Pluck And Luck (no. 421) (1906 06 27)
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ee . Pons "Seon OF ime a ¢ NEW YORK, JUNE 27, ee Bie siuteeaneaamereni, 3 ios 3 ‘oh eee Issued We rae a F, : wes i _ ‘hg splendid engine went down, throwing one of the firemen to the pavement with such force as : to break his arm. The driver fell forward on his face and lay like one dead. “What's the matter?” cried Burt. “
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PLUCK AND LUCK Complete Stories of Adventure. : Issued Weekly—-By Subscription $2.50 per year. November 7, 1898. FE i of Congress, Washington, D Entered as Second 0 lass Matter at the New York, nO, Y., Post Office, Entered Loch to Act of Congress, in the year 1906, in the office of the Librarian , by Frank Tousey, Publisher, 24 Union Square, New York. No. 421. NEW YORK, JUNE °27;. 1906. PRICE 5 CENTS. EDGEWOOD No. OR, The Only Boy in CHAPTER 1. “THE ONLY BOY IN THE COMPANY.” It was on a very dark night, and a drizzling rain was fall- - ing, when the great signal firebell of Edgewood rang out an alarm. The engine for that section of the town hurried to "he scene of conflagration. The red glare in the terrible gloom of the night: told but too plainly where it was. Five inutes later a second and general alarm was given, and the other three companies of the bustling little city quickly re- sponded to the cail. ' People who heard the signals knew that a great conflagra- _ tion was threatened, and many put on overcoats, seized um- | entire business block in the lower end of the city was in peril. Wdgewood No. 1 was the first to reach the fire. No, 2 and ““he Citizens’ No. 1 followed on the second call, while the An-. | \ex Fire Company from the extreme upper part of the city, some three miles away, was the last on the ground. mo Chief Crane was there to watch and direct the firemen, baile of Rackeok: Not a brick house on the short ‘street. presage. an awful loss of life among women and children. om " off. sey A eae By EX=FIRE-CHIEF WARDEN, i prellas, and hastened to the scene of danger to find that an, 18 _In the upper story of every store lived a family—some had aE or more—and the rapid spread of the flames seemed to “Up with the Fagderat ” came through, every foreman’s trum- | Save me!” came in screams from many win-| peared again. pater i Pee J 1 es in front of Ross’ grocery store, and two families “tived ine the two stories above ft. Terrified women screaméd : _ for help from the windows, Bseape by oe stairway was cut. ‘ 4 ‘Dan Truman and ‘Toe ‘Hulsey sprang up-a ladder to bets Ss ue, Da n of No, , as brave a reman ag ever” ‘Both entered at. ve the Fire Company window, and just a few seconds later an explosion was heard. — A dense volume of flame and smoke shot out of that same win- dow, telling the awful truth as to the location. A ery of horror went up from firemen and spectators, for. all believed the two brave firemen to be doomed, if not instant- ly killed. Suddenly one of the youngest firemen in the company, lithe, active youth of nineteen, sprang forward, and ran Mes the ladder like a squirrel, “Call that man down!” cried the chief from his cart. -“Come back! Come back!” yelled a score of firemen. “Come, back! among the spectators. Come back!” sung out a hundred voices 5 But the youth ran up, and fairly tumbled into the room, right in the teeth of tha red flame, “The man is crazy and doomed!” cried the chief. you stand there and let no more go up! there a little longer! Who was that boy, Howard?” A fireman standing nearest the cart of the chief, sang out: ce “He is Burt Briggs!” i ae “There he is! “Two of ‘Keep the stream There he is!” cried hundreds of men in bie crowd as the form of the youth was dimly seen at ee wine dow, The chief glared up at the window, abe saw him climbing . out with another man in his arms. “Up, men, and help him!” he yelled. Two firemen dashed up the. ladder and relieved, him of his. Le ete Se ae - But no sooner was he relieved of i resette thal he dis' The crowd held their breath iy a horrible suspense, W ene “He’s hurt!” - ! “He's dead!” - etal i
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R EDGEWOOD et aw _ “There he is again! Help him!” Again two firemen ran up the ladder to assist the young hero in the seething cauldron of flame, and this time he had _ Joe Hulsey in his arms. Hulsey was astonished, and asked: “How did he do it?” The chief explained how not only he and the foreman, but a little two-year-old baby boy had been saved by the daring © A great cheer went up from the firemen and spectators. \ youth. 4 But ere the sound of the cheering died away the daring young fireman the third time disappeared from sight. “He is fire-proof !” eried a voice in the crowd. “He is doomed!” yelled others. “No man can live in that blaze!” - “There he is—at the other window! * The crowd gazed up and saw him at the window to the right of the ladder, and a frenzied shout of: “Save him! Save him!” went up like a roar from an angry "sea. Lives were being saved by other firemen in the two buildings adjoining, but nobody seemed to know the fact. Every eye was on the young hero who seemed to move about in the midst of the fierce flames as though they were but gentle zephyrs that fanned his cheeks. “The ladder! the excited crowd. “He is going to jump!” He held a little two-year-old child in his arms as he tried to climb out of the window, and half a dozen brave firemen Tusked forward to catch them should they fall. Suddenly he let go the babe, and it went down through a dense cloud of smoke issuing from a lower window, landing unhurt in the arms of one of the firemen. Just a moment later he fell himself, limp and unconscious. But two of his comrades broke his fall with their strong arms, and bore him quickly through the crowd to the other side of the street, . followed by the wildest cheering ever heard in the town. ‘The fire chief stood up. in his cart and sung out: “That boy is the bravest of the brave among firemen!” . The police drove back the crowd and took charge of the wounded firemen in order to let the others go back to their posts. Dan Truman, still unconscious, was just being placed in an ambulance, when the young fireman was brought ovet _ from the scene of his daring exploits. Joe Hulsey had recov- , ered consciousness, but was too badly hurt to know much ‘about what was going on around him. All three were placed am the ambulance and driven away to the hospital. Nearly. all night long the brave firemen fought the fierce flames inch by: inch, and succeeded in saving the block after - eine three houses, It was marvelous work, to say the least, ~ tor every house was a tinder box, every one being dry as _ powder and almost as inflammable. The rain had begun just a little while before the fire broke out, and even then it was ee a thin drizzle. ¢ As it was several lives were lost in the house het the ex- plosion took place. p> But let us follow the brave firemen to the hospital, and 1826 what had befallen them. The surgeons in charge: found that Foreman Dan Truman bad a broken leg, Hulsey had two ribs broken, and young Burt Briggs badiy burned in a dozen places, to say nothing of in~ terial injuries from inhaling fire and smoke, As soon as he saw the fire under control, the chief drove to the hospital to inquire after the injured firemen. Only . _ Hulsey was able to talk, and all he could say was that soon after he and the foreman had entered the building he heard an explosion, felt himself blown violently against the wall, and then fell unconscious. “} don’t éven know how I got out,” he added. “You owe your life to Burt Briggs,” the ‘ats? said to him, wast) The | only boy in the company!” z es The ladder!” screamed a thousand voices in, | bed, the clanging of the great bell caused him to spring d h ot as analy he Aue found a rattlesnake int Te. “And he is very badly hurt himself,” Crame remarked. “It is a:marvel how he escaped at all. “Yes. I actually saw him standing for a brief moment, with- in a solid sheet 'of flame,” added the chief. “How he escaped alive passes my comprehension. But then I don’t know that he will live. He is still unconscious, and the doctors can’t tell yet whether or not he can survive. Do you have any idea as to the cause of the explosion in the rooms up there?” “None whatever. When we entered through the window the smell of bitrning cotton was the strongest odor we met; coming, no doubt, from burning clothes, quilts, curtains, and such things.” ; ‘ “Yes, yes! I guess you are right. I’ll see if any of the family escaped, and question them about it. Hope you may soon get over your hurts,” and with that the OSs took leave of him and went away. CHAPTER. It. BURT BRIGGS, . Burt Briggs was a native of Edgewood, and lived in a little narrow street on the west side, in a small, white, four-roomed cottage, with his widowed mother. He was a very quiet sort of youth, with a common school education, such as aor<- ue 2s had in the public schools of the town. At the time of the opening of our story his father had been dead about four years. His life insurance of $2,000 was all he had to leave his widow and son. That she quickly invested in a home toes save rent. After that she and Burt earned their living, she by” sewing and he as a house paintet—the same trade his father followed, by About six months previous to the opening ofthis story h was persuaded to join Edgewood No. 2 Fire Company. All the members were grown men—all married but four. He joined that particular company because its engine house was but two blocks away from his humble home, hence would be within easy reach when the great fire bell called him to ‘duty. Dan Truman, the foreman of the cornpany, was also a painter, and had been the one intimate friend of Burt’s father, Sometirnes when in need of an extra hand, Truman would — send for Burt, and would keep him at work as long as he could. The lad always did his work well, but was of a very, “a quiet disposition. He preferred to take a book and read LN playing any game or talking with, his acquaintances. _ a In a bustling, growing, enterprising town like Edgewood a silent, Le youth remaing unnoticed, and so it was with . Burt Briggs. But his mother noticed that in all times ‘his first nae and care was for her. He looked after her com- fort as though she was’ an invalid instead of a aiteny, healthy handsome widow of forty, Burt was at home preparing to retire for the night when fas clang of the great fire-bell startled him. He sprang up and listened to the strokes to ascertain bi’ on th fire was” * in, sot “Ah! it’s downtown,” he said, and again ptendred a tum: in for the night. Just as he rolled himself comfortably n
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EDGEWOOD NQ, 2 “It’s a general call,” he exclaimed, donning a fireman’s hat and red shirt. Mrs. Briggs ran. to his door just as he dashed out of his room, and asked, “What does it mean, Burt?” “It means a big fire!” and the next moment he was Off like a rocket. Standing on the little stoop in the rear of her home, the anxious mother gazed long at the red glare so vivid against the blackness of the night, wondering if her boy was in “danger. Hour after hour passed, and still the red glare was there, and brilliant sparks flew up toward the dark clouds, When the explosion came, she heard it, but indistinctly at that distance; but she noticed the immense cloud of sparks that went up above the conflagration. One of her neighbors came home late, and she heard them talking on their back stoop, Her mother love prompted her to call out and ask: “Ts anyone hurt?” “They all think some women and children have perished in the fire,” replied the wife of a neighbor. “Isn’t it awful?” “Yes, indeed! Are any firemen injured?” “I don’t know—there’s such a big crowd there,” the man re- plied. “You had better go to bed, as the fireman will have to work all night to prevent the flames from spreading.” She went, in and shut the door. When she retired she left ~a-dight burning for Burt, and some lunch on the table in the dining room. When she awoke it was daylight, and the lamp in the hall was still burning as she had left it the night before. Her heart almost ceased to beat, and all the color left her ‘ cheeks. She was about to sink down on the floor, when a ma). “guUCKID. Of, the front door recalled her to herself. She ran to the door and opened it. There stood Nannie Truman, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the brave foreman of No. 2. “Oh, Mrs, Briggs!” cried Nannie, darting in and clasping the widow’s hand in both hers, “Papa is in the hospital with a broken leg, and Burt is with him. Mother wants you to go -. © with her to see him,” “Nannie, is my Burt hurt?” the widow asked, huskily. “Oh, they say Burt saved papa’s life,” replied Nannie. “Do come—quick! Mother is waiting for you. I have to stay with the children,” and so the cool-headéd girl evaded the / question the anxious mother had asked her. The widow hurriedly donned bonnet and wrap, and accom- panied the young girl to her home. Joining Mrs. Truman, the two hastened away to the hospital in the ray dawh of the morning. They were at once admitted to the ward, “where the three Anjured firemen were. Truman and Hulsey were in full pos- /sssion of their faculties. Burt Briggs was still unconscious, Mrs. Truman ran.to her husband and knelt by his cot. Mrs. Briggs glanced round the room, and saw Burt lying almost as one dead, ' ‘With a face white as death, she went to him and looked. at him in silence, the two doctors by her side.. She did not utter ‘, a word. “He is badly burned, but will get over it, madam,” the elder physician said to her. “Burt!” she suddenly called out. He sprang up and exclaimed: “Look out down there! Catch this child!” Then he fell back on the cot and lay still as death. _ “He saved a little baby boy,” roan out Hulsey trom: his cot. oy a e AF | : =eree AIAN Ly sae ie | igs eye me “He saved my lite, t00, » sung, out Dan Truman. = PAR “And mine alse,” added Hulsey. | ; Mrs, Briggs dropped on her knees, buried her face on the pillow, and burst into tears. Mrs. Truman sprang up and ran to her side. Just as she reached her Burt suddenly opened his eyes, looked round him — for a2 moment or two, and then said: : “Water! Giye me some water!” ¢ “Ah! He is himself again!” exclaimed the _phsyician, promptly giving him a glass of water.. Burt drank the water and then saw his mother. “Mother, I am badly roasted,” he said to her, as he laid © back on the cot, “but I'm afraid poor Dan Truman is burned up. ” “Not much, I ain’t, Burt, old boy? sung out Dan. “You eee me out all right, and I won’t tinge it, Sorry you got scorch- ed, though!” Burt sat up and glared over at Dan on his cot. “We are both scorched then!” he said, “and Huey too. TS was a hot place—hottest I was ever in.” “Burt, are you in much pain?” his mother asked him. “Yes, mother,” and he laid back on the cot with a sigh, pais “We'll soon relieve that, my boy,” said the agin, “and you'll be all right in a little while,” “Oh, I don’t mind it as long as I saved Dan and, iad others. Nannie and her mother couldn’t do without him, 3°i kfow. Nannie loves her father as her life,” and he shaped his eyes f and turned his face to the wall. The eyes of the two mothers met. The next moment fis were clasped in each others’ arms. Each knew what was in the other’s heart, but not a word passed their lips about it, : They both went over to Dan Truman’s cot. The cone caught the widow’s hand in both his, and said: | “I owe my life to Burt. I shall ever be as a- father to him, He showed the qualities of a hero last night.” “That's just what he is!” exclaimed Hulsey. When the two mothers returned home a few hours later ites i found the praises of Burt Briggs in everybody’s mouth. His: daring rescue and own marvelous escape was the sole topic. — One paper said he was a silent hero, having been four years the sole support of a widowed mother, sud yee never nepken of it. Before noon the little scttaac of the Widow Briggs could es hardly hold the good things that were sent there and dumped on the piazza. She tried to stop it, but in vain. yet “You can’t help yourself, ma’am,” said an honest old. gro- , cer, as he rolled a barrel of flour up on the piazza, “an’ what's — more I’m glad you can’t. That boy can’t do any work just now, an’ we are just sorter making it easy like for both of you, an’—an’—God bless both of you!” and he turned. quiet!’ away, blowing his nose very suspiciously. Before the day closed more provisions had been sent to Mrs. Briggs than she and Burt could consume in six ‘months, — and she then knew that the terrible sacrifice her brave boy | had mage was appreciated by all the people of Edgewood. It was gratifying to a fond mother’s pride, yet it did not f lieve her anxiety as to his sufferings from the bassin he had received, } Pe a CRART ER Tir. Man fee THE CRoss OF GorD, The fire proved to be a disastrous one in the xan f human life. Five lives were lost—three in the house © et explosion: took place, and two on the floor A The
