Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1906-07-19
THE SPARROWS'
HOUSE
BY JOSEPH BAUGHER
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.l

lneTe was dDSOlulely uO TedSOu why
we should move we were living in an
up-to-date house in an excellent neigh
borhood. But Alice, my wife, thought
differently, and as she was bent upon
making a change, | consented on con-
dition that she should do her own
househunting.
"Oh, james," she cried, as she met
me one evening with a five-year lease
in her hand. I've found such charm
ing little home, and in such a delight
full location; it's so cultured and re-
fined, you know. l am so glad on
Henry Jr.s account, for you know that
Henry Jr. is getting on
The youth referred to had not turned
ID months.
81 leased the house from a Miss
Sparrow-such a superior wCman!'
continued my wife; 80 much nicer,
don't you think, than renting from
those horrid agents who will never do
thing for one without making a fuss
about it. Miss Sparrow says she
couldn't think of giving us so charm
ing 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"
offered no objections, but suggested
that she should write to her Uncle
Henry, for whom Henry Jr. was
named, and request him to postpone
his visit until we were thoroughly set
tied in our new home. She indignant
ly refused 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 bach
elor, was strongly prejudiced against
me, because his niece had married me
when he had hoped she would nurse
him in his declining years.
The night of the first of the follow
ing month found us in our new home,
and excepting that a shower of prisms
fell from the parlor chandelier when
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 mid
night. He drew back from me suspi-
ciously when l offered to take his
valise. and glared at me savagely over
his glasses, thoroughly convinced, no
doubt, that to a conspiracy on my part
was due the accident to his train.
My wife, not little hurt when her
ELUSIVE 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
grufI1y inquired whether Henry Jr. had
any intention of absconding before
morning.
Crestfallen, and worn out after a
hard days work we went to led, but
had hardly closed my eyes when l felt
myself suddenly aroused.
James, whispered my wife, in
trembling tones, what is that noise p"
only water running next door,"
replied 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.
Hoping to find the source of the
noise, l ran a lighted wax taper along
the side of the wall; when l reached a
point about three feet from the win
dow | found it as volume of flame
belched forth almost to the opposite
side of the room. | seized a pillow
and called to my wife for a cork.
flake it away for the love OF
heaven!" l yelled, as she handed me
a cork, holding in her other hand a
Sottle. It's gasoline!"
Che gave = piercing Shrek, and
th.Ee- the bottle and cork out into the
=Sii. After knocking over several
things in the medicine chest she gave
! into the aperture of a gas pipe
from which the bracket had been
! purloined by the Sparrows, and which
they had plugged with wax. The pill
low, in the meantime had caught fire,
and while | was trying to smother it
my wife screamed 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 an
nounced himself by a sneeze
Finally | got things quieted l
didn't notice until the next morning
how badly | had been burned. 1t was
after dawn when l was awakened.
james! get up, quick!" called my
wife. The room is filled with smoke
the house is on fire!"
Almost suffocated, jumped out Of
bed, threw open windows, and CROPPED
my way to the kitchen stairs.
"Phyllis!" | yelled at the top of
my voice; lis there fire down there?"
mo, sah." yelled back the cook;
"dar amt no fab; | wish dar war,
but it's all smoke. Drat de ole stobe!