A Young Inventor's Pluck; or, The Mystery of the Willington Legacy

e progress of the fire. She beheld the flames shoot up, heard the shrill whistle

ion of the passers-by she learned that it was

lock upon the kitch

on," she thought, "and he'

ently forward and backward. Presently the curly head began to nod, and after o

ht, and the tread of many feet upon the pavem

imed the girl. "What c

er had returned and retired without waking

ed, after all. Fires were such dreadful things, with falling chimneys and half-burned sta

out about it," was her conclusion, and

upied the floor below. She was a stout, kindly-faced woman of about fifty, had been

"I thought der fire vas out long ago. Mine boys come home, and vent to ped again, aput five o'clock. Da don

work, too," sai

orefer. Come, have some coffee mit me. My man

vitations were genuine, the girl sat down, and allowed herself to be helped to a

inishing Mr. Snitzer c

troubled upo

you," he said,

the girl, with a puzzled

" returned the man, droppin

at?" fal

German to his wife, w

man, vehemently. "He nefer don

Jack had been accused by Mr. Felix Gray of setting fire

bed as if her heart would break. Her Jack--her own dear brother, in prison! The only one she had in

he is innocent, too. He was home when the fir

l der men say so. Jack vas as steady as anypody. I

y. "It vill come out all right by der end;" and she took one cor

ail?" asked Deb pres

described

ng there!" exclaim

resolutely, with a sudden, str

bad blace," Mrs. Snit

t mind going where Jack is. I must s

r heart was full of f

hair. As she was adjusting her hat, there was a knock on the door

" was the exclamation, ma

ouded even mo

re?" she ejaculat

ied the agent, removing his hat. "I

replied Deb. Somehow it was

as unable to ra

t had tim

ss,' and I'll have to serve the notice," and drawing

p in due form, demanding that i

did not notice that the avariciou

ve in three days

y--unless you

go?" continued th

gone through so many "scenes," as he termed them, that the ev

ot anywhere to go

's not my f

but

or leave," was

mmerby?" asked a quiet

ay Gray--the Monteray being generally shortened to Mont. He was a young man

en back at the sudden interruption. "Oh, it's only the

. He knew both her

ar it," he said,

," explained Deb, who, for a purely womanly reaso

tion. Involuntarily Mont's hand went down in his pocket, an

had better take this notice back. There

the agent, with a dec

onsent to having them put o

ny one who doesn't pay," returned Mr. Hamm

irtually owes Mr. Willington twenty odd dollars, and

bout it, if you wish. I s

on't stop t

N

" replied M

des, I just heard this morning that this fellow is locked up for setting fire to your

ith a sudden show of spirit. "He is a frie

ey can't pay they must leave," said Mr. Hammerby, bluntly. "Good morning," he co

hearted man for his agent," observed Mont

, and then suddenly; "

just been down to see him. He gave me this no