The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-28
THE sPARRows' HOUSE.
RY JosEPH BAUGHER.


 {Copyright. 1906, by Joseph B, Bowies.l
 There was absolutely.no reason why we should move: we were living m an up- to- date house in an excellent neigh borhood. But Alice. my wife. thought differently, and as she was bent upon making change. I consented on con tIition that she should do her own .house-hunting.
 Oh Jamesi' she cried, as she met me one evening. with five-year lease in her harr I've found such charm ing little home, and in such delight ful location: it's so cultured and re- fined, you know am so glad on Henry Jr's account. for you know that Henry Jr. is getting on."
 The you h referred to had not turn- ed fourteen moIths.
 T leased the house from MISS Sparrow--such a superior women! continued my wife; 'so much nicer don't you think. than renting' from those horrid agents who will never do a thing for one without making fuss about it. Miss Sparrow says she couldn't think ce Tiving us so charming a little home, but her sister Amy is to be married next month. poor girl! and she, Miss Sparrow, of course, doesn't care to live alone"
 I offer no objections, but suggested that se should write to her Uncle Henry. for nam Henry Jr. was named and request him to postpone his visit until we were thoroughly settled in our new home She indignantly refus- ed. saying that her uncle had grown very irritable and suspicious of late and he might think we didn't want him, and that she wasn't going to have Henry Jr's prospects ruined by any such insane notions. My wife's uncle, an asthmatic, wealthy old bachelor was strongly prejudiced against me, because his niece had married me when he had hoped she would nurse nm III his declining years.
 The night of the first of the follow ing month found us in our new home and excepting that a shower or prisms fcII from the parlor chandelier when l lighted the gas, the evening had, so far, passed off without incident.
 My wife's uncle arrived in the worst of humors; his train, being three hours late, didn't pull in until almost mia night. IIe drew back from me suspic- fousIy when I offered to take his va lise, and glared at me savagely over his glasses, thoroughly convinced. no doubt, that to conspiracy on my part was due the accident to his train
 My wife. not little hurt when her effusive greeting met with a rebuff said she was sorry little Henry had gone to bed, for she would so like to have her uncle Henry see his little namesake whereupon he somewhat grufiy inquired whether Henry Jr had any intention of abscounding before morning.
 Crestfallen. and worn out after hard days work we went to bed, but had hardly closed my eyes when l felt myself suddenly aroused
 James" whispered my wife in trembling tones. whats is that noiseT'
 ''Only wat sr running next door, re- piled drowsily, and turned over to sleep again.
 water next door, Why, James. it's in this very room. Listen.
 got up and plainly heard the sound but couldn't locate it.
 noise, ran a lighted wax taper ong the side of the wall; when I reached a point about three feet from the win dow I found 1t as volume of flame belched forth almost to the opposite side f the room. I seized pillow. and called to my wife for cork.
 Take it away for the love of heav- en!' yelled, as she handed me a cork. holding in her other hand bottle. :. Its gasoliner'
 She gave piercing shriek, and threw the bottle and cork out into the hall. After knocking over several things in the medicine chest she gave me rub Der stopper. I drove it into the aper- ture of a gas pipe from which the bracket had been purloined by the Sparrows. and which they had plugged with wax. The pillow, in the mean time had caught fire, and while was trying to smother 1t my wife scream ed again and this awoke Henry Jr., who joined in the melee; this brought down my wife's uncle, whom we didn't see until lighted the gas, although he had announced himself by sneeze
 lily I got things quieted. I didn't notice until the next morning how badly I had been burned. It was after dawn when I was awakened.
 James! get up. quick" called my wife. The room is filled with smoke the house is on fire!'
 Almost suffocated. I jumped out of bed, threw open windows, and groped my way to the kitchen stairs.
 'Phyllis!" I shouted at the top Of my voice; lis there a fire down there?'
 "No. sah," yelled back the cook; "dar ain't no fiah; wish dar war, but it's all smoke. Drat de ole stobe! It won't draw. An Mars Jeems, dar's a man heah vile 'go. an he done turn de wat