Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-17

yet, SdlQ MI. I1dIlOWt III d lOHG iIAdl
defied denial.
Nothing but a child" assented his
wife, cheerfully.
There was pause. How old were
you when we were married, MINI"
Twenty. 1t was entirely too young
"I remember" Mr.. Harlow's voice
was reflective, my mother told me
she was married at II and my grand
mother was married at Is; and l had
an aunt who"
IF you remember any more I'll go in
the house!" said his wife, Indignantly.
What is the matter with you, David?
Where have you been this morning?"
We'll, Min, I've something to tell
you. = he stopped, his voice al
tered and his eyes became suddenly
alert. "Hello What's that over there?"
Smoke, isn't it?" she answered, her
gaze following his toward the horizon.
1T seems to me l smell it,"
Looks like a fire, doesn't it?"
"Yes, but 1 don't hear any firebells."
Mr. Harlow rose. "Two-thirds of
our beloved volunteer fire department
are off on a picnic or a procession or
something today I'm going over to
that smoke on the old bicycle and find
out what's the matter
You'd a great deal better stay at
homel" his wife called after him, but
he was gone.
She still sat on the piazza. A few
moments later a rider sped past, and
then another. Then the firebells began
to ring at last-clang! clang! clang,
clang, clang!
The fire was on the outskirts of the
village, in different direction from
that which Mr.. Harlow had taken in
the morning. The smoke rose a black
er and blacker column in the distance,
interspersed with sudden bursts of
flame. The cracking sound of burning
wood, the occasional sound of some
thing falling. and hoarse voices calling
to one another were borne family yet
Enthusiastically upon the air.
"I'm going to the fire!" 1t was Betty,
hat in hand, who had rushed down
stairs breathless. "Come on, Syl! oh,
isn't it exciting? Just look at that
blaze! There go our boys!"
The street was filled with an outpour-
ing of bicycles with their riders, and
with boys and men coming in from the
various games, Herbert in one set, Jack
in another. The village was rapidly
becoming deserted. Mrs. Harlow began
to wish she might go, too, but she
gagged the distance and forbore.
The fire had started in some out
houses, and, helped by sudden breeze,
had leaped merrily over intervening
space toward a large harm that
one end of the field. The barn, which
was new, while piled at one end with
fodder was as yet untenanted by ami
mails, as Mr.. Harlow thankfully dis
covered on reaching the place.
The stir in the village had not ex-
tended to these outlying fields, which
were all deserted, as became a holiday.
woman stood in the doorway of tn
house, watching the blaze. One m9n
was running off, shouting for help, end
another was carrying two buckets
water toward the barn.
He came up to Mr.. Harlow and pu'
the buckets on the ground.
There amt any use in 7rryin
water" he said, mot a mite O. u.s.,
only it seemed sort o. natural to do it
Just look at those flames!"
1.-The engine ought to hurry up If
it's going to do any good" said Mr..
Harlow.
Cant do a particle of good If 1t
does come. There amt any water here
that is not more than a teacup 'ul;
we'll and cistern's dry as a bone"
"The house will not CATCH" said Mr..
Harlow; the wind is the ether way.
You are sure there was no one in the
barn?"
Sure" said the man.
They were gazing at the flames,
which enveloped one end of the struc-
ture. Another moment and there was
a deafening crash through the roar of
the fire; half of the barn had fallen
in, and revealed beyond, high up on one
of the big beams of the rafters, the
white faces and c~ouching forms of
six little children huddled close to.
gether Playing in the loft. they had