Part 9 (1/2)
Matt had arranged to meet Andrew at the stable at six o'clock sharp, and quarter of an hour before the appointed time found him on his way to the place, valise in hand
”I'll show Andrew that I ht to himself, as he turned into the street upon which the stable was situated
Suddenly he saw a crowd running up from the block below There were at least a dozenat the top of their lungs:
”Fire! fire!”
”Fire!” repeated Matt quickly ”I wonder where it can be?”
But hardly had he uttered the words than, happening to glance toward the stable in which their turnout was located, he saw a thick volu out of several of the upper s
”My gracious!” he gasped, his face blanching ”It's that stable, and our horse and wagon with the stock still inside!”
”That place is doo headway! They won't be able to save a single horse or anything else!”
CHAPTER IX
THE RESULT OF A FIRE
It was no wonder that Matt's heart was filled with dismay when he saw the stable which contained the auction outfit being thus rapidly devoured by the flames Alon and stock, and if they were consumed he would be left in New York City next to penniless
Close to where he was standing was a grocery store, and rushi+ng into this he threw his valise on the counter
”Keep this for me, please!” he cried to the proprietor ”I want to try to save on!”
[Illustration: SAVING THE WAGON Y A]
And before the grocer could reply he was out of the store again, and running toward the burning stable as fast as his feet could carry hi, which was three stories high, and quite broad and deep, he found an excited mob of stable-hands, cab-drivers and tradespeople asses
The owner of the stable was also present, having just arrived, and was directing, or trying to direct, the hly excited ones
”Go into the alley on the left!” he shouted ”You can gettoo thickly out here!”
A rush was ot into the midst of the crowd The side doors, to which the owner of the stable had referred, were found to be securely bolted fro and smash in the doors!”
”Never h one of the s and open the door!”
”Good for the boy!”
”Givehands raised Matt's form to one of the small side s, and an instant later the boy's for