The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-02-27

Il
when Doctor Barnes came down the
path and took the pail out OF my hand.
What are you doing?' he asked.
Making slide?"
No. said bitterly, Il am water
ing the flowers"
Good" He was not a bit put out.
Let me help you" Inside, he put
down the pail, and pulling me in,
closed the door.
Nov forget iti' he commanded.
Just because lot of damn fools see
dog in fit and have one, too, is that
any reason for your being scared wall
eyed and knock-kneed? Lord, wish
you could have seen them staggering
into my officel"
Il saw enough" said with SILVER.
That German, Won invalid he
went on, hes the limit. He accused
us of poisoning him for reasons of
stated
Where are they now?"
My dear girl" he answered, putting
down his glass, what has been pound
ed into me ever since | struck the
h'eeSNs lag paIH5. pT5bCTID6 GIL
all day and dream EN- all night. Where
are the poisonees now? They are
steaming, stewing exuding in the hot
rooms of the bath departmental of
them, every one OF them! In the hold
and the matches down."
just then somebody fell aglnst the
door and stumbled into the room. 1t
IN xrybff
breathing In gasps.
Quick" she screeched, Minnie,
quick!"
What is it?" | asked, jumping up.
Shed fallen back against the door
frame and stood with her hand clutch
ing her heart.
That dev--devil--Mike!" she pant
ed. He has turned on the steam in
the mems bath and gone gone away!"
With people in the bath?" Doctor
Barnes asked, slamming down the pail.
Tillie nodded.
Then why In creation don't they
get out OF the baths until we can shut
off the steam?" demanded, grabbing
up my shawl. But Tillie shook her
head In despair.
They can't" she answered, hes
hid their clothes!n
The next thing recall is running
like mad up the walk with Doctor
Barnes beside me. steadying me by the
arm. only spoke once that remem-
Der and that was just as we got to the
house.
THAT settles lei" painted, des-
perately. TITS all over"
mot bit OF It'll" he said, showing
me up the steps and into the hall. "The
old teakettle Is just getting 'het up
bit, BY the gods and little fishes, just
listen to 1t singing down there!"
The help was gathered in a crowd
at the head of the bathhouee staircase.
where cloud of steam was coming
up, and down below we could hear furi-
GUS talking. and somebody shouting.
Mike! Mikei" In a voice that was
choked with rage and steam.
Clothes! Send us some clothes!'
It was Mr.. Sam calling. The rest
was swallowed up In a fresh roaring,
as If steam pipe had given away.
That settled the people below. With
a burst of fury they swarmed up the
stairs In their bath sheets, the bishop
leading, and just behind him, talking
as no gentleman should talk under any
circumstances, Senator Biggs. The
rest followed, their red faces shining
through the steam-all of them muir
derous, holding their sheets around
them with one hand. and waving the
other in frenzy. 1t was awful.
The help scattered and ran, but /
stood my ground. The sight of man
in a sheet didn't scare me and 1t was
not time for weakness. A moment
later the engineer came up and after
him Mr.. Pierce, with towel over his
mouth and screw-driver In his hand,
He was, white with rage.
Who saw Mike last?" he shouted.
Here Mr.. Moody. who's small at any
tsne. and who without the padding on
Ills shoulders and wrapped in sheet
With a red face above. looked like a
lighted cigarette, darted out of the
crowd and caught him by the sleeve.
AACANs hS NiiCuf We We got q few
things to say to you. you young"
Take your hand of my armsts
Numbered Mr.. Pierce
The storm broke with that. Tb.v
crowded around Mr.. Pierce, yelling
like maniacs, and he stood there
white-faced, and let them wear them.
selves out The courage of a man in
den of lions was nothing to it. Doc.
tor Barnes forced his way through the
crowd and stood there beside him.
And | stood there and watched NV
mind awhirl, expecting every minute
to hear that they were all leaving or
to have some one forget and shake
both fists at once.
And that's how 1t ended finally-I
mean, of course, that they said thew
would all leave Immediately. and thai
he ought to be glad to have them %
quietly. and not have him Jailed for
malicious mischief or compromising q
felony. The whole thing was an ont.