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4 EDGEWOOD NO. 2. family who escaped alive, his parents and an elder sister per- ishing in the flames. Strange to say, the child had received but little injury. The neighbors said his name was Jimmie Heard.) He was sent to the hospital to be cared for temporar- ily by the matron there. In the meantime, the members of No, 2 held a meeting at their engine-house to.elect a new foreman, Dan Truman sent a letter to them, in which he said “a man with a broken leg is a poor fireman, hence I resign the post of foreman of No, 2, * with the suggestion that you immediately accept it, and elect another to fill the position.” The resignation was accepted as a matter of course.’ A foreman was an absolute necessity, and so an election was -azinounced to take place in one week from that night—which would be seventeen days after the fire. Three members at once announced themselves as candidates for the place, and a vigorous canvassing for votes began. ‘Ten days after the fire Dan Truman and Burt Briggs were able to leave the hospital and go to their homes. Burt recov- ered rapidly, for he was young and strong, and had no bones broken, His mother was happy once more, for he was going _ about the house in his usual quiet way, eating three meals a gs day and otherwise enjoying himself. + One evening a knocking at the front door startled him and his eae ~. He went to the door himself. { ello!” his mother heard him ejaculate, and, on running out into. the hall, was surprised at seeing the entire company of No. 2, in helmet and red shirt, pouring into the house, ac- companied by wives, daughters, or sweethearts. “This is as bad as a fire, eh, Burt?” called out one of the company as he shook his hand. “Just the kind I like,” he replied. “Mother, they’ve got us! Look out, for there are two widowers in the crowd.” The party laughed heartily, for it was the first time any of them had ever heard him speak banteringly! “Suddenly he saw Nannie Truman in the party, and, for a “moment or two, his heart stuck in his throat. She came up to him, extended her hand, saying: “J am so glad to see you up again, Burt.” “Thank you, Nannie. How is your father doing?” ; “He is improving fast, thank you,” and then Mrs, Briggs ‘took her’ away, for she was a favorite with the widow. 14 It was a surprise party—something that had not happened . for many years to Mrs. Briggs. All the visitors had: brought % "refreshments with them, and a very happy crowd it was. Ri Burt was seated by Nannie’s side, when Jerry Billups stood \ p on a. chair on the other side of the room, and called out: - “Priends, let us have perfect quiet for a few moments, for 2 as have something to say which I wish all to hear,” and then, he ‘proceeded in a neat ‘little speech, to speak of Burt’s exploit at the last fire as one that had thrilled the hearts of all true eae and’ women in Edgewood. He grew eloquent, and Burt reed red and pale by turns as he listened. “Here is a cross of gold,” the speaker said, holdmg up a Jewel of that description in order that all in the room might see it, “and on it are engraved the name of Burt Briggs, the te name of his company, and the lives he has saved at the risk of his own. It is my duty at the command of the fire company to. ‘ which we belong to present it to him with the request that he keep and wear it as a token of their appreciation of him and “his daring acts.” walked across: the room and pinned the jewel on the He had neyer J ine eA A Oa ee SS ne ERS ee ES a a eR = DE ST Ct ON SR ee Sa “You must thank them, my son.” He sprang up as though stung, and exclaimed: “Thank them! My heart has done so already. Every throb is more eloquent in gratitude than tongue or pen ‘ean utter. My tongue halts, but the pulsations of my grateful heart goes on singing a sweet song of comradeship. I didn’t dream of this when I saw my comrades in the grasp of the fierce flames, I sprang to their assistance because my heart urged me to do so, and nevér once’ did a thought of the danger to myself en- ter my mind. Deep down in my heart to-night dances a spirit | of joy, of happiness which never danced there before. 1 have ~ dreamed of many things—for I believe I have always been a dreamer—but never of such scenes as this. A beautiful spirit came to me in your midst to-night, and told me that he whose limb was broken at the fire was improving fast. Another said ~ the baby boy was unhurt, and Joe Hulsey has' come here to — grasp my hand with a manly ‘God bless you, my boy,’ on his_ lips. Yes, comrades, I shall wear this cross of gold over my heart. The camera of love and friendship has already photo- graphed it on the tablets of memory whence it can never be erased. If memories of earth go with the souls of men beyond the grave, this blessed incident of my life will become a part of my own immortality.” If his daring at the great fire astonished those who saw it his eloquence amazed all who heard it. No one ever ‘suspected — him, who’had ever been silent in company, of hay ing auch a. voluble flow of language as now poured from his lips. mother was the most surprised of all, She sat sneitpousils to the finish, and when he ceased speaking she saw the others ~ rush toward him, but could not leave her seat to do so her. self. Clang! Clang! Clang! The great fire bell startled them as ee the stars had fallen. “Our district?” cried Burt, as by an inepiiaion’ to the rescue!” and ere’ anyone could utter a word to prevent him he turned and bounded out of the house, going through the open window. “Stop him! Bring him back!” screamed his mother th frantic fear. 43 “No, 2, i qe But every Man was gone, leaving a score of maids and , matrons with the widow. She saw that he was gone with: them, and knowing that he was not yet fully recovered from his injuries, ‘she gave a piercing scream and fell fainting to the floor. 1 The engine house as but two blocks away, and vey mau. | was quickly on hand. Some one gave Burt a red shirt and hat, and he quickly donned them. “Go back. Burt!” cried several firemen, as they’, dashed ont, into the street. But young Briggs did/ not seem to hear them, or rit Hes Aa he failed to heed them. They dashed’ away, and as he was ih in their midst, going as fast as the’ fastest of them, The fire was in the residence of. Judge Lofton, one ‘of tho. } wealthiest families in the city. “A bottle of naphtha had ex- ploded in the hands of a seryant on the stairs, and in an in- stant the entire stairway was enveloped in a ‘sheet of flame. There were several: members of the ‘household upstairs. at. | the time of the explosion, whose retreat was cut off by the flames. Among them were two daughters of the family, a young lady visitor, and two maid servants. They all rushed | i the head of the stairs, only to find a seething caldron of flame | reaching up toward them. ‘The smoke forced ther back a | back they went, screaming
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‘EDGEWOOD NO. 2. flames had invaded every room above the first floor, and the) helpless maidens were at the windows screaming for aid. The ladders were run up to the windows, and Burt Briggs bounded up one of them in advance of all the others. One of the girls was terrified at the situation she lost her reason and ran hither and thither. The others were caught and taken out, but this one, the younger of the two sisters, |. eluded Burt for a minute or two. He had to chase her to a third room ere he got a good grip on her. By that time the flames had made such headway escape seemed utterly im- ~ possible. ! Suddenly he tore two blankets off a bed and rolled her in them till she could no longer struggle. Then he lifted her over his shoulder and ran to the head of the stairs. were in flames, but still intact. “God help me!” he exclaimed. “It’s my only chance!” and ‘he ran down the flight with his helmet pulled far down over his eyes. CHAPTER IV. ROBBED OF THE CROSS OF GOLD, The firemen and spectators were in'a fever of suspense over the non-appearance of Burt Briggs. No one knew how many ““—jhiates were in the upper part of the house at the time of the Zit pom explosion on the stairs, hence nobody knew that he was strug- gling to save one of the Lofton girls. The cry that he was lost was again raised, and the firemen looked at each other to see if anyone dared to brave certain gsath by. going in after him. : “The “naphtha had given the ‘aves such a fierce headway that they now poured through each window in angry, hissing volumes. Men held their breath as they gazed up at, those windows, and cheeks blanched as the moments flew by and the daring young fireman was unseen. nny wi Weed Er SA ee bie ls RE See es Sete a a eR PRESS They | i “Where is she, boys? Did I get her out all right?” “Yes, Burt; but how is it with you, old man?” ; “T am all right—only got strangled with smoke.’ She: lost. her head—was crazy as a loon, and ran from me pri about: all the rooms upstairs. Who is she?” “One of the Lofton girls,” replied one of; the firemen. “Well, she is one of the liveliest girls in a fire I ever eS of, Isn’t hurt, is she?” “Don’t know. She had fainted when her father took naleeae's of her,” and the firemen Jet go of him, seeing that he was able to move about on his feet, and hurried back to the fire. Burt ~ looked about him for a few brief moments, and then Sere them at their work, The splendid mansion was very badly damaged, but by no- means destroyed. The constant stream of water kept going . by the firemen soon gave them control of the fire. - “You had better go home, Burt,” said the acting foreman to the young fireman a few minutes later. “You have a enough to-night.” “T have done no more than some others, ae Tam all right,” “You were pretty badly strangled.” i “Yes, but I am all right now,” he replied. es : “Where is that gold cross?” Burt looked at the place where it had been pinned on the. a lapel of his coat, and: said: “I forgot all about it, and left it on my coat wee I $4 Bar this shirt in the engine house. I'll get it when I’ ‘go beck:” “By George, Burt, it’s too valuable a thing to leave Tying round loose that way,” said the, foreman. “Yes, of course, but it’s safe, I guess. coat there.” ; ph “A coat is a different thing. You had better go back right ; now.” t ; bee “The boys will all go back in a little while. Ill wait for them,” and he was so determined in his manner the Soret: said no more to him, r Half an hour later Judge Lofton came out of the house in. 4 I’ve often left my ‘ Suddenly something rolled out of the front door and along } Which his family had found refuge, and asked one of the fire- the floor of the piazza to the steps, down which it went bump .. —bump—bump till it reached the ground. It was afire in sev- so his arms. eral places, but no one seemed to know what it was until a red-shirted fireman rose up from it, staggered a couple of paces and fell to the ground again, gasping for air. “Great Scott!” gasped Joe Hulsey. “I believe that’s Burt!” and he sprang forward and raised the fallen fireman. Others rushed forward to his assistance and found that Burt was part of the bundle that had rolled out ‘of sion burning building. ‘Two others took up the mite lying at the fost of the steps, and ran out of the reach of danger with it. (‘Somebody is in it!” sung out one of the two. (They unrolled it, and found Eunice Lofton in it, white as a SUeeS-anr unconscious. J “Qood Heavens!” cried both fremen. . “Tt’s Eunice Lofton!” exclaimed one who Ener, her. . “Take her into that house over there!” “Ah! Here she is!” cried Judge Lofton himself, puis through the crowd and snatching the unconscious girl up in “Thank God they are both saved!” and:he started toward the house of a neighbor across the street with her. The crowd gave way for’him, and he soon bore her to where her sister Irene lay in a-fainting condition. p - Burt was so strangled by smoke that he had fallen uncon- scious, and the firemen believed that he was again badly hurt. fie : His. clothes were burned in many places, but he was: burt ‘but hey w men who the two men were who had rescued. his daughters. — He was told. One was a married man, a carpenter, and father of four children, and the other was Burt ihe i the jvonagedt: member .of the company. He went to the carpenter and expressed his grakituile in = the strongest: terms, promising to always be his friend.’ Then he went to Burt, grasped his hand, and said the same ass to him. : me “I am yery glad I was able to catch her, “alts . Burt refed: “She ran from me, and I had to chase her into several rooms. : before I could get hold of her. I had to roll her up in blank- ets before I could manage her. I think she lost her presence — | of mind in the excitement, and hope she is. all right again.” bart “Yes, I think so, too, She is very easily excited, You must remember that I stand ready at all times to Detriend you.” My wife will also thank you when she sees you.” “There ig no need of either of you doing 80, We deisaae more 5 ee was vigor of us,” Shapes! replied. Pepe : ters. with: their ne. Burt. at once ie i the ile where he had left his coat. ie was ah t ae “He ooked b
