :,
tired below stairs with jealous pang- L
awing at her heart, and there was o II
e minute conference, from which pr
arner issued all Of sudden, with Wis. 81
e excitement in his faco, Cook fol- 70 70
wing. imperturbable as usual, and /"
th went directly back to the ruins,
d there. REINFORCED by two oily Is
,gued associates from kitchens down -
row, was Bridget vainly pleading I
tn the sentry for permission to drag
what was left Of one of her trunks.
she seemed desperately in earnest;
much so that not until Cook and
,rner were actually at the spot did 4
discover their coming. Then she
denly ceased and would have drop. y
away, but Cook most politely babe i