The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1913-09-18

wouia De put out before 1t spread to
the uninsured portion. across the
room. +
His heart burned with bitter anger.
Well. he would not put out the blaze.
Let the factory burn; he would give
evidence afterward that would send
Ep to the penltentiary.
He left the lighted cigarette where
1t lay. put on his hat and coat. and
started home. He had gone about
three blocks when suddenly q thought
gripped his heart with horror.
Maria was working overtime in the
factory. She would bs back that
night-perhaps shs was back now,
He suspected that her going away was
only q pretense. Perhaps abe had
never left the premises.
He ran back. painting. and. a. he
turned the corner. he saw . tiny dick,
er Of light high up inside the factory:
then q thin wisp OF smoke. 1t wa
dark and the street vas empty. No,
body would notice the fire until 1t got
beyond control. And Maria sewed
behind the Office partition: she would
see nothing until the flames had caught
the woodwork and blocked the exit.
He dashed into the building and ran
breathlessly up the eve flights OF
stairs. He burst open. the door.
Thank heaven. no harm was done.
The fire vas still only a tiny thing:
1t had hardly spread beyond the waste
basket and was only beginning to lick
at the wooden partition. And Maria
was not there. He remembered now
that she had told him she was going
to stay with a relative who was sick
that evening.
All at once he saw his opportunity.
He would repay Ep for his trickery
in a double sense. Beside the door.
placed there for the very purpose
which it was to serve. was a sink with
a high pressure OF water and q small
stationary fire hose. He attached tbs
tubing and let the water doW In,
Then. as the flames crept toward the
old stock on the shelves. Rthk1n be.
a to play the hose upon them.
They Kissed and leaped. but water
quenches fire. Slowly they receded
backward, caught the waste rags be-
side the machines. licked them up.
and began to run hungrily along the
floor. Drippings Of machine oil fed
them. They grew holder and ad-
vanced toward Rifkin again. Again
he played the hose on them, keeping
always a barrier of water between the
door and the flames. 60 that his e..
cape should not be cut OF.
Now the whole Hace was aare. The
flames had gained the end OF the
factory and we're crawling up the
walls. The glare was perceptible Ill
down the street. Riffkin heard shouts
underneath the windows. Then came
the welcome clang Of the fire bell, 90
the engines came galloping up.
His task was done. The fire could
easily be controlled. Rinkin himself
could have controlled 1t. Now he
hastily detached the hose and coiled It
into its place. Then he ran agilely
down the stairs to the street. where
the firemen were already leaping from
their engines.
Seventh floor!" he sasped. y
tried to stop the spread, but it waa
beyond control. Hurry"
They did not need to hurry. In I'VE
minutes more only a mass of black and
coiling smoke showed where the con.
.iagration had been. The 1remen's
work was done-it was just such q
little fire as happens somewhere ev.
cry night in the year. The crowd
slowly dispersed. But Rlffhin waited.
He knew that Ep would come to see
his handiwork. Soon he perceived
him skulking In the fringe of the
crowd.
The two saw each other simultane.
ously. Ep oame forward with O..
sumed anxiety.
This is terrible. Rifkin." he said,
How car it have happened?"
Let's go and see.' said Rtfktn, and
took Ep by the arm. In silence they
assembled the stairs together. They
could see nothing inside for the densa
smoke.
MIR. Ep," said R1fktn. II saw tina,
cigarette. 1t amt my business-but
want nine hundred"
Ep attempted to buster; then
checking himself. sat down and quiet
ly wrote out the check upon his black
ened desk. Riffkin read It and pocket
ed it.
I'm sorry 1t was the wrong stock
Mr.. Ep," he said.
What d'you meant" shouted ED.
R1ffkin pointed through the smoke
clouds. AS these rolled away Ep could
see that the new gowns had beer
wholly consumed: but upon thei,
shelves. neatly folded and protected
from the water from the hoses. thu
old insured gowns with the wide
sleeves reposed In their pristine quail
lty.
Copyright. 1918. by W. a. Chapman,
After-DInner Story.
The popular after.dlnner speaks,