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EDGEWOOD NO. 2. gine room where a number of them were cleaning it up, “and that gold cross has gone with it.” “The deuce you say!” half a dozen exclaimed at once. “Where did you leave it, Burt?” “J threw it on a chair when I put on this shirt.” “Where?” “Upstairs in the hall. did so.” Every fireman present at once went to hunting for the coat. Five minutes were enough to convince them that it was not in the house. “It has been stolen,” said Burt, Aobiing from one to the oth- er firemen. “I would not have taken ten thousand dollars for that cross, poor as I am.” His face was pale as death as he spoke, and an angry gleam ‘flashed from: his eyes. “God help the thief if I catch him!” he said in cold, quiet tones as he turned away from the search. Half an hour later he was at this humble home. Nannie Truman was with his mother, Mrs. Briggs having begged her to spend the night with her, thinking Burt might be detained very late at the fire. auee were both up when he entered the house: here was the fire, Burt?” his mother asked him. “Tt was Judge Lofton’s house,” he replied. _.“Dear me! Such a fine house it was. Was anybody hurt?” “T don’t know. Nobody was lost, though. Somebody stole Toy overcoat from the engine house, and that gold cross was on dt.” _ “Oh, Burt! Surely you have not lost that, too!” Mrs. Briggs cried, springing to her feet and running to him. “Yes, it is gone. It was on the coat.” She wrung her hands and almost wept, saying: “Oh, it is awful to lose that! What will they think? Why ' did you go to the fire when you were not able to go? Nobody expected you to go to any fires for two weeks yet!” “Don’t blame him, Mrs. Briggs,” said Nannie, going to her ‘side. “See, his shirt and trousers are burned in several ‘places! Burt, did you get scorched again?” “My clothes did,” he replied. “You have been saving another life. Who was it, Burt? Tell—your mother about it.” “1 went in and brought out Eunice Lofton. She went crazy and ran right into the fire, and— Hello! what’s the matter, _ Nan?” and he sprang to her side and caught the young girl in _ his arms in time to prevent her falling to the floor. I never thought of the cross when I Wotton CHAPTER Y. SEEN IN A DREAM. On hearing the name of Bunice Lofton as the one Burt had “gaved from the flames Nannie Truman gave a gasp, turned _. Pale as death and reeled. Had he not caught her in his arms - ghe would have fallen. ~) She pressed her hand to her heart as if to still its throbbing, nd at the same time tried to disengage herself from his hold. ee “why, what’s the matter, child?” Mrs. Briggs asked, tak- ; = old of her hand and gazing into her face. “You are ill! 8B ing her to my room, Burt!” and she led the way to her bedroom. ‘Burt. tried to lead her, but she seemed to have utterly lost ‘the use of her limbs. He lifted her in his arms and bore her te oie room. and laid her on his mother’s bed. EAT EE Ei EU SE a CT PO ge Geir Ree BS AE tt {of the stuck-up kind she can’t be popular with me,” jag: ie entered! the house. took charge of her, while Burt went out and retired to his own room. “What is the matter, dear?” the widow asked ae as soon as Burt had left them together. “T—I—don’t know, » ghe stammered in reply. was just a fainting spell.” “Why, I didn’t know you were subject to fainting spells.” “IT am not. I never had one before. It must have been caused by something I ate.” “What did you eat, dear? Are you ‘in any pain?” ' “Tam in no pain, I ate some cake,” and the girl’s face’ ce turned very red for a moment or two, and then all the color left it again. Just ten minutes after leaving the room, Burt knocked on the door and asked how Nannie was. “Tell him I am all right,” Nannie whispered to the slab: “She is all right,” his mother replied. “Well, good-night to both of you,” he said, as he turned away to go to his own room again. “Good-night,” they both answered. When the morning came Nannie had slept but uittle: yet. she arose with the widow and assisted her in the dining- room and kitchen. She greeted Burt with a smiting face when he appeared, and said: “Mr. Boyle next door has just told us all about the fire last night, and how you saved the young lady. Some day or night you will go into a fire and never come out abain.””” “What would you have me do? Stand by and see women and children burn up and not try to save them?” “No,” said his mother. “Try to save them, but ‘eee you : see that you can’t save them, save yourself.” ; ; “Yes, of course. That’s what I did think Ta have to. last night, but I finally got out with her all righ trousers are ruined, I guess,” and he looked down at them as he spoke. “They. will go to pieces in a day or, two, as they have a dozen brown spots on them. Better be there than on my skin, though,” and he laughed as he sat down: ‘to the table opposite Nannie. “Are you acquainted with Eunice Lofton?” Nannie asked, after a pause of some minutes. “No—don’t believe I’d know her if I should see ee: on the” street.” : “She is very beautiful,” Nannie remarked, ae “Do you know her?” Burt asked, eae “Yes—we belong to the same Sunday school. notices poor people.” a “That is the way with nearly all the rich people—young a ladies particularly, ” remarked Burt. i “She is very beautiful and very popular in society,” said Nannie. “Yes, so I have heard,” returned Burt. “T thnk it But ghe never i “But it she is ene 4 Both Nannie and the widow laughed. . pa a aes “You don’t know till you meet her, She can. ani so. sweet and look so beautiful when she tries to,” Nannie re-— , marked. “She can turn a man’s head as easily, as i can = doll’s.” 3 Whe “She lost her head last night, so she can’t turn mine, no matter how beautiful she may be.” ae “Wait till you meet her and she begins thanking you. tor “y saving her life, You’ll come away dead in love with | ae ee just as.a dozen other young men have done.” Wag 2 ‘He merely smiled, and then the talk turned. a other ‘mat ae After breakfast he escorted Nannie home, Pomme in her father, the foreman of No. 2. “Hello, Burt! ” Truman nage on hearing his
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EDGEWOOD NO. 2. ene Burt went in, and Truman congratulated him on what he had done the night before, adding: “T have heard all about it. It was a daring piece of work, my boy, and I guess you have made a strong friend of the judge, if you don’t get the big head and try to marry the girl.” “T hardly think I am such a fool as to try that on, Mr. Truman,” Burt replied. “How is your limb getting on?” “It is mending all right, I think. The doctor tells me I “gm doing as well as any man of my age ever did. When will you be able to go to work again?” : “{t think I can go to work on Monday—if I don’t get roasted again,” and be smiled. “I half suspect that I'll get baked some time.” “ Well, put that off till you go where the fire burns all the time,” remarked Truman. “A man should never lose his head even in a fire.” “Nor. break a leg,” returned Burt. “A man is not responsible for explosions. " “No, nor is he responsible for a good many other things that happen. I hardly think I shall ever go into a burning pbuilding and deliberately lie down to be roasted. Yet a fire- man can go to a fire once too often, just as a pitcher may go once too often to a well for water. You can rest assured I shall never. burn in a fire if I can get Sag You won't be able tab eut on election night, I suppose.” “No, of course not. Who are you going to vote for?” “J don’t know. I hear there are half a dozen candidates for your place, Who is the best man for it?” “Joe Hulsey—vote for Joe.” “T shall be oe to do so. metO: aaa Burt carne away after a short visit and event the hee at home with his mother. Two days later, as he was deeply interested in a book, a carriage. drove up and stopped in front of the cottage. The coachman came to the door and knocked. Mrs. Briggs opened it, “Does Mrs. Briggs live here?” he asked. Yo-'“Y¥es, I am Mrs. Briggs,” was the reply. ‘He bowed low and then returned to the carriage to open the ' door for a young lady, who alighted from it and ran nimbly up the steps, saying: “Mrs, Briggs, I am Eunice Lofton. I have come to pay my respects to you as the mother of Burt, who saved my life,” and ere the widow could say a word she threw her arms about her neck and kissed her. “I am sure you are proud of your . brave boy, and—and—he ought to be proud of you,” and she kissed her again. “My dear child, I am proud of my boy,” and she returned ; the young lady’s embrace. “He is as good as he is brave, nd never neglects his mother.” “Way i come jn?” : “Why, yes! Excuse me. I forgot. Come in and welcome. I am really glad to see you and know you did not get hurt in the fire,” and she led the way into the little parlor of her humble home. i “T never so much as got a scratch or a nee but I was frightened almost to death. I never knew a thing till hours afterward.” . Mrs. Briggs looked at her, and thought her the most beauti- ful girl she ever ‘saw, and so unconventional in her way. ‘The girl threw off her wrap, sat down on the sofa and asked: “where is Burt? “He is in his room reading. He a not been able to go back to work yet since he was hurt. j “Pease tell him I wan Did not know ue was a candi- viet nia ‘see him. ea I would like ever so much to see him.” at that moment that Burt had to leave the house on an’ “errand, _ |for his mother and when he came back ‘Nannie had OMCs: 8 or 2 Sip: ek oh Burt came in, and she sprang up and gazed at him, as if much surprised, and asked: : “Are you Burt Briggs?” “Yes, that is my name,” he replied. “I owe you my life and I wanted to tell you that I am grateful.” “TI believe you, Miss Lofton. Any one who loves life would be. I assure you that I feel very happy over the fact that I was fortunate enough to render you the service I did. Bie. you be seated?” and he tendered a chair. She sat down on the sofa and continued to stare at him. At last she said: “Pardon me, but I must tell you of a dream I tind the next morning after the fire. I saw you in a dream, walking with a young girl. I did not know it was you. To were going . through Bryant street.” “By George!” exclaimed Burt, et aia go through Bryant street with Nannie Truman that morning!” _ “Yes, it was Nannie Truman. I know her. ‘She goes to our Sunday school,” and she seemed to be very ue mantles ‘4 over the incident. ey Soe ice “It was a most singular dream,” he rotted: cis “Yes, indeed. Do you know the Trumans?” “Yes; I work for her father, and have known her all her life.” : 5 “She is a sweet girl.” “Yes; every one thinks that of her.” “And you do, too, I suppose?” “Of course, I think that of most girls. - away from Me as you did the other night.” “Oh, my! Did you ever chase her in a fire?” ; “No.. I don’t believe she would rather be burned up than have me cateh her. Some girls are mighty hard to please, you know.” 5 ‘ : She burst out. laughing, saying: “ft think you are cruel to say that.” . “Tf I am cruel you are the first one to find it out,” he replied. They chatted together for over an hour, and when she left she told the widow she intended calling to see her whetlever she felt like oe so. f cs A pe She doesn’t run CHAPTER VI. BURT BRIGGS FOREMAN—HIS LEAP FOR LIFE, It was soon known among the neighbors of the Widow Briggs that Hunice Lofton had called and spent an hour with her, and a great deal of surmising was indulged in over the visit. But Burt and his mother had little to say about it — farther than to remark that she was a charming young lady. Later in the day Nannie Truman called, and when she heard’ it she turned pale as death. i % “She said you were a sweet girl, Nannie, ve said Burt, “and i I remarked I thought so, too.” ‘SBR That brought the color back to her face in a ‘euiniady flood. “Oh, Burt, did you tell her that?” she asked. Bee “Yes,” replied Mrs. Briggs, very promptly, “and more, $8, which I won’t repeat. Burt never goes back on old friends.” g The poor girl’s heart beat so fast on hearing that she had to drop into a seat and: press a. hand over her bosom. — ‘She seemed radiantly happy in her blushing — confusion. It Vv
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8 EDGEWOOD NO. 2. —— That evening the members of No. 2 met at their quarters to elect a foreman in the place of Dan Truman, resigned. Burt was there to vote for Joe Hulsey. There were three other candidates, all of whom were eager for the place. Jerry Morgan, a man of considerable means—a contractor—~ was ‘one of the four candidates. him... “Y have promised. to vote for Joe, I really have no preference.” “Joe is not the man for the pinee, * Morgan whispered. lacks firmness and——” ““T think-he is just the man, Mr. Morgan, very promptly. . “Don't you go to making any mistakes, Burt Briggs,” said Morgan, nudging him. “I can do more for you than any man’ »Burtcreplied, “though “He ” Burt replied, | dn this company.” “But I don’t want you or any other man to do anything for me, Mr. Morgan. I can take care of jet sa and with that he turned away from him, “The. voting began, and when the ballots in the hat were ‘counted, it was found that no choice had been made. ‘The lowest man was dropped, and another ballot called for, with the same result—no choice. “Orie lowest man was again dropped, leaving only two— “sa “Weuisey and Jerty Morgan—in the field. “See here, gentlemen,” sung out Joe in a loud voice, “I resign my candidacy in favor of Burt Briggs. Let’s make him foreman—the youngest member of the company—and we'll never feel ashamed of it.” _ For a few moments a profound silence prevailed, Then | some one said: “That suits me—Burt Briggs it is!” The entire company cheered, except three, Morgan and the two who had been most active in his interest. They threw | doomed to destruction. | low. up their hats and cheered three times three and a tiger. _ Burt sprang upon a chaiy and tried to speak. He was pulled down and borne round the hall on the shoulders of his friends, Singing and cheering. _ Morgan sung out: “You can’t do.that. You baat bring in a new candidate y after’ voting has commenced.” “The. deuce we can’t! Who ‘says $0?” “It’s against all rules of——” “Bah! The majority rules, the boy?” it bs Was Joe Hulsey wih asked that question. Ate you afraid to run against Sch Co seems yoti were afraid, to run against me?” retorted | ~ Mor, gan. Mi gt Joe. , “T am honest enough to admit