Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-07-19
THE SPARROWS'
 HOUSE
By JOSEPH BAUGHER
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.)

Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.)
 There was absolutely no reason why We should move; we were living in an up-to-date house in an excellent neigh borhood. But Alice, my wife, thought making change, consented on con dition that she should do her own house-hunting. ss
 ] w"Oh, James," she cried, as she met me one evening with 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. am so glad on Henry jr.s account. for you know that Henry Jr. is getting on.'
 The youth referred to had not turned IA months.
 ''I leased the house from a Miss Sparrow-such a superior woman!" continued my wife; so much nicer. don't you think, than renting from those horrid agents who will never do thing for one without making 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"
 I 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 nncle, an asthmatic, wealthy old bach selor, 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 shower of prisms fell from the parlor chandelier when l lighted the gas, the evening had, so far, passed oil 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 I offered to take his valise. and glared at me savagely over his glasses, thoroughly convinced, nc 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 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. Whereupcn he somewhat grufly inquired whether Henry Jr. had any intention of .absconding before morning.
 Crestfallen, and worn out after a hard days work we went to ted, but had hardly closed my eyes when 1 felt myself suddenly aroused.
 James, whispered my wife. in trembling tones, what is that noise?"
 Only water running next door," replied drowsily, and turned over to sleep again.
 e. Water next door! Why, James, it's In this very room. Listen!"
 got up and plainly heard the tound. but couldn't locate 1t
 Hoping to find the source of the noise. ran lighted wax taper along the side of the wall: when reached a point about three feet from the win dow I found it as a volume of flame belched forth almost to the opposite side of the room. I seized a pillow, and called to my wife for a cork.
 Take it away for the love of heaven!" yelled, as she handed me a cork. holding in her other hand 8 bottle. Its gasoline!" She gave a piercing shriek, and threw the bottle and cork out into the |. hall. After knocking over several things in the medicine chest she gave me . rubber stopper. drove it | into the aperture of 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, : iand while was trying to smother it ! my wife screamed again. and this !. 'awoke Henry Jr., who joined in the . melee; this brought flown my wifes . uncle, whom We didn't see until I lighted the gas. although he had an- nounced himself by a sneeze.
 Finally got things quie;ed. T. 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 fre!"
 Almost sufocated. jumped out of bed. threw open windows. and groped my way to the kitchen stairs.
 "Phyl.is:" yelled at the top of my voice: "is there 6 fire down there7"
 "No. sah." yelled back the cook: "ear ain't no fiah; I wish dar war. but it's all smoke. Drat de ole stobe. IL won't draw. An Mars Jeems. dar's a man heah vile go. an he done turn de watah of :n de alley. kase he say de watah rint ain't paid. an how Is ter git breakfus wifout no fah an no watah. de good Lord. He only know"