Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1918-01-25

sonIoQuized. TITS sale TOR me to ven
ture. She has left the window I'D from
the bottom few inches for ventila-
ton. and the space is big enough to
pass the letter through"
The man now removed the robe from
his shoulders. thrust it out Of view IN
side the snow hut and took from his
pocket sealed envelope. This he
placed between his teeth, approached
the house and began a hand-over-hand.
careful and noiseless ascent of a broad
rellis which very nearly traversed the
entire side Of the house. Inch by inch
he clambered. until his face was oppo-
site the open window space. He freed
one hand to remove the letter from his
teeth and slipped it through the aper-
ture.
The stranger was about to descend
when a sudden glow crossed his face.
1t died down, then suddenly 1t fared
up more brilliantly than before. Curl
| Gus, and at the same time somewhat
startled, the man threw back his head
to obtain clearer range Of vision. It
was to discover heap of rubbish In
the storerOOm which Aunt Cordelia had
visited two hours previous bursting in
to blaze.
The man was deft and agile. He
rapidly marked course sideways to-
wards the window of the lumber room.
The smoldering and blazing heaps in
the apartment told him that here was
no casual problem to deal with. He
braced his feet as he got directly OPP
posite the window. He could not lift
the sash from the outside.
"F1re Fire! Fire |" he yelled at the
top Of his voice, intent on arousing the
sleeping inmates of the house. Then
he gave his body forcible, forward
lurch. 1t impelled him through the
lower frame Of the window with
heavy crash, carrying the splintered
sash with him.
The man landed on the floor inside
amid a shower Of putty. glass and
wood. He was speedily on his feet.
He kept up his shouting. but doubly
active the while. Some smoking bits
Of carpet he lifted and flung through
the window out upon the snow-covered
ground. A mass Of old papers and
magazines the stuff had covered burst
forth into vivid flame. He was
scorched, half blinded, GREATNESS, but
he kept on throwing out the blazing
rubbish about him.
Now he wavered and uttered chok-
Ing gasps. He felt that the smoke, Gin
ders and heat were about to overcome
him. He was about to abandon the un-
equal battle when he noticed two tin
Jacketed cans, the outside of which
were smoking and shooting out spas
modic streaks Of flame.
kerosene. gasoline y he painted des-
perately. and dashed at them. One
after the other they hurtled through
the window. Then a great blaze Of
light outside and an echoing explosion.
The brave fire-fghter staggered to-
wards the door. He threw the weight
Of his powerful frame against it. The
door gave way. He went with 1t pros
trate in the hall. and over him, attract
ed to the spot by his warning cries and
the accompanying commotion, STUN
bled Mr.. Porter.
Then the calls Of the latter brought
all hands under the roof to the scene.
It was an exciting FIVE minutes, while
Mr.. Porter beat out the flames and the
other members Of the household
brought water and dashed it on the dy-
Ing embers.
Mr.. Porter carried the insensible
man on his shoulders into a vacant
bedroom. At glance he saw that this
incidental saver Of his property, and
probably Of life, was seriously burned.
Buddy hurried on his clothes and ran
for a doctor.
It was daylight when Aunt Cordelia
found the letter lying on the floor Of
her room. She opened it to regard Its
contents with dilating eyes and
quickly paling face. A romance five
years dead, the details Of which she
had never impaired to single soul,
was revived with a strangeness and
force that made her sway to the point
Of fainting.
II am all through with the drink"
It read. II am q changed man, have
made my way in the world and am
driven to see you, If only at distance,
once more. OF course you have long
since forgotten me, but II my peni-
tence and my redemption appeal to
you in the slightest degree send me
single line to the address give and I
will hasten to see you openly"
What her answer would be, the
glowing eyes, the kiss she bestowed
upon those cherished written lines, her
tears, presaged clearly. She was
called by her brother into the hall.
'The doctor says our patient will be
Ill right in q day or two, and is COM
fortably resting now" Mr.. Porter said.
sWill you sit BY him, Cordelia, until
mother gets breakfast over"
Randolph Waters looked up from the
couch upon which he lay as Cordelia
entered the room. She made no pre-
tense Of affectation. or shyness, or
aversion.
randolph I" she said, and sat down
beside him and caressed the bandaged
hand. "You were the ghost little Bud
dy saw at the window? You just In
dme discovered the fire my careless
ness causedr
He smiled an assent. hope and com
fort comprising him. She leaned to-
wards him and kissed him on the
cheek.
'.That IL the answer to your lGtt9s
aid Aunt Cordelia simply. 60
i Il RSla 49, RanAaea 0hllAN