it. Now is your tinte to ' be honest—tell the truth once in your life!” ~ “T am not abratd: to run against any man, pean 216” Ee ae ‘ithe chair ruled in ‘his favor that it was the rule that uo nominations could be made after the nominations were closed. - “Then I move that the nominations be opened again,” said Tt was done and Burt was nominated, He tried to decline, ut. was not permitted to do so. Pis'Ss i Hs irumpet Dan Truman pad carried for two years and handed it Ore ‘to ‘ a Rea, the firemen. ‘Burt, saying: Wb He askéa Burt to vote for I sppeal to the He beat Morgan five to one amid the uproarious ‘cheering | There was a space of twenty feet between the ae hous: s j conduct after defeat shows the wisdom of ane members baka tears of joy « over ‘the escape | . ; : ; ke 4 Clang! Clang! The great fire bell struck. “Up, men, and out!” eried Burt, darting: for the PHEIae room. It came like.an electric shock, and the beautiful engine shot out through the wide door like a catapult. Hyery member save Jerry Morgan dashed out with the engine. The disgruntled contractor threw down his fireman’s hat, 4 drew off the red shirt, and stalked out at his leisure and strolled homeward, leaving the others to do battle against the flames, The fire was on a resident street where the houses were quite close together, It was in a large brick mansion, and had gained a good headway ere it was discovered, the family |having been more than an hour in bed. Those in’ the sleeping rooms upstairs were in danger of suffocation. They appeared at the windows and screamed for help. ; “Up with the ladders!” cried Burt through the trumpet. “Up, boys, and save life!” The firemen dashed to the rescue like Paice and in a det couple of minutes two women and a child were brought out and delivered from peril. bar “My baby! Save my baby!” cried one of ‘the -syomen, as her. “Which room is she in?” demanded Burt near by. | “That corner room there! Oh, my baby!” she screamed. Burt sprang up ‘the ladder with the agility of a squirrel, and dived into the burning building through a window. Men held their breath in suspense. for the hase~ Suddenly Burt reappeared, but on the Toot, bilge a, Bare in his arms. “There he is on the roof!” went up een hundreds of throats, - No ladder contd: heach him. It was a four-story building.. The flames had burst through the roof and were @ hissing all about him. “Men, we must save them!” sung out the chief of the fire department of Edgewood, who had Just appeared on the * scene. “Tell us how! Moments seemed? hours ‘to thued be- soon as she felt her feet on the ground and looked “anor a Tell us how!” the ete ib | ered out ies veply. ‘ Beanie ttn cit He looked up at him with a face white as a sheet, Burt was seen to place. the trumpet to his ee ; “M ee A silence fell on the crowd. “Send a man up in the next house to ake a window! nt That was the message he sent down. | pats Joe’ Hulsey sprang to obey. ee 5 He ran up to the third floor of the next “house ays. a thr WO -jopen the window, calling, out: : ane “Here, Bunt!” “Catch this baby!” returned Burt. a city lot. ee He swung the baby taok and forth ‘thved times and He chad on Hulsey and poured out 4 torrent of abuse upon | sent it flying through the air. toward The bisa oh man in i bin. Hulsey merely laughed at him. He took’ up the silver | the open window. ; Hulsey caught it and a ita ‘ahsoe! like a sea, in ene came up from below. Men fell on each others necks a)
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EDGEWOOD NO. 2: 1 en Suddenly he was séen to run to the flagpole on the roof. He pulled it from its socket and ran with it to the spot whence he had cast the babe. It was thirty feet long and would reach the open window, But it was too slender to bear his weight, hence he could not use it as a bridge over the awful chasm. He leaned over the edge of the wal! and gazed down at the window facing the room below. Then he let the larger end of the pole down till it rested on the windowsill, and the horror-stricken people below, wondered what he was going to do. But they were not long in doubt. He stood up on the extreme edge of the wall and gripped the pole with both hands. The next moment he made a flying leap and went whizzing through the air toward the open window of the next house. CHAPTER VII. A NARROW BSOAPE. The slender flagpole bent under the weight of the daring young fireman, as he.sprang from the wall of the burning building and went sailing through the air, Men and women held their breath as they gazed up at him. It/was a desperate chance—the only chance—and the odds were a thousand to mete Against him. Crash! He struck the upper part of the window, and went through it like a cannonball, scattering broken glass all over the floor of the room and on the ground below. The firemen cheered, fore. they knew he had escaped death by burning, even if he eka ted By Pall, The man wnhvizead caught the baby in that window was there to help him, the babe having been given in charge of the lady of the house. “Burt, Burt!” cried Joe Hulsey, ‘ehidebnag by the side of the young foreman, as he lay unconscious on the floor of the room, “Come, come! You are not hurt!” and he seized a pitcher of water on a stand in a corner and dashed some of it into his face. But he was partially Sonnet his head having struck against some of the woodwork of the window, so he did not answer Joe. Blood was trickling from a wound on the side of his head. “ll take him down,” Joe finally said, and was going to raise him in his arms, when another fireman entered the room. “How is he?” the newcomer asked. “He is hurt and doesn’t know anything,” was the panty: “Better take him to the hospital.” “Help Me take him down,” _ whey took him up and ‘pore him down to the foot of the aes ‘nad flight of stairs. There he suddenly came to, and ex- _ aimed: d | “Tg that babe all right?” “Yes, but are you all right?” Joe replied. “Guess I am. Where am 1?” “In the house next door to the fire.” “T got through the window all right, then?” “Yes, you came through like a rocket, but the window is -Tuined.” f “Had to do it: Hello! | his hands up to the wound. “Shouldn't wonder if you are broken: into Bic pieces,” | Joe Somied sibeues Tega aia ENS Li the fire, I suppose, ve, My head is broken, isn’t it?” and | he looked at the blood that had stained his hand as he put ‘trumpet at the fare Jast Esscgt 4 ~ “Well, let go of me- I can go down, I guess, you got that baby all right, did you?” “Yes, the babe is all right.” “And the fire—is it under control?” “Yes I think it is, but the house is a total loss, 1 pene: By this time they, had him down to the front door, and as soon as he appeared on the stoop a wild cheering burst from the crowd. The chief, yf the fire a prtpeatiln: ran we to him and grasped his hand,.saylhg: : “I hope you are not hurt much, eae: “That was a marvelous escape from a roasting.” “Well, you see, F don’t like being roasted, chief. It isn’t a pleasant way to die, you know.” . “No, indeed. Are you much hurt?” “T believe I am dead, but the boys won’t have it.: If I have a whole bone I don’t know where it is. I tried to jump through that window, but I must have gone through the briek wall. ” “No, you went through the window,” said the chief, as he led him down to the oy and thence across the street to an. ambulance, “J don’t want any ambulance,” he said, coming to a full halt. “Let go of me and give me a drink of water.” “But you ought to have your wound attended to, Burt,” they said to him. oer “It’s nothing but a scratch,” and he ae not go. He re- mained on the ground a while longer and then went to a drug- Say, Joe, store where the cut on his head was washed and bandaged. — By that time the firemen were ready to return to their quar- ters and Burt went along with them. On reaching the engine-house the boys held another meet-— ing upstairs, at which Joe Hulsey preferred charges against. Jerry Morgan for failing to go to the fire with the engine. “He was Mad and refused to turn out because he was beaten for the place of foreman,” said Joe, “and I am going to woo bin. at the next meeting that he be expelled from the company.” “Better wait and hear his excuse,” one of Morgan’s friends, suggested. “Yes,” put in oe “he may have been taken suddenly ill.” “Bah! I was right alongside of him when he threw down his hat and stalked out. He had a sudden attack of the dumps, and that won’t excuse him with me,” and Joe Hulsey srew very emphatic in his disapproval of Morgan’s éon- duct. Burt said Sigthtng about it, but just before oe members left the hall he called out to them: “Say, boys, hold on a moment!” and they all turned and. looked at him, “I think you had better elect another foreman. T am the-——” “Oh, shut up!” cried several at once, and then. all marched out of the hall in a body. He laid the trumpet in its place and ‘went out, too, Joe. Hulsey taking his arm and accompanying him to. his home. — Burt’s mother was asleep when he reached home, and did. | not see him till the next morning, He appeared in the dining- . | room with his head bandaged, giving her a oat Shop.” i “You are hurt again!” she gasped. py . “Just a scratch, mother,” he replied. ey aidn’t get roasted this time,” and he laughed as he sat down to the table. | do you think the company did last night?” ! They fis let you go ret bail ¢ “T am sure I don’t know. ° “They elected me foreman.” ok “What! Those men made you foreman! talking about, Burt Briggs?” “I was elected with but four votes again me, ‘aia? held What are 90 & , what : i
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r, tor her. ' like the widow herself. 10 EDGEWOOD NO, 2. SE How did |ing in the door of her cottage, BeOEE after it as long as it “Well, well! I wouldn’t have believed it of them! it happen, Burt?” and she sat down opposite to him to listen to his story. She was a proud mother that morning, not so much of the position as of the fact that strong, sturdy men had honored her boy. “What in the world made them do it?” she asked hersélf a dozen times that morning. Then, just before noon, a car- riage drove up before the cottage and a lady alighted from it and rang the doorbell. She was a middle-aged lady, about The widow opened the door and the lady stared at her in silence for a minute or so. Then she spoke: “Will you come in?” “Are you Mrs, Briggs?” the ‘unknown asked her. “Yes,” “Where is your son?” . 8 4Ty his room,” and she held the door wide open for her to enter. She went into the sitting-room and looked around like one in a half-dazed condition. “Take a seat,” said the widow, “and I will call him in.” The stranger sat down and Mrs. Briggs at once left the room. ; In a few minutes she returned, accompanied by Burt. “That.is my son,” she said, as the lady rose to her feet and »gaged at the youth. Burt still had the bandage on his head, and was feeling quite sore. “Are you the young Man who threw a baby through the window last night?“ the lady asked. “TI did toss one to another fireman who stood at an open window,” Burt replied. ; “The babe is my sister’s, and I have called to thank you She is quite prostrated, of course, or she would have called in pérson.” “Tam glad I was able to saye the child,” Burt replied. was in the room all alone, lying on the bed crying.” “The babe had a gold chain round its neck,” the lady continued, “to which was appended a diamond cross, My “ It sister was in the habit of fastening it to the baby’s chain every night so as to make gure of finding it the next morning. “When the baby was delivered to her last night. the cross and chain were both gone, “T do not,” he answered. “Tt is very strange. How could it have disappeared?” “Tt may have been taken by somebody, or it may have been wrenched off when it was thrown or caught. The ground Do you know anything about it?” between the two houses should be thoroughly searched.” mame of woman.” . little babe came.to be left alone to perish in that room?” “Who was the man who caught the baby at the window?” “His name is Joe Hulsey, as honest a man as ever lived.” “ey hope ‘he is. Will you kindly give me his address?” “Certainly. He lives at No. 22 Jayne street,” and Burt's eyes gleamed angrily. “Will you kindly tell me how that “She was forgotten, ‘in the excitement, I think,” was the reply. “A mother forget her baby in a "trie like that! She must be a queer mother.» She must be either insane.or else wanted to get rid of her child.” ‘ “Sir!” “Pardon me,” and he bowed low. “She is a disgrace to the “Burt! My son!” gasped the widow, yery much sdaiteuea at his words. “You forget yourself!” “No, mother. They think more of that jewel than of the |’ _ babe and accuse the poor firemen of stealing the diamond. . I have a contempt for such heartless creatures. Sa . Phe lady darted to the door and dashed out to her carriage. she entered it and was Axis rapidly away, the widow, atand- ‘jin five minutes he had told the story of the woman’s visit, could be seen. & CHAPTER VIII. JARED AUSTIN’S MISTAKE. As soon as the carriage of the unknown lady was out of sight Mrs. Briggs closed her door and turned to Burt. “Tam sorry you talked so rudely to the lady,” she said. “It "s was very ungentlemanly, and when it is known it will do“ you harm with respectable people.” Said Burt quickly: “T have no apologies to make to her or any one else. Her . manner and words were insulting, for she wished to let me’ know that she believed either Joe or I had taken that cross. of diamonds—the two men who saved the child from 4 horrible death! ‘I didn’t care anything about it till she sneeringly — expressed the hope that Joe Hulsey was honest. That was © more than I could stand. She didn’t come here to thank me: for saving the baby, but to insinuate that I of Joe had stolen the jewel from its neck. Lord, I hope she’ll send some man here to speak to me about what I said to her.” His mother was astonished. She never heard him alee wy so volubly before, save on the night .the gold cross was pre- ‘sented to him, nor with such angry emphasis. ri “Burt, you must learn to control your teinper, es ae to him. “Even if she did hurt your feelings, you should not © have spoken so rudely to her. You should be a. gentleman — under all circumstances,” “You are rizht on general principles, mpehew » he replied, “but I think this is an exceptional case, and J am glad Said what I did,” and he returned to hig room to Prussia a book in which he was deeply interested, 0s * ‘4 In a little while Mrs. Briggs went to his room to tell him , that dinner was ready. To her surprise the room wus empty. He had gone—she knew not where—and wondered ~~ he had left the house without her knowledge. Let us follow him. He read the book but a few minutes on returning to his ; room, for he suddenly closed it with a snap and said: Fonts a . “Joe must know of this at once,” and he rose up, put on his hat and left the house by the window which opened out — on the little piazza. ee : Ten minutes later he had reached Joe Hulsey’s house, Joe ff had just come home to dinner from his work, and greeted Burt cordially when he saw him. ; ph: “Just in time, Burt!” he exclaimed. “We have enue for another. Come in and haye some dinner.” io “Here—come: out to the back yard, Joe,” said Burt, dena! ing him out by the atm. “LP ve something to tell you,” and — i ‘ and accusation, adding: 4 3 “She has your address, and may either come» ~or~seid 10 you. I don’t know her name, though I see in the papers. this morning that the name of the family is Austin. She said. she was the sister of the mother of the babe.” “T know Mr. Austin,” said Joe. “He is a very rich man, but I don’t know what his business ig? ; i “Well, I thought it best to let you know about hes Ae “Yes, that’s all right. Now come in and have some dinner with us.” » : “Thank you, Joe. Mother will have dinner ready for. by the time I get back. ae ‘probably pee know eB have: ing,” and he shook has with ‘hiea: and eaagied ‘eae , house to join his mother at ¢ dinner as soon a aeie eouls:
