Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-07-06

L
was more than Helen could stand.
Forgetting her DISAGREEMENT, her tum-
bled hair, and the nightgown Tapping
about her bare ankles below her negli-
gee, she ran over to the chief with a
tremulouS:
"Oh, please don't let them splash
that panel! The whole roomll have to
be done over"
watch out for that panel, Mike"
Then to Helen: 'This isn't a tea party,
lady. We're here to put out the fire !"
but there isn't any fire now" COM
batted Helen under her breath, as she
picked her way over the debris.
Standing by the side window, she
could 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 gruff 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 inw he
shouted after them.
One of the fire patrol was now TAX
ing Warren's name his office address
and the amount of his insurance
"Well, come on, boys, that's all
here!"
Gathering up their tools, the fire.
men stamped out as abruptly and i'm
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" flamingly indig-
nant. "They ought to be reported I"
Tearing down the whole place when
the fire was out before they got here"
ooh, well, that's what you've got to
expect from tiremen," growled War
rem. They're not taking chances on
having it break out again-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 strip of mold
ing had fallen.
1.-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"
II must brush up this broken glass
-somebody'll 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 ceilingll have to be done, too
we'll be torn up for days! And, oh,
l forgot" with added dismay, were
having the StevenSes for dinner
Thursday"
|
insure against loss-but not against
discomfort. Guess everything's all
right out there"
Leaning out of bed, Warren opened
the library door for a 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
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 eyer" forcing
her hands from her face. glove, that
was a nasty punch. Where's the witch
hazel"
Dashing into the bathroom, he came
back with a bottle and absorbent cot
ton.
"Oh-oh, my noses bleeding" faint
ly, as he sopped her closed eyelid.
'Hows 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
it feel?" drawing her to him. "Still
hurt?"
mot so much" Then despairingly,
"Oh, it won't be swollen or discol-
oredF'
"What If 1t isl" seeing the humor
Of this added catastrophe. "You
oughtn't to mind little thing like
that Give the neighbors something
to task about If they thought / beat
you up occasionally. Come, now, let's
fry and ppN Some S1een A fire and 81