The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-05
The Globes Daily Short Story

to work, as Mr.. and Mrs. Blodgett had
gone to the train to meet the artists
The next half hour saw six of the So
called leisure class work like Troians
Down in the coal hole Jack Harper, the
banker, shoveled coal like mad into the
blazing furnaces His one idea was to
burn ton or so and warm up the
church in half an hour.
ABOVE him tho girls were tearing
around hourishing feather busters and
turning down the cushions in the pews.
while the screen was going AID In reck-
less haste. Everyone was breathless. for
people were beginning to come and the
cnurch was as frigid as a tomb, and So
full of dust, one could hardly see across
the aisle.
Florence was rushing through the back
hall with an armful of linen covers. TAX
en- from The pulpit chairs, when lack
sprang up from the cellar stairs perspir
ing and sooty almost past recognition
man who was annoyed by a wrinkle in
his clothes or q speck on his linen and
she saw him so. They laughed about that
many times later on when there was
time to think of such things All he
thought then was just what he said.
FLORENCE. that fire is getting beyond
my control. The insurance policies,
Where are they? Get out If she catches
before l get back!' and out he flew into
the wintry night in his shirt sleeves
dripping with perspration.
Jack, your coat" shouted Florence
after him, but he was across the street
and darting through Mr.. Roberts yard
Grabbing two wraps near at hand she
followed. but she did not catch up with
MIN until he was pounding on the door
OF the First National bank. She was
GREATNESS and speeches. with her long
run and held out her golf cape to him
Astonished, he gaspef:
florence my darling put those things
on. What did you do this for?" And as
he wrapped them around her Wilson. the
janitor. unbolted the door Hardly wait
ing to look at him he shouted as he and
Florence started back.
Come as fast as you can to the
church! l built fire and can't check
it! Don't lose q minute
Down the street the three ran ana
not word was spoken. There was an
odor of burning pine when they entered
the rear door of the church and the air
seemed heavy and oppressive
Jack and his janitOr dashed downstairs
and the skillfui Stoker soon checked the
demon that would have destroyed the
building in fifteen minutes more The
beams all around were smoking, and
Wilson staid there during the evening
pouring water over the suspicious'y warm
places.
The throngs in the auditorium above
little dreamed what manner of furnace
they were sitting over, and 1t was DEM
onStrated to Peter Birmingham that 1t
need not take six hours to heat up the
church
To tell the truth, Peter was trifie Gis-
appointed with the results.
AS the strains of Mr.. Godowskys
opening solo fioated In from the audi
torium beyond, Jack spoke.
"You didn't answer my question over'
at the bank this evening" Florence
looked up with puzzled expression, and
said: Question! What question:
81 asked why you chased me with a
wrap this freezing cold night three blocks
without one yourself?" And he looked at
her straight and steady. for he felt his
ground firmly beneath him.
For some seconds she evaded that
gaze, but finally when she turned and
looked into the eyes that were fixed
upon hers he saw the answer, and that
is why I think Lester Morgan would
have staid at home If he had known.
One thousand dollars went into tho
treasury as result of that nights work.
and Peter Birmingham was sent on his
way with the recommendation of being
an honest man, but with no voucher for
his common sense.
Jack Harper now thinks he will do
every thing according TO the rules and
regulations and he will ask Lester Nor
gan for q written order for the use OF
the church on very eventful n ght In
the fell. And it is believed likely that
the new janitor Will fire up in time.