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His mother was out on the litile piazza looking up and down the street for him when he appeared in sight. ; “Where in the world have you been, Burt?” She asked, as he ran up the steps. “TI ran over to see Joe a few moments,” he replied. “Has she been there?” “Not yet. I think she decided to go home and let some- body else go round accusing firemen of stealing,” and with that he went in and sat down to the table. “I am afraid you will have some trouble about that cross yet,” said hig mother, as she sat down at the other side of “tiie table. “Well, I’ve lost a cross that I prized as much as theirs was, IT guess. If any man hints to me that I or Joe stole it there will certainly be trouble, mother.” “Burt, you must promise me you won’t fight about it,” said the anxious mother, very much alarmed. “Well, I won’t promise that,” he replied. “The man who accuses me will get a fight on his hands as “quick as light- _ ning, mother.” “He.may be a big man—a very ugly-tempered man, ‘and——” “Yes, maybe so, but he’ll get a fight all the same.” “And you a broken head.” “Well, would you have me act like a coward?” and he looked her straight in the eyes as he asked the question. “No, but I want you to be prudent, my son,” “Well, Pll promise to try to be so,” and he went on eating ~ It is not to be wondered at then that when he recoveréd consciousness, after the stunning blow on the head from the hammer in Burt Briggs’ hand, and found himself in’ ae carriage, he called out to his driver to stop. : The coachman obeyed, and asked: “What is it, sir?” “What’s the matter? master demanded. - “You have been hurt, sir, and I am taking you home, sir,” : replied coachee. “Did that insolent boy strike me?” “He did, sir, and came that near killing you, sir. You fell like a log, sir, and he told me to take Ras home lest he should kill you, and that’s the truth, sir.” — : “Did he hit me with that hammer that he had in ag hand, a John?” ‘ “He did, sir, right on the head, sir, and you didn’t raise a hand to him as I’d take my oath, sir.” “Turn round and drive me back there at once! every bone in his body for this outrage!” “He'd kill you stone dead, sir,” protested the coachman. “All the neighborhood run up, sir, and wanted to hang you, sir. It ain’t no place for a gentleman like you, sir.” © “A mob wants to hang me, eh? Well, drive me home and I'll see my lawyer about it. Drive me home at once.” . The coachman mounted his box again and drove him to his temporary home at the residence of his wife’s sister, where ne alighted, went in and sent for his physician to come and see — whether or not his head was broken. , The doctor came, examined his wound, and said he had received a pretty hard blow, but that nothing serious would result from it. “You will have quite a bump there for several asia? though. - How did it happen?” “An accident, ” was the reply. ; His legal adviser was sent for and the matter explained to him. Austin wanted the boy arrested and punished. » ‘The ven! lawyer shook his head deprecatingly, saying: ate “Let me advise you to drop the whole a Mr. Austin, It won’t do to arrest that boy.” “Why not? He attacked me and came. near es ad m1 Where are you taking me?” the _ PU break. ie > “Very true,” passin the lawyer, “but you 8 are a ven the
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ae - EDGEWOOD. NO. 2. he a poor boy who saved the life of your child and came| . Burt soon followed them into the kitchen. He missed et within an ace of losing his own life in doing so, In a city] young girl and asked where she had gone. " like this there are one hundred poor men to’one rich one, “She will be back soon,” his mother varies ‘and he sat and 80. you see, every poor man would side with the boy, de-| down to wait for her. nounce you as an ingrate and hiss at you in the streets.” In th:. meantime Nannie, not knowing where the judge’s “Do you mean to tell me that a rich man has no redress) office was, hurried on to his residence. Just as-she eame in for an outrageous assault like that?” Austin demanded. sight of the big mansion she stopped, turned pale ‘and pressed “No, but when a rich man insults,a poor man and geis|her hand over her heart to still the wild throbbing there. knocked down for it, everybody swill applaud the poor man| “She is beautiful—more beautiful than I—and rich. He for resenting it. That’s human nature, you know. [I would) saved her life.and she has been to see him. Why should he advise you to do nothing in the matter—at least not now.”| not love her? Why should she not love’ him who saved her The rich man was a coward at heart and dared not face| life? Oh, why must I go there?” and she stood irresolute >” the populace in such a case. He remarked to his counse!,| and trembling on the corner for a minute or two. Suddenly / : | after a long silence: ; ; she pressed her lips firmly together, and said: te ; “It’s outrageous, but I suppose I’ll have to submit to it. “For his sake,” and then went forward, tripped up the i -. The times have changed indeed, when women must submit to| marble steps and rang the bell. ‘ insult through fear of a mob of ignorant brutes.” A maid came to the door. “Yes, the times have indeed changed. Rich men are re- “Is Judge Lofton at home?” she asked. xt i ‘sponsible for what they do or say as well as poor men. AS|, “No,*he is at his office,” the maid replied. =F Min) I am your legal adviser, let me impress it upon your mind} “Is Miss Eunice at home?” ; sete i. that’a poor Man has as much right to resent an insult asa} “Yes.” it ~vich man has. “Please tell her that Miss Truman wishes to see e hen, and _°“He has public opinion with him in any case against a} she stepped inside the door. rich Wan, and public opinion is stronger than law the world} The maid showed her to a Seu: and then went to- summon ower, os her young mistress, The lawyer then left, and the rich man had food for thought| “Why, Nannie, is it you?” greeted Bunice, when She AR: in “quantity. But he was too. vindictive in his nature to| peared, shaking both hands and kissing ‘her. | Gilke _ submit to the blow he had received without getting some sort} “Yes,” said Nannie, “I have called to see “your fat = ; \ of satisfaction in return. t as he is not at Home’ I thought it best to, see you,” and she’ ae “71 gee that he gets a taste of a broken head,” he muttered, told her story, adding: : after the lawyer left. “I am not the man to submit to an| “I know you will be him who see eee your tite, Miss outrage like that, I’ll-put a detective at work to ferret out | Eunice.” the thief who took that diamond cross, and if this young| “Indeed I will, Just wait till I order the carriag ideas ig the guilty one, I’ll see that he gets behind prison] and see my- father at once,” and she fan oe bars even though I have to leave Edgewood myself. It’s a] carriage. ach _ fireman’s duty to save life and property. They saved my| When she came back ae led Nannie up to her room and 1 "child, but that’s what they were paid to do in such emerg-| said: — z HH 4 -encies. - They presume on what they do and have no concep-| “What a brave fellow Burt Briggs is!’ Did he voally nook : _ tion of. their ‘place in the social world.” ‘down Jared Austin?” 4 ¥ cf Jared Austin was a good hater, and he never torgot an in-| “Yes, and hurt him so his coactiman had to lift. him up ike ; : jury to his sense of his own importance. But since his lawyer|a dead man and place him in his carriage.” had warned him of the danger of public opinion he had men-| ©“Served him right. I could just dote on a man like that : > tally resolved to resort to cunning for satisfaction for the| He isn’t afraid of anything or anybody, and would risk his, *'y : _ blow. he had received. ¢ : life for another at any moment, Ppa a true man for. adap - Burt Briggs fully expected to be arrested ‘tor what he had | Nannie!” ; a ees and waited at home for an officer to come for him. But Nannie turned pale as death again as the young girl anil a instead of an officer of the law, Nannie Truman caMe in,}on in her praises of Burt Briggs, | How could stein a 8 eatin, with eyes dancing and cheeks aglow. _ beauty and wealth? ‘Oh, Burt!” she cried, on seeing bag with a ‘head pand- “Why, what’s the matter, Nannie?” manic esieininiedy on 4 aged, “you are hurt again!” seeing her pallid face. “You look like death,” and. she ‘rail ee | “Only a scratch, Nan,” he replied, “or I'd be i in bed. I am| to her side, took her hand in hers and talked to her, =| all right.” Nannie sprang to her feet and said in a husky. ony fa | “You made a narrow escape last night. Mr. Bae’ told us| voice: all about it; and you and he saved a dear little baby from—”] “Let me go home. anh vox will see—your tather and. O “Yes, yes; Joe caught it like an old baseball man, and the| Burt,” and with that she reeled and. segs a the little thing wasn’t hurt at all.” door at the head of the stairs. WA tne _ Mrs. Briggs took her into the kitchen and told her about i CAG eho Reseed the fight with Jared Austin, and that slie was looking every oY Vy SERS I apy IE / moment for an officer to come for Burt: oh Roeser ik al ‘Nannie turned pale as death, and clasped her hands. like ne in despair. “What in the world will I.do if they lock up my boy?” the mother ‘said. “I pelieve it would kill me.” ‘Judge Lofton promised to be his) friend as long as he} |.” Nannie said. . “P11 go and see him about it.. They shall | lock him up!” and her eyes flashed as she spoke. re Mrs. Briggs ‘could utter dae sone to. on her Nannie} ei: ‘CHAPTER an i
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Of course Eunice was excited. She was going to ery out when the housekeeper, a strong-minded, elderly woman, came out of another room and asked: “What’s the matter, Miss Eunice?” . “Oh, Mrs. Ames! She has fainted,” Eunice replied. “Well, dear, don’t make any fuss and excite your mother,” said the housekeeper. “I’ll take her to your room and then you can tell me about it,” and she took up the young girl and bore her back into the room she had just left. There she laid her on a.bed and turned to Bunice with: “What’s the matter with her?” “She has fainted.” “What made her faint?” “Bxcitement, I suppose. She came to see father about something, and he not being here, she fainted at the head of the stairs as she was going out. Why don’t you do some- thing for her?” Mrs. Ames coolly sprinkled some your in Nannie’s face, asking at the same time: “Who is she? Do you know her?” “She is Nannie Truman. I know her. She isa good girl.” Nannie opened her eyes, and a long-drawn sigh escaped her. Eunice leaned over and kissed her, saying: - “Oh, Nannie! You gave me such an awful fright! feel better now?” “Yes. What did I do? I felt myself falling, and then is i ything seemed black to me.’ mee “You simply fainted, dear,” said the housekeeper. “You “ply:hould not let yourself get so excited. It is yery dangerous ~“Wometimes.” Yc Nannie looked at the housekeeper in some surprise. She Burad never Seen her before, and did not know who she was. A. lopking. barat, Qunice, she was going to ask who she was, eh et the latter said: “Mrs, Ames is our housekeeper. She brought you back in here. She is right. It is wrong for you to get so excited. Can you get up and walk? The carriage is ready, and we'll drive down to father’s office and see him, Then I'll go with you to your home.” Do you “Yes, I can walk. You need not take so ’ much trouble on | my account,” and she stood upon her feet, pale as death and |}f know I still quite weak. “Oh, I can’t think of letting you go out Hone looking ae feeling as you do, dear. Mrs. Ames, please help her down 6 the carriage, and—y ; “Give me dora water, please,” Nannie asked, dropping into a chair. Eunice herself ran for water, and in a minute or two Nannie Said: “Thank you. T am ready to go now,” and eee rose to her feet and led the way downstairs and out to the carriage. Ennice followed her pnd almost pushed her into the vehicle, and, as soon as sl “+ seated by her side, said: oe Crome awhully rie. “a Be faint?” on “No—never but once ‘before that T know of. Y fear I am not well,” and she still appeared pale. oe “You are easily excited, are you not?” : f J don’t know.” : “Weil, try not to get excited vied we are. at father’ Ss office, They goon arrived at the judge’s Office and found him in. ~ called: to. see. him about, adding in her playful way: EDGEWOOD NO. 2. , When you fainted. Do you often Baar pevers aut get hold of it if you should. have another -y ” Bunice introduced him to Nannie, and told him what she had Aint “You must help aanhe pean he sae me sees : ert xX I'll go to his assistance as quickly as I would to the president: of the United States.” “There! What did I tell you, dear?” and the ‘impulsive .s Hunice’ threw her arms around Nan’s neck and kissed her. =: “Now come on; let’s go and tell Burt what he says,” and she actually lead Nan out of the office without giving her a chance sl to thank the judge. : Once more in the carriage, they were. ‘Ativen ently to thes any cottage of the Widow Briggs. ae They both sprang out and ran into the house like: two. young children, The widow had’an expression, of surprise a on her face as she met them. Eunice ran up to her, threw = her arms about her neck and kissed her, saying: GR LS “Qh, Mrs. Briggs! Nannie tells me that Burt has been cut- ting up awful, and I have come to tell him he must behave | f himself and be a good boy. » ; Aces A burst of laughter behind her told that Burt ‘haa heard vf : her. She wheeled round and exclaimed: : Beis “My! I hope you havyen’t got your ss haeaek with you.” | Even Nannie laughed. é ; az cd “No,” Burt replied. “It would be no 6 preteay against two. i such girls as you and Nan.” ee “T guess neither of us mean to do you Ae heart, #. he POs torted, in a playful spirit: “But father says you must iyo word to him if you need him. You will do that, won’t you, Mrs. Briggs?” “Indeed I will,” the widow replied, her face beaming with a satisfaction. Scar The two girls spent an hour there, and then Nancie pre-_ i pared to return to her own home. Eunice insisted on taking ~ her in the carriage, and so they left together. In pa few x minutes they reached the home of the Trumans, Nannie in- ” : vited Bunice in, but she said she did not have’ time to do. 80. “But I will call and see you ina few days,” she added. “Do you go to the Briggses often?” Nae: Nannie looked up at her quickly, as if to divine the motive of the question, and said: \ rae “Our families visit once or twice a week. Swed? Briggs and were playmates when children. ” ‘ be pleasant. I really must meet Jour mote like her. How is it Burt has never been: to our Sunday school? Why haven't you made him join, pt eb aan Nannie was standing on the sidewalk and Eunice remained in the / iage. THat question about Burt. caused Nannie io turn white as a sheet in the face. Hunice instantly read: her secret and turned pale herself. Bre Nannie could answe her question she called to the coachman to drive home, _ The carriage sped away and the two young girls parted without so much as saying good-by to each other. : . Nannie stood there gazing after the carriage till b out of sight, and the expression on her face was one ingly difficult for one to decipher. : “She loves him!” she hissed ioe eli her pretty teet I—I hate her!” 7 window. “Who is she?” nee ehakbet saekit : “Bunice Lofton,” was the reply. ; “I thought so, though I could Hot see her face. ‘wel 2 came you with her?” ; Nannie told her the whole Paes anid then ‘went 1 where she threw herself on her hed: and ee trollable fit of weeping. poy Some fifteen minutes | later she: ‘sud her tears, bathed her face ae t
