The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-08-23
THE SPARROWS'
HOUSE
BY JOSEPH BAUGHER


dilion that she should do her own
hcnse-hunting.
"Ch, Jamesi" she cried, as she met
me one evening with five-year lease
in her hand. 1--WE found such a charm
ing little home. and in such delight
full location: it's SO cultured and re-
fined, you know. / am SO glad on
Henry Jrs account, for you know that
Henry Jr. is getting on"
The youth referred to had not turned
IA months.
Il leased the house from a Miss
Sparrow-such a superior woman!"
continued my wife; so much nices,
don't you think, than renting from
those horrid agents who Will never do
a thing for one without making fuss
about 1t. Miss Sparrow says she
couldn't think OF giving us so charm
ing little home, but her sister Amy
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 xthat 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 mis- 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 wlfe'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 | offered to take his
valise. 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
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
namesalte. Whereupon he somewhat
grufny Inquired whether Henry Jr. had
any intention of a5sconding before
morning.
Crestfallen, and worn out after q
| hard days work we went to red, but
had hardly closed my eyes when | 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 10
sleep again.
Water next doori Why, James. It's
in this very room. Listen!"
got up and plainly heard the
sound, but couldn't locate 1t.
Hoping to ind the source OF the
noise, ran a lighted wax taper along
the side OF the wall; when | reached 8
point about three feet from the win
dow | found 1t as a volume of flame
| belohed forth almost TO the opposite
side OF the room. l seized pillow
and called to my wife for a cork.
Take 1t away for the love o.
heaven!" | yelled, as she handed m,
cork, holding In her other hand {
bottle. IT'S gasolinel"
She gave a piercing shrek, snt
threw the bottle and cork out into tbs
hall After knocking over severa
things In the medicine chest she gav'
me a rubber stopper. drove 4
into the aperture of gas pip'
from which the bracket had beer
purloined by the Sparrows, and whicl
they had plugged with wax. The pill
low, in the meantime had caught fire
and while | was trying to smother
my wife screamed again, and thi
awoke Henry Jr., who Joined in tn
melee; this brought down my wife
uncle, whom we didn't see until
lighted the gas, although he had an
nouneed himself by snseze.
Finally / got things quieted.
didn't notice until the nsxt mornin
how badly | had been burned. 1t wa
after dawn when l was awakened.
"Jamesi get up, quicbl" called m
wife. The room is filled with smoke
the house is on frel"
Almost sufrocated. l jumped out c
bed, threw open windows, and grope
my way to the kitchen stairs.
"Phyllis!" / yelled at the top {
my voice; lis there fire down there
mo, sab" yelled back the coos
"dar amt no hah; l wish dar wa
but it's all smoke. Drat de ole stobe
1t won't draw. An Mars Jeems, dar
a man heah vile go. an he done tur
de watah of in de alley, kase he sa
de watah rint amt paid, an how
ter git breakfus wifout no fah an D
watah, de good Lord, He only know
We hurriedly dressed. while Henri
J Jr., having awakened, entered into tn
spirit OF the AFFAIR, and seemed to Ell