Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-04-24

shoes making as much noise as the
modern Are engine.
1T is Jan vanderstreet'sw some one
screamed. The place Is doomedr'
On hearing these words Dirk ran
faster than before and outstripped
the crowd. When he reached the
house he found the family coming out,
laden with plumber, and heard Mistress
Vanderstreet exclaim: mo more must
We go back. 1t Is not safe. aud It Is
better to lose ones goods than ones
Iifev'
But my plpes My precious pipesv'
cried old Jan, all his phlegmatic rest
fulness gone. II must get Them
His wife seized him firmly by the
arm.
THAT you shall not do Everything
Is afire. | Will not let you risk your
life for set of worthless pipes"
Worthless pipesw Numbered Jan.
How dare you speak SO? They are a
part of my life. have been collect
ing them all my life long. until now
more than hundred hang In my rack.
And must ! lose them ell because Of
your hard headedness? Let me go,
say; let me go.'
He struggled wildly In her grasp.
but It was In vain. Mistress Wander
street was very strong and nobly
determined woman and held him I'm so
firm a grip he could do naught but
writhe and groan.
Dirk Van Pelt had a great emotion
and reached great determination
with an almost American swiftness.
He knew that the rafters OF the blaz-
Ing house would fall In soon-mlght
tumble In crimson ruin ut any mo-
ment. But not IN vain did he have In
his veins the blood Of the wonderful
race that cut the bikes and drowned
their beloved land rather than yield It
to the invaders.
He went to tank Of water and wet
his coat. Throwing It over his head,
he plunged into the burning house. not
needing the shrill cry Of distress which
issued from the lips Of the trembling
Ankle.
Five minutes Of dreadful suspense
followed. during which the rafters fell
In and sent the sparks flying upward
In a mad shower: Surely no one could
live In such place. Ankle, moaning
piteously. sank to the ground, heed.
less Of the crowd Of spectators, and
burst out into wild weeping.
Suddenly a shout of Joy arrested her
attention, and. sitting up. she saw
through mist OF tears the form Of
Dirk issuing from the burning house.
He staggered like drunken man un-
der the weight of huge rack which
held the precious pipes, not one Of
which was missing.
Straight to the man who had refused
him his daughters hand stumbled
Dirk Van Pelt. Then as old Jan took
the burden from him the young man
fell senseless at his feet.
When he opened his eyes, Jan Van
derstreet was standing by him. tears
streaming down his cheeks. He took
Dirk's hand, saying brokenly: "a
house one can soon acquire. but such
a treasure Of pipes-ah. that takes a
very lifetime to acquire. Such deed
as yours. Dirk. Is worthy Of any re-
ward. What can do TO repay youY
Raising himself on his elbow. Dirk
summoned Ankle, who was lowering
near. Then. with determined glance,
he signiiied to her father what reward
he wished.
$50" said Jan slowly. you still
want Ankle? I have already told you
she was not for you, but-take her.
Dirk Van Pelt. She Is yours. All. what
u CORRECTION OF pipes. what coloring.
What noble bowls and what grand
stems.'
"Ankie Is worth all the pipes that
ever were made or ever will be made"
protested the happy lover, holding her
hand tightly In his own and gazing
adoringly into her tender blue eyes.
Perhaps so. perhaps So" muttered
Jan absently. but such pipes as
mine He turned and summoned a
man to help him carry the rack OF
matchless pipes to a place Of safety
and left the lovers still looking happily
into each others eyes.