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14 EDGEWOOD NO. 2. wp at the ceiling with a hazy, far-away look in her eyes for half an hour. Then she sprang up as though alarmed at something, and crept forward toward a corner of the room, gazing intently at space, her entire frame trembling with “suppressed excitement. In that condition she stood still as a statue for several minutes, gazing till her eyes seemed to be riveted on some object. Suddenly she gave a start, drew a long breath and appeared like one just coming out of a deep sleep, Looking around in a bewildered ‘sort of way for a moment or tivo, she staggered back to' the chair in which she had been sitting, dropped heavily into it, and exclaimed in half frightened tones: “Have I been dreaming? I was not asleep, for I was on my feet, yet I saw Burt’s cross of gold in a man’s hand as plainly as I see my own hand now. But I don’t know who he is. Oh, what does it mean? How did I see it? I was not asleep. ‘I am sure of that, for I was on my feet when I came to my- self,” and she sat there like one bewildered, gazing at the floor. “I am sure I would know his face were I to see him again. He had a scar on the left hand at the base of the thumb. I wonder if I ought to tell Burt or the police? Why, they would laugh at me for a silly goose. No, I won't say a word about it, but I'll look out for a man with a scar on his left hand, * and she arose, looked in the glass to see if all traces of tears had vanished from her eyes, and then went @ownstairs to assist her mother in the housework. CHAPTER XI. ae THE ACCIDENT OF NO..2; AND WHAT OAME OF Tr. - Jared Austin had the good sense to follow the advice of his y Tegal adviser, and gave up the idea of having Burt Briggs ( ‘arrested for the horrible blow with the hammer. He even sent a friend to the newspaper Offices of the little city to beg that no allusion be made to the trouble between himself and ' the young fireman. Of course, the papers were willing to . oblige a rich man in a matter like that, and the people in the block where the Briggs lived were very much surprised at - geeing no mention of the fight in the press. Butt the people talked and talked till pretty near every soul in Hdgewood had heard something about Burt having downed the rich man on the piazza of his home with a hathmer, and that the coachman se: to take Austin away more dead than alive, Peano aa the same time, though, the report was circulated throtigh the town that a valuable diamond cross was stolen from the clothes of the babe on the night its life was saved, and that both Briggs and Hulsey were suspected of having taken it. When the fire company met again at the engine-house every fed ‘member was present. Jerry Morgan was on hand, defiant and aggressive, ready to fight the charge against him of failure to obey orders when a fire call had been made. _. The members had all heard the report about Burt and Joe, _ and ‘were indignant. in the highest degree. They stood about _. in groups and discussed it. Morgan and his three friends Y quietly asked if the others felt proud of their boy fireman. _ #¥es, I do,” said Jack Bailey, turning suddenly on the contractor, “and the man who won’t stand by him under such circumstance has no business in this company.” “That is for me, I suppose?” said Morgan, very coolly. “Hyery word of it,” replied Jack. Jerry Morgan was not a coward, but he had a good deal f prudence. He knew Jack Bailey could thrash him in two inutes, and he was not in quest of a thrashing that night. Beh eaes n the members were emis to eras eee moyed that Burt Briggs be requested to. resign the foremanship of the company, on the ground that the fire company could not afford to have for foreman one whom many people believed to be a thief. ’ Burt sat unmoved. But Jack Bailey sprang up and said: “At the last fire this company was here in attendance at a regular business meeting. An election was held and Burt Briggs was elected foreman with only four votes against him.- A few minutes later the fire bell called us to the post of duty. Jerry Morgan was present, but refused to go. We all know why. We have no room here for skulkers, therefore I <.. move that he be expelled from this company as an undesir- able member.” 5 All but four voted to expel him. Morgan was dumfounded. ‘ He sprang up and demanded to be heard; but the members — were mad and told him to get out. “3 Burt called for order and said: : “Mr. Morgan should have been heard before ee expelled, — and——” Jack Bailey replied: . “He didn’t ask any explanation of you, but wanted you to be requested to resign. Let him go and be hanged to him!” The others yelled and cheered, during which Morgan left the hall in a rage, vowing vengeance on the entire company. “I am sorry this has occurred,” said Burt when order was restored, 2 Coie “Now you keep quiet,” said Jack, and the other heartily. “We are doing this thing, and we mea: right.” ae “That’s so!” sung out a dozen or more ina cho Hive They passed resolutions of confidence in both Bu... « ep and a few minutes later the alarm of fire was Bivens “To your posts, boys!” cried Burt, springing for his uat,, trumpet and red shirt. Every man present promptly obeyed, and ‘Edgewood No, 2 engine went out with a roar. : But ere they had gone two blocks from the engine- house the left fore wheel of the engine came off, and the splendid engine went down, throwing one of the firemen to the pave- ment with such force as to break hig arm. The driver on forward on his face, and lay like one dead. “What's the matter?” cried Burt, but in another iomeue’ he knew the nature of the accident, and knew that ae engine “f could not be used. 3 “Leave the engine!” he sung out fivodeh the trumpet. the fire and do the best you can!” Quick ‘as a flash every man dashed away with him, going _ in a body, two abreast, like a military company, and in ald than two minutes they had reached the fire. ; Ue It was in a row of frame houses, onenpied _ by workmen n aa a large factory two blocks away.- f “Save. life!” cried Burt, “Do 4 eae hoy ! dashed into one of the houses anc "4. eo oP out an old ¥ woman 4 who had fallen down, suffocated by ee a , A policeman sent out another alarm, and the great fire. bell signaled all the other fire companies. In a few minutes they were on hand, and three streams were turned loose on the devouring flames. But the-fire had gained a dangerous head- way, and a terrible conflagration was threatened. All the — firemen worked like heroes, and saved a bali of hina and children, But tt was plain to all that four of the bide houses wer “To the inmates were iaintved out by dt. - “There’s an old man in the back room on
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“That & ply. . pea sh Vain: voice say in a room on his right. «y neither 1H. Rasy ‘water and the danger over. cried one of the women out in the street. get a box out and it’s too heavy for him!” Burt heard her and sprang forward to bring out the old man. The other companies were. pouring streams of water on the house to keep it from igniting. The dense smoke that filled the house caMe from the cellar, WAGES a pile of old rags had ignited. He reached the third floor and heard some one gasping. “Come out! Come out!” he eried at the top of his voice. “My gold! My bonds! Save ’em!” he heard a gasping He rushed in, so blinded by the smoke he could see nothing at all. But he ran against an old man and seized him in his arms. “Come out!” he cried, and started back with him. To his utter consternation the old man fought him like a demon, crying out: “My box! My box!” “Saye yourself! Come!” and Burt did his best to get him out of the room. In the struggle that ensued they both fel ‘to the floor, gasping for air, and coughing ih a half strangled state. In sheer desperation Burt seized his feet, ran with him ont into the hall and went bounding down the stairs. The old man bumped on every step, but the young fireman, believing him to be a crank or lunatic, paid no attention to » his yells. A dense volume of black smoke issued from doors and windlows. Such a vast column belched through the front bia. that no fireman dared face it. A number of them were there, wondering how long Burt could remain inside, oo and the old man came tumbling out, gasping and There’s the old man!” and they made a drag them both out of harm’s way. Burt soon re- Syren vn i ihe jdspital, “Pye swallowed smoke enough to make all my inside black,” Burt said to Joe Hulsey, as soon as he, could speak. out. Where is he?” “They sent him to the hospital,” some one said. There was blood on Burt’s face where the old man had scratched him, but he did not seem to Mind it. They would not let him do anything more, as all the people liying in the’ house were out, The one from which the old man was taken out never really caught fire. The burning rags in the cellar, whence came the black smoke, were soon drenched with But the other four houses were a total loss, burning to the ground on account of the accident to Edgewood No. 2. goon as it was safe to do so, the police permitted the ‘whipped, who lived in the house that was saved to return to EDGEWOOD NO. 2. “He’s trying 4 When they ah. to 4S, bark ise ey the engineer, who | had never left the engine, looking for something alone ‘the street with a lantern in His hand. “What are you looking for, Mack?” Burt asked him. “The nut of the wheel that came off,” was the reply. “How came it off?” another asked. i “That’s what I would like to know. It was eee off by somebody. ed “Are you sure of that?” Burt asked him. “Yes, I am sure of it.” “Well, let’s get the engine back into the house and then investigate it.” ° It was not an easy thing to do: A fire engine is a very” | heavy vehicle, and it took them many hours to get the wheel on and keep it on till they could get it back: to its eh ae, But they finally succeeded. “Now see here, boys,” said hefner Mack, “eyer since ‘im was made your engineer this engine has never been out with- |out being thoroughly inspected by me on its return—eyery joint and nut and screw being: examined by Me in person. When I came in to-night from supper I examined each wheel and tried the nut with the wrench, the fireman holding the light for me at the time.” “That’s true,” said Bill Stokely, the fireman, “So you see somebody took off that nut while I weg stairs at the meeting,” said Mack. The members looked hard at each other, their tates wear ing expressions that were puzzles to decipher, : “Who could have done it?” k That question came up in the mind of every one present. What was the motive of the guilty one? That was another puzzle. They went home a very much disgusted lot of firemen, and pet the old man was half dead, and had to he sent|the next day learned that the four houses that were burned | down belonged to Jerry Morgan, the contractor, a The papers also stated that three of the houses could have “Phat | been saved without damage but for the accident ’ ‘to. Edgewood - - old fellow fought like a tiger, saying he wanted his box taken | No. 2, in whose district the fire was, Burt was at breakfast when the doorbell rang. ‘He went to the door to see who was there. ‘“Hello, Joe! Tt was Joe Hulsey, Come in!” he said to him. Joe went in, and taking Burt by the arm, said: “Burt, I think I know Who removed that nut from the engine | wheel last night.” ‘ “The deuce you do!” } | “Yes, though I can’t swear 2 it, yet I believe be way dow, in my soul.” : “Well, who did it?” ts “Jerry Morgan.” SSS Naa Burt actually staggered. E epe i Mee “Joe, I can’t believe it,” he finally remarked, shaking aa. tek apartments, Scores of neighbors assisted them in carry-| head. “He wouldn’t dare do such a thing.” Paw tyeir furniture back to their rooms, and hence for hours| “Jerry Morgan is one of the most unreasonable men in a"? eam of people went in and out and up and down the; Edgewood. In a fit of rage he left the hall last night," ‘yor stairs. Ait.r’ ht long the several families were busy setting} Yengeance on the entire company for expelling things to rig %3 and abies account of He cps of damages | passed downstairs right by the engine when no on _ they had sustained, there,” Still Burt shook his head. pe He could not believe it possible that. Morgan none 0 a peat and said so in so-many words. \ ne CHAPTER aa you Serenisit and expelling him. F | “That is merely your suspicion, Joe. Won will a The meeaband of No. 2 returned to their quarters after the | trouble if you speak of it 4 any one. Just let it alo fire, wondering how it was that a wheel should come off their | wait and watch.” engine at such a. critical moment. They were severe in their] “Of course. But don't ‘inet sited eT: have ‘told. yo remarks about the carelessness of the engineer, whose duty it. It seems like a retribution that ‘his | Property "t it was Me een the peg in 1 B00. order, at all paid La be het of his ee JOE ‘HULSEY’S SUSPICIONS.
