The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-09-15
THREE Shattered HOUSES
--===By Ben AMEs WILLIAMS

than a baby, Clint; and not much
in the way Of eyelashes." She was
busy tending him.
Clint whispered, through Sc
teeth: "That's a lot more cornfor-
table," Miss Moss ached for him.
He grinned at June, said then to
the older woman: "This sweet kid
has come to live with you for a
while, Miss Moss. It won't be long.
Just till she comes to live with me. I"
Miss Moss looked at June, and
saw in the girls eyes something like
plea for forgiveness; and June
said softly: "He's talked SO much
about you. know you must be
hating me-"
Miss Moss smiled fondly. ''No.
DEAR" she said gently. "No, I'm
glad for both of you"
Inspector Tope chuckled. "Well,
now that's all settled, to the salts
faction of the womenfolks," he sug-
gested. ''How about me? Miss Lea
ford, do you mind If ask what
happened? You mind telling mel"
June shook her head. ''No,". she
said in a dull tone. mo. I'd rather
talk, l think, than not" She made
an uncertain gesture. "Pm-I feel
as though I were walking in my
Sleep she confessed. ''It doesn't
seem real to me-"
Miss Moss said briskly: well
have a cup of chocolate; all feel
better. June, come help me, will
your" She led the girl toward the
kitchen, called over her shoulder:
Inspector Tope, let Clint rest till
we come back. want to hear"
But Clint said: 81 don't want to
rest" His tone suddenly was grim.
Lets go with them, Inspector, -
he suggested; and Miss Moss saw
them come on her heels. In the
little kitchen, while she was busy
about the electric stove, Clint sat on
the sink and drew June close be-
| side him; and these two told what
there was to tell.
''I'd taken June to see picture -
Clint explained. "But the picture
didn't seem to mean much to us,
so we left early, drove back to
her house. And-parked outside for
little while.
"We sat there talking awhile, and
then she saw that the house was on
fire."
Tope nodded; and June explained:
81 must have left the front door
open when ] came out, or else
didn't latch it and it blew open be
cause we saw the flames in the front
hail." And Clint continued:
$50 we started to run toward the
house. A car passed, and I shouted
to the driver to ring in an alarm.
BY that time June was on the front
steps. I caught her just in time.
She was going in. The smoke was
pouring out of the door, and there
were flames inside; but she told
me Mr.. and Mrs. Hurder were in
there"
He held June closer, and she
watched him with wide eyes.
'It was raining" he explained. 81
wet my handkerchief in the rain,
and wrapped it over my mouth and
started to crawl in the hall. But
the smoke drove me back, and then
June said they slept in the wing,
on the ground floor; so we ran
around the house to the windows Of
their ROOM" M
He hesitated, then went on: ''The
windows were shut, and the curtains
were drawn, but some of the cur
tains were on fire. The windows
were all shut tight. / managed to
climb up and break the glass, with
my pocket-knife for a hammer.
reached in and sprung the catch
and pushed the window open.
guess that's when I burned this
hand; because when opened the
window gush of flame came out in
my face, and / let 60 all holds and
fell"
He looked at June.
II fell on her." he said. "She
was right under me. ! fell on TOP
Of her."