Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-01-25

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 broad
trellis 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 sudden glow crossed his face.
1t died down, then suddenly 1t fiared
up more brilliantly than before. Curl
GUS, and at the same time somewhat
startled, the man threw back his head
to obtain a clearer range of vision. 1t
was to discover heap of rubbish in
the storeroom which Aunt Cordelia had
visited two hours previous bursting in
to a blaze.
The man was deft and agile. He
rapidly marked a 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.
Fire 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 a
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 ne 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, breathless, 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 I'm.
equal battle when he noticed two tim
jacketed cans, the outside of which
were smoking and shooting out spas
modic streaks of flame.
kerosene, gasoline! ~ 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 1t. The
door gave way. He went with it 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
1t was an exciting five minutes, while
Mr.. Porter beat out the flames and the
other members of the household
brought water and dashed 1t on the dy.
ing embers.
Mr.. Porter carried the insensible
man on his shoulders into 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 rar
for doctor.
1t 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 6
quickly paling face. A romance five
years dead, the details Of which she
had never impaired to single soul
was revived with a strangeness ant
force that made her sway to the poin
Of fainting.
81 am all through with the drink,
it read. II am changed man, have
made my way in the world and an
driven to see you, If only at distance
once more. OF course you have Ions
since forgotten me, but If my peni
tence and my redemption appeal t.
you in the slightest degree send me
single line to the address I give and
will hasten to see you openly"
What her answer would be, thu
glowing eyes, the kiss she bestowed
upon those cherished written lines, he
tears, presaged clearly. She wa
called by her brother into the hall.
"The doctor says our patient will b.
all right in day or two, and is com
; fortably resting now" Mr.. Porter said
twill you sit by him, Cordelia, unit
mother gets breakfast over?".
Randolph Waters looked up from tn
couch upon which he lay as COrdeli;
entered the room. She made no pre-
, tense Of affectation, or shyness, o
| aversion.
randolph" she said, and sat dow
, beside him and caressed the bandage,
, hand. "You were the ghost little Bud
, dy saw at the window? You just II
: time discovered the fire my careless
ness causedT
| He smiled an assent hone and com