Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-02

building toward the shingle roof and
spreading along the bottom of the
wall.
But help arrived almost before he
realized it. Suddenly he was con-
scious that there we're several other
persons beside him. Buckets ap-
peared and line was formed to the
waters edge. Hicky rushed up and
jumped into the thick of the fight.
BY the time the flames we're finally
subdued a crowd had gathered, at
tracted from neighboring cottages by
Ronnie's shouts and the glow of the
fire.
When the battle was over at last
Ronnie sank down on the ground to
rest his aching back and shoulders
1t was not until then that he realized
how his hands hurt. He gazed down
at them. They were blackened with
smoke and blistered here and there,
and the sleeves of his coat we're singed
HICKY was bending over him when
IL a man in sports clothes hurried
up. He was tall straight man with
q light moustache
I'm Maj Webb" he announced,
land this is my cottage. Are you the
chap who discovered the fire and gave
the alarm"
Ronnie nodded The major saw that
his hands we're hurt, and insisted that
he come into the house at once. so
that they could be cared for. While
an excited crowd milled around in
the living room Of the cottage, the
tall man and Hicky took Rofinie and
dressed the burns.
Il certainly owe you lot said
Maj. Webb. IF you hadn't discovered
this fire when you did the cottage
would have gone. as sure as the world.
Another one burned last week. We
have no fire protection here. The vii
lage isn't large enough to have fire
department"
r ONNIE looked thoughtful And
this is the second fire in a little
more than week." he murmured.
Then he told the major of the man
The majors jaw set grimly.
80 we have a fire bug around
here" he cried Il wondered how
that blaze could ever have started
where it did, on that corner of the
cottage. You see, we have a kero-
sene stove here. and we keep the kero-
Sene can outside right by that corner.
fhn1loht hol
started the kerosene to burning, but I
couldn't understand it,
From the way the fire looked when
] got here" said Ronnie. II think the
kerosene was poured along the bot
tom of the wall and then a match
was set to it. It f1ared up brightly
at first and then began to burn more
slowly as the oil burned off and the
wood caught
The majors teeth clicked. We'll
have to catch that fire bug, or no
house in the Summer colony will be
safe"
Hicky and Ronnie explained that
they were on the way to visit the
Mills, and Maj. Webb Immediately in
sisted on taking them the rest of the
distance in his car. They returned to
Gussie and got their bags and a few
moments later were driving up to the
rear of the Mills cottage.
HERB and Emily came dashing out.
yelling excited greetings. They
had just heard about the fire. For
some minutes the conversation was
a confused series of explanations and
exclamations. Soon the major left.
Ronnie and Hicky took their bags up
to the room they were to occupy, and
then everybody sat down around the
fireplace. Hicky was sitting next to
Emily, and Ronnie grinned at the
Contented look on his face.
Herb turned to Ronnie. You're the
last world" he marveled. you aren't
in the neighborhood five minutes until
you make hero out of yourself. How
do you manage it?"
Il owe it all to Hicky," said Ronnie,
land to that rambling wreck of his.
AS a Chinese laundryman would say,
NO Gussie, no fuSsy.'"
Herb laughed. How are the
hands?" he demanded.
Not bad" said Ronnie. holding
them up and looking at the bandages.
Mr.. Mills, who had driven out to
the cottage to spend the week end,
was gazing seriously at Ronnie.
Its mighty funny about the man