The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-11-11

ions on his would be benefactors.
"In Gods name. Lanier," almost
vailed the colonel as at last that young
entleman. likewise singed and scorch-
d and dripping. yet preternaturally
DOL for one just out of blazing hell,
ound his feet ard faced his command
Fin Gods name, why didn't you
Jump when they told you? There was
lothing but snowdrifts below"
"There was colonel coming" said
Bob, with grin Of mingled anguish
Ind satisfaction. "who held that sort
If thing to be breach Of arrest"
AS to the origin Of the fire, Bob La
1ier merely said that he had turned
the lights low in the sitting roora and,
obedient to "Shoe's" orders. had gone
up to his roost, too wrathful and amaz-
ed over what had occurred even to
tsink of sleep-to think, in fact, Of
anything but the coloners words. So
absorbed was he as he slowly I'M
dressed he never noted the sounds from
below until his room of a sudden
bCChitu IlCu Will 5uuOhC, anu, luIOW-
ing open the door, he was amazed to
find the hallway ablaze, the stairs i'm
passable. Running to his dormer win
dow, he yelled fire at the top of his
voice. Sentry No. 8 heard and came
running down the back fence, saw the
peril, let drive shot and gave yell
that reused every one at the hospital,
poor Rafferty,, half crazed, half dressed.
coming leaping along among the first.
And there at his back window, chok-
ing with smoke and tossing out cloth
ing and other belongings, stood Mr..
Lanier. Some men went searching for
ladders up the line of back yards, the
post hook and ladder truck being. Of
course, on the far side of the gar
rison. There being no extension and
sheds to this little box. as to the lar
ger quarters up the line. other men be-
gan shouting and Lieutenant Grayson
imploring Mr.. Lanier to jump, for al
ready the flames had burst through
the windows below. Then came the
episode the regiment laughed over,
swore over. talked over, many long
year thereafter. To Grayson's appeal
Bob's only answer was calm and de-
liberate:
"Give my compliments to the colo
mel, will you. and tell him that, my
quarters being all ablaze, I'd like an
extension Of arrestT'
Then Sumter and Stannard came in,
and ordered him down, and
Blake and Curbit and the rest of the
card party came tearing after them
and berated him for an absurdity and
lmplored him not to be an ass. And
then q bright tongue of flame licked
In through the transom behind him,
and the door panels burst from the
blazed with fire, and then
went up the cry from that agonized
girl. at sound of which Lanier start
ed and strove to climb to the little
window sill, with lurid sheet tapping
down about his head, and then brace
Of young Irishmen, Cassidy foremost.
came scrambling up human pyramid
and singeing below them.
They reached the blazing caves and
burst through the fringe of flame.
dragging Bob forth and on to the
edge and then tottered all together
INTO that blessed mound Of snow be-
meath, fast melting in the glare of that
fiery furnace.
And thus were we brought to the
of Thursday. the sixth since
he eventful night when Miriam Ar
1old's shrek had alarmed the gar
-ison; Miriam, whose voice had now
been heard a second time, appraised in
frantic dread and appeal. but this !
line for the young soldier who on the |
previous Friday night, forgetful Of his |
arrest. had rushed forth at her cry.
out this night had to be dragged; |
Miriam, who now lay sick from maid |
,nly shame that in one wild appeal to |
save her lover she had so betrayed |
herself.
With Thursday noon came resump- |
ion of telegraphic communication |
Ind the long stalled railway trains |
rom east and west. With Thursday |
afternoon came wires from Arnold, |
he father, begging to know had his |
laughter started, and back went the |
electric message that she neither had |
Tor could nor would for week, "full |
letails by post" With Thursday |
evening came stacks of belated let
ers, with whole bales of newspa-
,ers." said the stage driver, to fol-
ow, and with Thursday midnight, long |
lfter every one had gone to bed, there
anne a tapping at Major STANDARDS
torm door and presently fumbling at
he bell knob, changing of the ben.
what nowT thought the sleepy |
major as he scuttled downstairs in
clippers and dressing gown.
at is Mayhem, SIR" said a solemn
'oice. 1--WE come not hoping, only
'raying, I may find my daughter
lere."
Good God!' said Stannard. "Come
a." And he led forthwith his aged and
comrade within doors, seat
d him by the still glowing stove in the
ront room and struck light. In less
han minute Mrs. Stannard, too, had
oined them, her kind blue eyes filed
ia Y.ft i