Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-12-17

E:IAwAJ
AIsE. TON STAGGERED 1ERoUoH SMOKE
AND FLAKa
went inside. The crouching figure on
the timber was not so entertaining as
they had Anticipated.
After q time Miser Tom rose and
went in TO pick up his things, an old
pair Of shoes and an extra shirt and d
coa and battered hat that bad be-
longed to bis father.
He would Not coLne down to supper.
When he paupers went upstairs they
found hin in bed, With his head under
the clothes.
Some time in the night the inmates
Of the garnet were awakened by a cry
Of fire, The con was brilliantly
illuminated, and outside they could
hear the cracking Of flames. After q
moment there was another cry Of The
barn, the barn"
Miser Tom sprang up with an ex
clamation of horror. When the 9th.
ers reached the open air they saw him
rushing into the burning building.
Stop i'm. some Of YOU cried the
oyerseer eXcitcdly. ''Th' barns ready
to fall
But it vas too late, and they gazed
at each other with whitening faces.
"Well, $ longs his money d got t.
burn | guess he'd rrther burn with
it," said one Old man philosophically.
One, three, five minutes passed; then
Nlser Tom came staggering through
the smoke and flames, his hair and
clothing burned and his face black
and livid. But in his hand was a long
tin box.
Here, take it, quick" he called to
the overseer as he tossed rather than
handed hinl the box. Keep it till git
back Don't let nobody tech 1t. Little
lame Billy's In tn barn. | seed him.
He must "a slep' thar And before
any one thought to prevent him he was
back in the midst Of the fame and
smoke.
They were all silent now, listening
to the fierce cracking and watching
the flames as they crept up the roof
and along the rafters. Now and then
they heard the crash OF a timber as
it fell into the fiery depths Of the
barn. Five. ten minutes passed; then
they saw a movement near the door.
and a moment later a figure staggered
out, fell and tried to crawl toward
them.
There was a great shout. and the
oyerseer sprang forward and caught
the figure in his arm. 1t was the lame
boy.
Where's old Tomw the overseer
asked as soon as the boy could speak.
Billy pointed to the barn.
"He brung me-downstairs,'' he gasp
ed, "fur's tn door, an then he fell an
hollered fer me t ~hurry-fas' as ever I
could-an' | did"
The overseer made a movement as
though he would enter the barn, but at
that moment there was a warning
shout from the paupers, and as he
sprang back the great building fell
with a resounding crash. AS the flames
shot up he took the lame boy In his
arms and moved toward the house.
NC use my waitin' here any long
err" he said hoarsely.
An hour later they were all gathered
in the great kitchen OF the almshouse.
The tin box was On the table.
Nights well open it an see what tn
ole man had" some one suggested.
"'Twon't do him any harm now"
The overseer did not answer, but he
took up the box and began to unwind
the long string that fastened it. AS he
raised the cover a curious smile cross
ed his face.
There's Miser Toms fortune" he
said grimly as he poured the contents
upon the table.
The paupers crowded forward and
then looked at each other in dismay.
"a han'ful o big coppers an an old
fashion spellin' book" grumbled one.
"Mlser Tom was a bigger fool n /
thought"
h oyerseer counted the coins slow
ly. When he reached fifty-two he stop
ped.
"Fifty-twoscs cents an tn old book"
he said quietly. Not IL very big for
tune. but IT meant q good deal t. old
Tom. guess wen lot BAly have 1t T.
REMAINDER Hin By. New ~ Of yen -
hack T bsA."
LaN