Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-03

stream. II knocked the blazing rope |
walk TO pieces, il battered down the
great barn that was used as ware
house for green tobacco. For more
than two hours the heavy stream
Jeluged the blazing walls and embers.
.or two hours young Arthur Brill and
he Pritchard foreman held the pipe.
Just how much property the steam.
or saved it was impossible to tell. The
Old brick church, the most pretentious
church structure in the village was
directly in the pathway of the fire, and
The handsome home of the president
OF the board of selectmen for time
seemed doomed
The hand engine was early disabled
by broken brake rod and the vOlun
teers were forced to cOnfine the ef
forts to carrying water in the leather
buckets.
At 5 o'clock the last vestge OF the
fire was extinguished, and the tileless
steamer was stilled.
Then Ezra Mayhem, still bafeheadcd
approached Arthur Brill.
"Thank you, young man." he said,
and two blackened hands met. Get
good rest and a good sleep, and
let me see you in the morning"
When Arthur Brill entered the offica
Of the selectmen's president the mex:
morning he was given dignified wei.
come.
"Mr Brill" said the old man with
some abruptness, Il am authorized 10
enter into a contract with you for the
steam fire engine you offered us, ac-
cording to the price and guarantee
/ you named in your circular letter"
/ The young man smiled.
THAT is very satisfactory to me-"
ne said. Il am not in the habit of sell.
ing and exhibiting our engines, but
l was particularly anxious to place
this one"
The cid man gave dry chuckle,
81 don't believe your company would
make a mistake If 1t kept you on the
road all the year around" he said,
THANK you again." said Arthur.
"And now have little news that
may interest you. The John Pritchard
factory is to be doubled in capacity"
Ibid you have anything to do with
that?"
The young man laughed.
II had something to do with getting
the necessary capital. And Springville
is to have railroad,
"A railroad!' gasped the old man
"And is that some of your work too"
mot exactly. But my father who
Is interested in the East Shore, made
the directors see the necessity for a
cross country branch to Lattasburg.
Work will begin early in the spring"
The old man stared at his caller
"You are very revolutionary young
person" he slowly said
Arthur drew little nearer.
There is one thing more, Mr.. May
hew," and his voice dropped. 1T is
The particular thing that brought me
here You have daughter at the
seminary at Aurora
Il met your daughter last winter,
sir. | need not say that | admired
her at first sight. nor that my admir-.
alton deepened into much stronger
feeling, We've have a partial under
Standing-all depending on your favcf
strand it was to gain your good win
that came here | was an entire
stranger, Mr.. MAYHEM. and | thought
that the best way to approach YOU was
on the business side. That's why
brought up this fire engine subject
sir"
wait" interrupted the old man. "Do
YOU mean to tell me thai my daughter
, Emily is at the bottom of all this rum
,, nus-that she IL responsible for the
new fire engine. and the railroad, and
he big factory?'
IF you want to put It that way
laughed Arthur, II really believe she
49,
There was little silence.
There's no use fighting fate" sale
the old an presently IF you are de
iermined to have Emily and Emil,
wants you" he hesitatad and sudden
ly put out his hand. why it's an un
conditional surrender SON.