Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-07-27

couiu see the SnOrting engines below
Although it was after midnight, the
street opposite was lined with people
their upturned faces cleaning white
in the darkness.
With gruif brevity the chief now or
dered two men through all the other
apartments To examine the awnings
and easements for any chance sparks
IF you can't get in--break in" he
shouted after them.
One of the fire patrol was now TAX
ing Warren's name. MS office address
and the amount of his insurance.
We'll, come on, boys, That's all
herer
Gathering up their tools. the fire.
men stamped out rs abruptly and inn
personally as they had come. When
the door slammed after the last spiked
boot. Helen dropped on the couch and
stared at the wreckage.
ITS an outrage" tiamingly indig-
nant. They ought to be reported ~
Tearing down the whole place when
the fire was out before they got here"
"Oh, well, that's what you've got to
expect from firemen," growled War
rem. They're not taking chances on
having it break out agaln-and they're
right about that, too"
But the walls and ceiling! They
didn't have to wreck the whole place.
And oh. lOOk-lOOk at this" she start
ed up to examine the SCARED back of
chair, against which u strip Of mold
ing had fallen.
The insurance covers all that.
Ought to be mighty glad it's no
worse. We got off pretty easy. Hello.
guess the phones out of commission"
picking up the lOOsened wire. Then.
crossing to the instrument. he tried to
get Central, but without success.
Distracted by the scattered debris.
Helen had the broom and was trying
to sweep it into "a pile under the win
dow. -
Here, do your housekeeping to-
morrow" yawned Warren. Lets get
to bed"
"uSt uSi UP tHiS SldSS
-sOmebOdyll step in it,"
1t was after two before they were
finally in bed, and even then. too ex-
cited to sleep, Helen insisted on talk
ing it over.
''The ceiling'll have to be done. too
we'll be torn up for days! And, oh.
l forgot" with added dismay, we're
having the Stevenses for. dinner
Thursday"
"Well, it can't be helped! You can
insure against lOss-but not against
discomfort. Guess everything's all
right out there"
Leaning out Of bed, Warren opened
the library door for final assurance
that no smoldering sparks had blazed
forth.
Then with vigorous force he swung
and shut the door, the full rebound of
his elbow hitting Helen in the eye, as
she peered over his shoulder for a
view of the wreckage.
Speeches. with pain. she covered
her face and sank back.
''Oh, Kitten, did hurt you? Didn't
know you were there"
A faint moan was her only answer.
In real alarm, Warren sprang up and
switched on the lights.
Fright plump in the eye?" forcing
her hands from her face. "JOve. that
was a nasty punch. Where's the witch
hazel?"
Dashing into the bathroom, he came
back with bottle and absorbent cot
ton.
"Oh-Oh, my noses bleeding" faint
ly, as he sOpped her closed eyelid.
'HOw's the eyer" in strained anxi-
ETY.. Lets have look at it," leading
her to the light.
Another half-hour of anxious appli-
cations of witch hazel and cold cloths
relieved the intense pain. Once more
they settled down for the few hours
that remained of the night.
"All right now, Kitten? How does
ii feel?" drawing her to him. "Still
hurt?"
Not so much" Then despairingIy,
ooh, ii won't be swollen or discOl-
Ored?'
what if it is;" seeing the humOr
of this added catastrophe. You
oughtn't to mind a little thing like
that. Give the neighbOrs something
to talk about if they thought l beat
you up occasionally. Come, now, let's
try and get some sleep. A fire and a
black eye-that's about enough for
ono NIGHT -