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sere “Oh, he is insured, I guess,” Burt remarked. . “Of course. He keeps all his property insured; but the imsurance hasn’t been paid yet,” and Joe shook his head in a way that told how determined he was. in the matter. 5 ‘Just as Joe was going to leave the engineer’s fireman knocked at the door. “There’s Bill,” said Joe, as Burt went to the door. / “Hello, Bill!” “Mack says come ‘down to No. 2 as soon as you can,” said Bill, and the next moment he turned and hurried away. “TJ guess Mack has found out something,” remarked Joe, ‘who had heard what Bill said. ° “Yes—let’s go down and see what it is, _to his room for his hat. - They left the house together and walked down the street _ to the engine-house. “What is it, Mack?” Burt asked. “A Man has been here to see you,” the engineer Replies: ““What did he want?” “THe says the old man whom you dragged out of the house last night is an old miser of the name of Mathews. He had ‘a box of bonds and gold which he was trying to get out when you jumped on him, knocked him down and dragged him out. . When. he came to in the. hospitak he made such a fuss about ths pox the doctors let him go, and he made a beeline for his house. The box had been broken open and robbed, and the old man is in a rage, swearing you had robbed him.” » “Great Scott!” gasped Burt. Joe laughed and said: “Tough, eh?” “Well, I should say so,” and a look of ‘diseust\ was on Burt’s ; face” as he listened to the engineer’s story. “It’s’ enough to ' ‘make one resign from any fire company. This is the second time in two weeks, Joe.” “Yes. I am your pal in the first case, you know,” and Joe ‘ hashed again, i es “Phere are people who believe an accused man is always a guilty. They can’t understand why one man should risk his life at fires unless it is to take advantage of the opportunities thus afforded to steal valuables.” ASE guess you are right, * assented Joe. “You hayen’t found the nut yet?” Burt asked of Mack. “No. I have ordered another one.” ‘ “Made any discoveries?” . “Yes. The wrench with which I tighten up the nuts and screws was used by some one last night. I always place it in a certain position in My box for convenience sake. When aD: found it last night it had been dropped pape into the box ype 3 ‘quite a different way.” } soe yf “That shows that it was done by some ¢ one who knew where x" "you ‘kept your fools.” ; “Yes, of course.” ate ‘My pox! Where is my box, you thieves!” cried a voice at. he front door, and on looking around they saw an old man, poorly dressed, running toward them with a wild Wok in his res. rN ‘That's: the’ old man!” said Joe, wlio had seen him the _ night before. Burt had not seen him, for the old fellow was faken to the hospital before Burt Serre from strangula-.- ” said Burt, going oe “My box! , Give me my box, you thieves!” the old man cried, rushing up 45 the says eats and clutching him savagely by tte nae ut tat my room ‘last night, pekaae 5 ; said. Burt, ee eer you out. mee saved : EDGEWOOD a oe “ ; : : = — Ret ! eyes. NO. 2. your life, You made a. great fuss about a box,’ but the smoke was——” “You robbed me, you young villain! You stole my gold, my bonds and diamonds!” and he sprang at his throat like a demon or a maniac. Burt tried to defend himself, but the attack was so fierce and sudden he was borne to the floor. with the old miser’s long, bony fin gers. clutching his throat. . CHAPTER _XIIl. THE MYSTERIOUS NOTE, The fierce onslaught on Burt by the en miser see to both Joe and Mack., They stood by and looked on for a few prief moments, ee ; lieving that Burt could easily throw him off. But to their utter amazement they saw that he was but an sie in a fierce old. man’s hands, * Just as the two went down on the floor, with the long, bony» fingers of the old miser clutched. about Burt’s throat like + bands of steel, both Mack and Joe sprang forward to separate them. They seized the old man and tried to drag Him away, but he held on with the tenacity of a bulldog. Mack ‘seized him by the feet and ran toward the further side of the door with him. Burt was dragged along ‘also. mn ““Hold on, Mack!” eried Joe. et Mack stopped, and Joe tried to unloose the old man’ on Burt's throat, But they were like bands of steel—’ Sipe. attenuated fingers. } ; “Iss Whack! ag ; f fe bh fe Biff! 7380.) -Thump! anes se Joe gave him three blows on the side of the aed, and “the. old ‘man let go—knocked senseless. a Burt sprang to his feet, almost black in the face from the x choking he had received, and was going to resume ieee lca when Joe caught and held him. \ ; ; a “Let go of me, Joe!” cried Burt, hoarse with rage. aay Ne me get at him!” Sa aa te | “Keep cool, Burt,” said Joe. “He is an She pri hs ah a ce “TI don’t care how old he is. He can’t come choking ‘me like a dog!” and in a moment Joe was’in a fierce struggle on with him to keep him from getting at the old man. 9 The old man came to very quickly, for Mack had let so his hold on him. As soon as he found himself free he sprang Glee at Burt again. Joe drew off and let them have the matte 2 in their own hands. Quick as a flash the old man tiade a clutch at Burt’s t less % But the young fireman dealt him blow after blow in thi ey till he went down with stars flashing before his eyes. jen in Burt stood oyer him, looking ett at him, his eyes | x : ing like a tigress. 4 Sie eal “Don’t hit when he is down, Burt,” said Joe, an /4 aRCE NL “TI won’t, but if you fellows interfere with ‘ne again I'll kill you!” : The old man pulled himself together and serambled to ‘his feet, crying out:” \ “My, box! Give me my 7 bee or [’ll kill you! re and he ones at Burt’s throat again. i ; ’ Burt downed him with a tremendous | blow betw fireman, only to be fonda: once nianel “Come, Burt, let up on fis ried.
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up and attaeks mé I’ll down him. If you interfere 1’ kill _ you!” He seemed to be satisfied with that, for he sat on the floor, erying out: : “My box! Give me my box!” “Hang you and your box!” returned Burt. “I never saw it and know nothing about it. Why don’t you go to the i police, and have them find it for you?” »-’*They would rob me!” he exclaimed. “They would take my gold, my bonds, my diamonds!” and he wrung his hands in an agony of avaricious selfishness. . “See here, you stingy old fool!” eried Burt. “Why do you -aceuse-me of taking your gold and bonds? I sayed your life and you accuse me of robbing you!” “They said it was you who took me out, pulled me away from my box, and I have not seen it since, They say you stole a diamond cross off a baby. My gold! My gold! Give me my gold!” and he sprang at Burt again. But Mack and Joe held him. '“See here, old man, I am sorry your. gold is gone. I never stole a penny’s worth of anythihg in my life. I never so much as.saw your box. I heard you erying out and gasping in the room. iI ran in, unable to see an inch before my nose, caught hold of you and dragged you out. You fought me all the way out, yelling for your box. Had I left you there you would have died by your box. I am sorry I did not leave you alone, a ome ink a man who loves gold as you do ought to die by ig Jife and roast in fire through all efetnity. If you Teply. i : n 7 i “Why, shor ¥ theft again P’ll kill you as sure as my name is You hate Burt seatied came hissing hot through Burt’s teeth, and even bs seemed to besawed by his fierce earnestness. si She inan,” said Joe, “Burt came out of the house /\ never went back again, as hundreds of people and all the dremen can swear. As the house did not burn, the differen families who live there all went back into it, and, scores of people assisted them in carrying their goods in; 80 you see that a good many people had a chance to take your box,-as you were not there to look after it. Hire a good detective to look after it for you and you may get it.” “Detectives cost ante said the old miser, shaking his head. — “Yes, but if he finds your gold you would be glad enough to pay him.” “No-——no—I can’t pay him!” and the old wretch again wrung his hands in distress, moaning: “My gold! My gold! My gold!” i Send him about his business,” said Burt. “We have no time to fool with him. If he isn’t crazy he ought to be horse- “hipped.” i iheek led him to the door and said to him: i jhgn't come here again. You might be worse hurt ‘nas ; —y 8 vare.” and he shoved him out. ~ The old Ytmen went away and the three firemen resumed their discussion of the accident to the engine the night before. The engineer ‘was positive that the mischief had been done _ while the members were all upstairs at the meeting. j “T agree with-you,” said Joe, “and we'll find out who did, At OO “Don’t accuse anyone ti you have. some ‘tangible proof, Joe,” said Burt. “No, but I’ll look for the. proof till I fina SS Re vai he shook his head in a very determined way. ibe she . “Whom do you suspect, Joe?” the engineer satin: , “Wait and I'll tell you in time,” Joe replied. : “tf I knew who it is I might help you look for proof,” sug- | 1 ee Joe and the latter was silent, EDGEWOOD NO. 2 eee The old Man caMe up again and went down the third time. * Two of the other members came in at that moment, and the talk became general on the subject of the accident, By and | by the chief of the fire department came in to see what he could learn about the matter. “We must have an investigation,” the chief said. “Of course,” assented all the others. “There was no care- lessness here,” the engineer added. “I inspected the engine a half hour before the alarm sounded, assisted by Bill Stokely here.” “Tt was manieeus mischief, . mndoutstadiye” remarked the chief. “But who has any malice against Edgewood No. 2?” No one answered, and the chief gave an inqviring chase at the firemen around him. During the day the engineer received a note trough the mail, to which no name was signed. ” It read: “You will find the nut from your engine wheel somewhere inthe vacant lot on the corner above the engine-house.” \ Tt was written in a disguised feminine hand. Mack did not waste any time speculating on the handwriting, but set off at once, accompanied by three members of the company, to. search the vacant lot. © \ “There it is, by George!” exclaimed Bill Stokely, Tee across the lot and picking it up. are. Mack inspected it and found it to be the missing nut, the” absence of which had. proved so ‘disastrous: to the four houses burned the night before. | They returned to the engine-house and ‘singe it in position — again, after which they again examined the note. No one knew the handwriting, and so it became a deep mystery. ' Word was sent to Burt at his home, and he hastened to the ~ engine-house to see the note, He read it very carefully and said: n “T don’t know the handwriting. % That evening the entire membership: was on hand, and the note was passed around. Every member shook his head in a puzzled sort of way as” he looked at and read it. They went home completely mystified. : Soi Alan CHAPTER XIV. ae BURT RECEIVES AN UNSIGNED NOTE AND DOWNS JERRY. MORGAN. As a matter of course, the unsigned note etented B, ea : tion, not only among the firemen, but all over the city. The 3 chief of police sent an officer to the engine-house to see the note. Then, late in the aftertioon, an insurance agent ees) and asked to see it. — *y Hoping that indentification ie follow, Mack i aa ei him. He read it carefully, and then ba dik one from his. pocket, Opened it and said: CATS Beceem os “The same hand wrote both.” ise SEY. “Let. me see yours,” said’ Mack. : “Yes, of course, but say nothing ida its. contents: an the matter is cleared up.” eat: 3 ; i Mack read it in utter amazement. ats east apie gs “Mr. ‘Comataud: 4! it ran, “p seo in . the papers ‘tht several a the houses burned on Bailey sireet night before last are in- * sured in companies represented by you. © if you knew sy vause of the accident to Edgewood No. 2 fire- -engine I d believe your company would pay the: oe money. : es) rm rat, ean ‘anyway. You had better Investignt ‘fore: Labatt
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, eo) =) Be Mee EDGEWOOD. NO. 2. ; oe j eet ‘Like the other note, no name was signed to it. “Do yow know a,man with auch a scar on his left hand, — . “Both were written by the same hand,” said Mak, as he| Mack?” Burt asked. : looked oyer them. Mack shook his head, saying: “Of course they were,” said the insurance agent; “but what} “I don’t believe I do, Burt.” Ma do you think of this one?” ; “Well, it’s one of the mysteries I can’t warayeh 4 *T don’t know what to think except to say that the writer “Maybe it will unravel itself after awhile,” Mack remarked. — + of the notes must know something about that accident. We] ~! don’t like to wait in a matter of this kind, I can stand found the nut where the note told us to look for it.” anything but suspense.” “Well, I’m going to have it investigated by a New York] “I don’t see how you can do otherwise." 4 : % detective,” the agent: remarked. “JT don’t, either, hut Iam going to try to find out who woes ‘ *That’s right. Who owned those houses, Mr, Copeland?” | these notes,” and he turned away, putting the note back into — “Jerry Morgan.” his pocket. Before leaving the engine-house, however, he “So I heard, but I didn’t know whether or not it was} pledged Mack to secrecy. as regarded the note he had just true.” received. “Is it true that he was expelled from the company on the} 4 few days later, while he was at wank for Dan Truman,’ night of the fire?” a man called on him, asked if he was Burt Briggs and said ak 65 ee he wanted to see him privately. Do you think he bad anything to do with the fire? “My time belongs to my employer,” he replied. “I can see — “ %. . . I never thought of it. He couldn’t have been there, for the | yoy after six at the engine-house.” ; alarm came after he left here.” “Ty am a detective, employed by the insurance company _ _ “But the nut on the engine wheel?” to? , : NEY Mack sae hard at the agent for an entire minute with-| - *Ye5— yas t understand,” safdbunt. takerMnpeines Aiea pee plodding, honest fellow, bu a of us have any right to waste ‘the time that belongs to our necte puzzles. employers.’ ; s ™ “I don’t, know,” he finally takai = The agent, seeing he ae not get him to say more on the “Yes—ask away, but you must be a sni ide si aa ri "subject, went away. asking questions publicly.” wi, «At the very same moment the agent was showing his un-| mye qotective turne 4G ved. in tha tase wae saiiey ee ~slignea note to the engineer of Edgewood No. 2 Burt Briggs | was reading a similar one at his home, which he had just a SSadvatvad through the mail, It was undated as well as un- signed, and read: t “You seem to be a very bright young man ane. “That is more than you seem to be,” Burt re’ ae ing at his work while the other workmen chuek’/ “You won't give me any information. then_ fg zane “No, not till I know who you are.” ~ er “My name is Benson, Here is’ my shield.” * Fag “Haven't time to look at it. Meet me at the engine-house - of Edgewood No. 2 after six o’clock and I’ll ook Ee a The detective was angry, and was going to say seers, ss hot, when Joe Hulsey, who was Truman’s foreman, said; “See here, my friend, just get out of this now. Yon can’t come here and stop my men from work to help you on with your business without a permit from our boss, we: seals under- stand?” 