In an incredibly short time the church was emptied. Each one in the crowd was shouting wild conjectures as to whose place was on fire as they ran in the direction of the blaze. It was a strange sight that met the gaze of the excited people as they came in full view of Dan Trelaw’s place. He was busily engaged pouring oil on unburned sections of his hen-coops! Dan’s hen-houses were located at the rear of his property, and had been built from a collection of dry-goods boxes. They had been the pride of his life, and as the crowd watched him pour on more oil, some one declared that Dan must have gone out of his senses. Nor would he permit the fire company to play their chemical hose.
“It’s come to a purty pass,” Dan stated to the onlookers, “when a man can’t burn down his own coops to get rid of the mites without the whole blame town turning out to interfere. If the very last one of you don’t clear out, I’ll 173 use my office as constable of this town to run the lot of you in!”
Hank Simpson was the chief of the volunteer corps, and Dan was chief of the Little River police system. The two chiefs argued as to the rights of the respective offices. Hank declared it was his official duty to put the fire out. Dan as emphatically declared it was his official duty to disperse the crowd. Finally, Hank admitted that Dan had a right to burn his own property so long as the property of others was not endangered. Some say that the chief of police answered the chief of the fire corps with a slow and deliberate wink.
“Now, all of you clear out and leave me to my fire,” demanded Dan, as he poured on more oil.
Mr. McGowan had gone directly home after the preaching service. But he did not sleep that night. It was very early on Monday morning when he entered the kitchen. Miss Pipkin was already busy with the preparations for breakfast.
“Good morning, Mr. McGowan,” greeted 174 Miss Pipkin, cheerily. “Are you all right this morning?”
“Yes, thank you, Miss Pipkin.”
“I was afraid you’d be sick after last night. I didn’t sleep none, I was that excited when I got home. I’ve always been used to quiet meetings, and that last night after you left was a disgrace. But you wasn’t to blame, no siree!” she finished with a vigorous shake of her head.
“I am not so sure that you would find very many to agree with you.”
“Lan’ sakes! How you do talk, Mr. McGowan! Don’t you think I know what it’s all about? I ain’t blind, and what I couldn’t see through, Josiah helped me with last night. You’ve got him to thank that they didn’t vote you out of your position.”