The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-06-04

sational in appearance, was demoniac
in effect, levying toll on human lives,
causing fires and general damages TO
property, accounts OF which filed
many columns of the newspapers next
morning. This second outburst was
succeeded by heavy and continuous
rain. At the hour when the theaters
emptied their diminishing audiences
into the streets London wore its nor
NAL rain sodden aspect 1t was not
until the following day that people
fully understood the magnitude and
terrifying results of the later display.
About quarter TO s, while the first
storm was at its height. carriage and
pair dashed into a fashionable West
End square and pulled mp outside a
mansion cast in the stereotyped mold
of the early Victorian period. The
horses, overfed and underworked had
been rendered frantic by the drive
through the park from the farther
west. Fortunately. they knew this
halting place, or the coachman would
never have succeeded In stopping
them. AS it was, they sweated white
to the occupants of the carriage that
he could not attend to the door, ran
to their heads after giving a vigorous
tug at the house bell.
4 boy, tall and thin, and scantily at
tired for such weather, who had taken
shelter In the dark portico of the man.
sion, ran forward to offer his services
at the carriage door. A bundle of
evening papers. covered with a piece
of sacking somewhat impeded the use
of his left hand, and, as 1t happened,
In his right he held a large bun on
which he had just commenced TO dine
Before he could turn the handle the
carriage door opened from the inside
A man sprang out.
Get out of the way" he said i'm
patiently, and the newsboy obeyed.
glad that he had not followed his first
impulse and flung away the bun.
A vivid flash of lightning made the
horses rear and plunge.
Look sharp, Eff cried the stranger
In no more cordial tone. Gather your
wraps and jump out. On a night like
this these nervous brutes"-
A peal Of thunder that ratified the
windows interrupted him. The two
animals reared and backed with one
accord. The plucky footman, hanging
on to the crossbars of the bits, was
lifted OFF his feet and banged violently
against the pole. He was forced to let
so and fell, staggering backward some
yards before be dropped. There was
a smash of iron and wood, and the
near hind wheel of the carriage jam.
med against the curb. A slight scream
came from the interior. Certain that
the vehicle would turn over instantly.
the man who had alighted slammed the
door and sprang clear. In doing so he
| tripped over the newsboy and fell
heavily on the pavement The boy,
quicker to note that the breaking of
the pole had given momentary res
/ pite, rushed into the roadway throw.
ing away both precious bun and still
more precious stock Of unsold papers,
He wrenched the other door open
and shouted:
This way, madam. Quick"
Madam" was quick. She sprang
right into his arms and proved to be q
girl Of twelve or thereabouts, dressed
all in white and wrapped in an ermine
cloak
Over went the carriage with q fear,
full crash The coachman managed to
jump from the box into the roadway
He retained the reins and whip in his
grasp and now, losing his temper, lash.
ed the struggling horses savagely. This
cOwed them, and they ceased their an
tics.
The boy and the girl found them
selves standing on the sidewalk close
to the ruined vehicle
you have saved my lifew said the
| girl sweetly and without any trace OIL
the nervousness which might naturally
be expected after such narrow escape
from a serious accident.
The boy noted that her eyes were
large and blue, that she wore a grea
shining ornament in her hair and tha
she appeared to be dressed in some
what fanciful manner, though the biz
cloak she wore concealed the details.
The door Of the mansion opened, anC
servants came running out.
Suddenly the boy received a vlolen
blow on the side Of the head
"Confound your shouted the maj
who had fallen on the pavement, "wh,
didn't you get out of the way when
told your
The boy, astounded by such recog
milton of his timely help. made no re
ply. but the girl protested vehemently
''Oh, uncle" she cried, why did yol
strike him? He got me out Of th
carriage just before it turned over
He did, indeedr'
Another vivid flash of lightning Il
lumined the scene. 1t lit up the groul
with startling brilliancy. The boy
still somewhat shaken by the viciou
blow, was nevertheless able to Sc
clearly the pale, handsome, but dissi
pated features. of his enraged assai
ant, whose evening dress and immacu