The Ordway new era., 1915-03-12

tulu8b ihteT. .H.s
was carrying out my flrst pailful
when Doctor Barnes came down the
path and took the pail out of my hand
What are you doing?" he asked
Making a slide"
NO." said bitterly. Il am water
ing the flowers"
"Good!" He was not bit put out
Let me help you" Inside. he put
down the pail. and pulling me In
closed the door.
Now forget I'll" he commanded
Just because lot of damn fools see
dog in a At 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 office!"
II saw enough" said with shiver.
THAT German. Won invalid" he
went on, hes the limit. He accused
US of poisoning him for reasons Of
state!"
where are they now"
MY dear girl" he answered, putting
down his glass. what has been pound
ed into me ever since I struck the
pA0SSs h0 pathos PiCoSiip0 o"
all day and dream 'em all night. Where
are the poisonees now? They are
steaming. stewing. exuding In the hot
rooms of the bath department-all Of
them. every one of them! In the hold
and the matches DOWN."
Just then somebody fell aginst the
door and stumbled into the room. 1t
was Tillie, as white as milk. and
breathing in gasps.
N"ouick!" she screeched. Minnie,
auick!"
What is it!'' 1 asked. jumping up.
Shed fallen back against the door
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.
Tfllie nodded.
"Then why In creation don't they
get out Of the baths until we can shut
on the steam?" 1 demanded, grabbing
up my shawl. But Tillie shook her
head In despair.
They can't" she answered. hes
hid their clothes!'
The next thing recall 10 running
like mad up the walk with Doctor
Barnes beside me. steadying me by the
arm. only spoke once that l remem-
ber and that was Just a. we got to the
house. ~
THAT settles III" painted. dss-
perately. "It's all over"
Not q bit OF IT." no said, showing
me up the steps and into the hall 1.-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 crowd
at the head of the bathhouse staircase,
where cloud of steam was coming
up. and down below we could hear furi-
Gus talking. and somebody shouting.
Mike! Mike!" In q voice that was
choked with rage and steam. N
Clothes! Send US some clothes!"
1t was Mr.. Sam calling. The rest
was swallowed up In a fresh roaring.
as II q steam pipe had given away.
That settled the people below. With
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. f
The help scattered and ran. but
stood my ground. The sight of a man
in 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 q screw-driver in his hand.
He was white with rage.
who saw Mike last 2" he shouted.
Here Mr.. Moody, who's small at any
time. and who without the padding on
his shoulders and wrapped in a sheet
with red face above, looked like a
lighted cigarette. darted out Of the
crowd and caught him by the sleeve.
"Here!" he cried, we've got few
things to say to you. you young"
Take your hand on my arms!"
thundered Mr.. Pierce.
The storm broke with that. They
crowded around Mr.. Pierce. yelling
like maniacs. and he stood there.
white-faced. and let them wear them
selves out. The courage OF man In
q den OF lions was nothing to 1t. Doc
tor Barnes forced his way through the
crowd and stood there beside him.
And stood there and watched. my
mind awhirl. expecting every minute
to hear that they were all leaving, or
to have some one forget and shake
both dsts at once.
And that's how II ended finally--I
mean. Of course. that they said they
would all leave Immediately, and that
he ought to be glad to have them 20
quietly. and not have him Jailed for
malicious mischief or compounding a