News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1905-05-31

ing Jack backward and SCATTERING some
panes of glass. The spectators rushed
10 the door and got into the yard with
put being hurt, and Jack, throwing
open the window, made his escape
that way, half choked with a COM
pound of villainous smells.
Meanwhile the tablecloth had caught
fre, which extended to the curtains,
The mantelpiece and the woodwork of
the window, and in an incredibly short
space the study was on fire. The wind
was blowing strongly at the time, and
dense clouds of smoke arose, mingled
with tongues of fire.
At the sound of the explosion Mr..
Mole rushed out of the schoolroom
and met Harvey, breathless with eX-
element and frightened out of his
wits.
whats the matter?" asked the SEN
Tor master.
"Harkaways blown US up, sir.
Lookr replied Harvey, pointing to the
smoke and flames issuing from the
study.
Rushing to the bellrope, Mr.. Mole
pulled it violently, shouting Fire, fire,
fire. as if he were mad.
The schoolyard was soon full of
men, women and boys, the women
screaming and the boys shouting. Mr..
Crawcour and his assistant masters
lost their heads and did not know
what to do.
run for the engines" said Mr. Craw-
cour.
Nobody stirred.
Pump on it," suggested Mr.. Mole.
Jack had climbed up into a tree to
enjoy the sight without interruption.
Suddenly Mrs. Crawcour made her
appearance in the crowd and walked to
where the masters were standing panic
stricken.
"Why do you not do something's" she
exclaimed. Get buckets and form a
chain, SO that you can throw the water
on the burning building. Do you not
see that if the conflagration is not
checked it will soon extend to the
school and the whole building will be
enveloped in flames"
LACSIleul, LILY uedI. MOlc, ulIple-
ton, Stonor, my DEAR good fellows, run
to the stable for buckets" said Mr..
Crawcour, with tears in his eyes. Il
will place the boys in two chains to
pass the buckets backward and for
ward, and do the pumping myself. For
heavens sake, bestir yourself! Save
me! Save my schoolw
Buckets were procured, double chain
was formed and the principal pumped
away with a will, while Mr.. Mole was
made chief fireman and, standing on a
pair of steps, soon began to make an
impression on the fire.
Jack walked into the crowd and
found out Harvey, who was as black as
a sweep through helping Mr.. Mole and
had fallen out of service for a time
owing to fatigue.
81 say, Dick" exclaimed Jack, "here's
a beastly sell. l thought we should
have good fare up"
''Im glad the fires going out" re-
piled Harvey. "Look at the damage"
what does that matter? Crawcour's
insured, and any damage above the in
surance my guy would have made up.
I took the trouble to get nearly blown
out of the window and have my curly
locks singed, and then they go and put
1t out. l never was so sold"
In less than an hour the fire was got
under, and nothing Of it remained but
the smoking ruins of Jacks study and
the one adjoining.
A strict investigation was made into
the cause of the fire, but as it was
purely an accident Mr.. Crawcour sharp
ly reprimanded Jack and put a stop to
any further fireworks. Still he was
very much annoyed and drove over to
Willow Copse Hall the next day to see
Mr.. Bedington, whom he intended to
ask for a check for the damage, as the }
insurance did not cover the studies.
which had been built since he effected
it.
Mr.. Crawcour soon told what had
Certainly you shall be paid for any
loss my son has put you to-" said Mr..
Bedington. 81 will send a competent |
surveyor to act with one appointed by
yourself to estimate the extent of the
damage"
II fear" remarked Mrs. Bedington,
"that John is irrepressible. He is al
ways doing something"
always. ma'am," replied Mr.. Craw-
cour, "and yet can't help liking the
lad"
'I'll tell you what it is, Crawcour,"
said Mr.. Bedington. 81 shall have to |
send him to sea just to knock some of |
the nonsense out of him. know what |
the sea is. The life is hard, and a boy |
gets more kicks than halfpence."
"Jack will grow out of his bad hab- |
It's" said Mrs Bedington.
at doesn't look like it,
'"The sea-" observed Mr.. Crawcour,
sis all very well in its way. l should |
be sorry to part with Jack, but when
it comes to setting the school on fire, |
why, you know, one must draw a line |
and much as like the lad |
and esteem you, sir, l think l should
be better off if he did go to sea-"
"Thank you for being candid" re-
nlied Mr. Rpdinuton with laugh,