4 y i ; “Yes, I think I do. But I thought that young Briggs was as much interested as the company is,” “That may be, but as he is an honest man he never ‘tak his employer’s time to attend to his own business.” “Very particular—very, indeed,” the man sneered, as he turned away. va “That fellow is a queer detective, I uae ieee lant marked, as the man walked off down the street. — “J don’t know much about the detective ee ya er @ Burt, “but I have an idea that a good detective keeps his glean ness pretty well to himself.” Seat “Qf course he does. If eyery man he talked to jae he was a probing detective he would get yory few points.” When the day’s work was, done, Burt wended his way home- ward.. About halfway home he saw Jerry Morgan, the con- tractor, atanding on the corner with both hands in his Dockets. ‘i He was going to pass him when ‘Morgan caught him by the: seh arm, saying: ! “Here, young man, “I want to gee you!” ‘Burt stopped and faced him. _ He was carrying a small. pot , “The man who has your cross of gold also has a sear on his iv nes ge i left hand at’ the base of the thumb. I saw it in his pos- ; 5 session.” Burt was a picture of amazement when he read that. He gazed at it like one in a dream for several minutes. Then he sprang up and paced his room to and fro for many minutes, after which he seized his hat and dashed out of the house. Five minutes later he darted into the engine-house and led out to Mack: ¥ “Let me see that note again?” Mack gave it to him. “He produced the'one he had received and held them close th Pee - *Both written by the same hand,” he exclaimed. | “You have one, too?” the seared asked in astonishment. “That’s three!” “Three!” gasped Burt. “What do you mean, Mack?” ~.“& man has just left here with one in the same hand- writing,” ‘ “Who is he, and abiat is his note about?” “He is Copeland, the insurance agent, and the note warns him not to pay the insurance on Morgan’s houses until he first finds out about the removal of the nut on the engine ; thse): » ‘ Burt gave a prothdeed whistle’ expressive of a vast amount of ‘astonishment, arian th took the note out of his hand and ni “Yes, all three were written by an same hand: ” he said, as he finished reading it. “And you want to find the writer just ae quick as you can, Burt.” of paint in his right hand. “Of course, but how can 12”. “Well, what is it?” he asked. : / Mack shrugged his shoulders like a Frenchman and handed} “Did you write to the insurance agent n _ Bae note back to him pes ferns insurance on my houses tntil—*
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rhe se ethan a as EDGEWOOD NO, 2. *stion. Sure you didn’t?” Yes—quite sure,” was the quiet reply: Do you know who did?” ‘No.” »“Sure of that, too?” : “Yes.” “Well, some of you fellows did, and if I can find him out Vl make him wish he had never been born.” : “Will you let meask you some questions now, Mr, Morgan?” urt asked him. “Yes, of course.” “Did you take the nut off that wheel when you went down- tairs that night?” ; Morgan turned white, then red, and blurted out: _ “No! Who says I did?” } “I have heard no one say so, but every member of Edge- ‘wood No. 2 knows that you went down alone when no one | Was below, and a few minutes later the nut was missing, and | your houses were destroyed in consequence. I am quite sure the majority of the members believe you did it.” Again did he turn white and red by turns; but he recovered and said: *¥ don’t believe you. the whol 3 business.” “What Vjusiness?” Burt asked. That of trying to turn suspicion against me,” Teply. - “Why, should 1?” ‘You, hate me.” Burt smiled and replied: ST neither lover £) r hate’ you. be * em a ‘fiat shes y - “Pen thousand furies! I’ll choke the life out of you!” and the irascible contractor made a clutch at his throat. Burt jumped back. Morgan sprang forward and made another grab at him. Quick as a flash Burt hurled the pot of paint in his face. It was quite heavy—some ten or twelve pounds in weight— - and the contractor went down like a log, stars dancing before his eyes, and paint flowing over his face and garments. — T believe you are at the bottom of was the df I believe, though, that you CHAPTER XV. “7D DIEn FOR HIM!” ~The moment Jerry Morgan fell at full length on the ground from the effect of the blow given him by Burt Briggs with. + pen OF of paint, an explosion that shook the entire city © was ards : Burt widetea and looked in the atrection of the noise, and saw a dense volume of smoke coiling up over an immense , pbuilding some three or four blocks away. “Good heavens!” he gasped. “The Bosna, “tactory has blown up. That means a fire,” and he dashed away toward the engine-house of Edgewood No. 2 as fast as his heels could _ carry him, He reached there just as the fire bell rang out a] A general alarm. . i _ Ere any other fireman but Mack, the engineer, ‘appeared he had on his fireman’s hat, red shirt, and trumpet slung over his shoulder by the cord. - “Hurry, boys!” he cried, as the firemen dashed in. are lives at stake in that fire! Let her go!” Arte He dashed out, and the ‘engine went ‘thundering after him. aking 3 a short, cut, he got there a few seconds ahead ot | two went up and relieved him of the burden. Cees I did not,” Burt replied, not waiting for him to finish the| the engine, and eclectodt the parant he wanted. acon ton No. 2 was nearly - sixty seconds ahead of any other engine. . ‘j- At every window in ‘the upper story of the factory young | women and girls, and some men_ and boys, were frantically calling for help. The boiler below had exploded; tearing away the sited and elevator, portions of the wall and part of the flooring in the southeast corner, To add to the horror of the scene, a large ean of oil in the engineer’s quarters had been ented clear across the immense hall, and struck the. wall, scattering sev- eral gallons all over a lot of inflammable material. It ignited, and the operatives in that quarter had to fice for their ifves, making no efforts to extinguish the flames. “Up with the ladder!” cried Burt, as the other engines dashed up. “Your water through that window on the left! That’s it! Get out those girls as quick as you can!” Firemen ran up the ladders like squirrels, a girl was brought down, many of them more frightened than — hurt. But there were so many of them that some seemed doomed to roast ere they could be rescued. “Good heavens!” exclaimed Burt, “there are +g girls bi the roof! They are doomed sure!” The next moment he sprang up one of the ladders hime and disappeared through one of the windows, landing’ in midst of a group of screaming girl operatives., => ~ ‘ How he reached the roof he never knew, so great was the girl after confusion about him. To his amazement he found one of — ; the girls up there to be Eunice Lofton, The anne bei ck he did not know. “Oh, Burt!” cried Hunice, the moment she ‘saw him, “can, * you save us?” “T will try. It’s a slim chance. to the roof, and there’s a mass of girls and boys at each window on the top floor. We can’t get through. whem: Many of them will burn, I fear.” “Why can’t we go downstairs?” the other girl asked, “The stairs were blown away by the explosion,” plied, shaking his read. “Are we lost, then?” Hunice asked, yery cool and ates, so unlike her conduct when her own home was burned - down, j “While there is life there is hope,” he said. “The flames’ a have not gotten through the roof yet. Ah! I see one chance,” : j the lightning rod came up from the ttm i He seized hold -of the rod and shook it. The two girls, pale as death, followed him. as ‘though atraid he would leave them to their fate. “You won’t leave us?” the unknown ‘girl said to him. “No,” he said. “If I can’t save you f£ will die with you.” “You must save yourself if you can’t save us,” cried Bunice. hold opto me. To lose your hold is to drop to certain death. — ‘Clasp your arms round my neck—your right arm over my right shoulder and your left arm under my left shoulder _ clasping your hands on me ee That's ‘it! 2 woe now |-and hold fast!” It was the unknown girl who had cave 3 hola ie nhs, fie caught a firm hold on the rod and began to let himself down. A wild cheer greeted him from below. ass ladder lying on the ground near by. They van it aD, and : “Thank God for. that,” he gasped. a3 ‘Then he looked up and saw the face of Bunies Lofton ‘ing down at him. She was eee flat on oe roof, be ch ae H Alge roof. " The ladders ee reach Burt Cee oh and he darted away to the further end of. the roof to where * “T can carry you down this rod, one at a time, if you can $f Down, down he went, slowly and painfully, for ‘the girl was |a solid 150-pounder, and she held on like grim death. Ee When halfway down some of- the firemen found a painter's - A
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20 EDGEWOOD NO. 2. He waited a moment or two to recover from the terrible strain, and then went back up the rod, hand over hand, while the thousands of spectators below were yelling and cheering the rescue of the other girl. “Miss Lofton,” he said, as he climbed over the edge of the roof, “that was an awful strain on me. We may both fall— I am as weak as a child.” *Save yourself, then,” she said. You shall not die on my account. twice.” “Tf I can’t save you we'll die together,” he replied. “Leave me to my fate. I am not worth saving “Burt Briggs, would you die for me?” she asked, locking’ him full in the face. ; “Yes, if it is necessary to save your life.” _ A roaring noise behind her ¢aused her to look eros The flames had burst through the roof and great red tongues of flame shot upward, hissing, crackling and roaring with | fiery glee. “CGome—better fall than roast!” and Burt sprang to his feet, “Have you strength to hold on to me as your friend did?” “Yes;” she replied. , “Then catch hold and cling to me for dear life. You are not so heavy as she was by twenty pounds or more,’ “and he climbed over the edge of the) burning roof with her on his back The crowd below gazed up in a horror. of sus- pense. It was plain to all that he was overstrained and weak. pr dig fireman on that side of the building stopped .work to gaze up at the perilous situation. Two stalwart fellows ran up to the. top of the painter’s ladder to assist him. Down, down he went, till just as he was about to fall, the two firemen relieved him of his burden. “Brace up, Burt!” cried one of them. “She igs safe.” Eunice promptly fainted when she saw she had been saved. ‘One of the men bore her down the ladder, and the other as- sisted Burt down. With a wild yell the others rushed forward, lifted him on their. shoulders, and bore him away in a half fainting con- dition. . ! _. Hunice and her companion were taken to the house ot a workingman across the street, where they both soon recoy- ered from the shock of their terrible experience. “Let me down, boys,” Burt said to the firemen. work yet to do.” _ “You’vye done enough!” they cried. “They are all out!” yelled someone. “Let the water do the rest!” cried others. The four streams of water soon got the best of the flames, though the explosion had made a wreck of the factory. “Is No. 2 doing her duty?” Burt asked. 24 That’s a “There’s “Yes, yes! Hooray for No. 2!” ; ... Cheers and yells greeted him on every side. Someone handed him water to drink and he drank eagerly. In a few moments. they bore him to the cottage where the two Bits; had been taken and set him down. “Stay here now!” cried_Joe Hulsey, “and take a rest, We'll : attend to the work over there!” and sae left him sitting in a chair on the little porch. . _ Suddenly Nannie Truman ran out from the crowd of spac- ..tators,: ‘darted through the gate and sprang. aD the steps to his side, caught his hand and said: _ (“1 saw it all, Burt, lived! ee, “And you are the sweétest git, Nan!” he replied. oe eo rosy ‘Ted and a happy light Lyenees in her} eyes. i 4) You are the iri man that ever He didn’t know that Eunice and her friend were in the room behind him. Suddenly Eunice came out and stood by his side, a hand on his shoulder, and said: “Nannie, he saved my life twice, and each time nearly lost his own. I went up on the roof with Miss Boyden, the presi- — dent of the ‘company’s daughter, to see the view irom there. That’s how we came there. Just think how it came about He saved me the second time. He told me he would rdiiezd me, and—-and—I would die for him—the bravest man that evey lived!” Nannie turned white as a sheet, pressed a hand over her heart and staggered away, losing herself in a moment in the — vast throng of people surging by the cottage gate. CHAPTER XVI. “BURT AND WAN, When Burt looked round for Nannie Truman she had gone. ‘ : “Where is Nan?” he asked. 3 “She went away a minute or two ago,” said Bunice, you wish to see her, Burt?” “I didn’t know she had gone,” he replied: | “She went away as if in a hurry about somebaioe,” and she ran into the house, pulling him along by the ayn want to introduce you to Bessie Boyden, whose father ie the factory. You saved her, too.” Bessie grasped his hand and said: ‘ “T owe you my life, Mr. Briggs. I don’t know how to thant you enough. My life is at your commander Tt ig not mine, but } yours.” BHunice was amazed, i She glared at her friend with the fierce stare of 's a tigrese,) while Burt bent over her hand, kissed it and said: i “T was fortunate in reaching you. You were fortunate in knowing how to hug a fellow round the neck. I believe that ¥ is the best grip of both of you.” d Both girls screamed with laughter. It was an adroit change of the situation, wicked) matin Oe | them noticed at the time. They laughed and blushed, and — he remarked: ey perio th é “I’m ahead of the other fellows on the hugs. But for — heaven’s sake keep away from fires!” ara “Don’t you want us to hug you any more?” i$ “Not so near the fire, and when so many people are looking at us. The. truth is, I am very bashful.” They laughed again, and then she te tame in and (Pat, wD stop to the badinage. pa: reat The news had been carried to the Loftons that. mania’ Seva | been in another fire, and the entire family came in thee > riage to see about it. The mother and sister became, ‘hyst? a % when they saw her. Bessie Boyden’ s mother and father came, ee too, and then Burt slipped away. : Ten minutes later he reached his hipaa i Nannie Truman was there telling the widow all about wha Burt had done. The mother ran to him, crying out: “Are you hurt again, Burt?” “No, mother, not a mere) ” he replied. . away for, Nan?” ty “T_T thought I was in re way,” oe replied. NEE “In the way!” and he caught her by the arm. “1 what you mean by that, Nan. How Lois you be way?” : “She seemed to think T ‘was in nae ny a What aia you ruin
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EDGEWOOD NO. 2” ; =, for you, and as I didn’t care to see either of you die I came away,” and there was a ring of desperation and defiance ih her voice as she spoke. Burt looked hard at her for a minute or so, during which time she tried to pull loose from him, But he held on to her. “See here, Nan,” he said, “I did say I would die with her if I could not save her. I would not leave any girl to burn .and save Myself, and she asked me if I would die for her and aid yes. Do you understand me; Nan?” ; »~*"Fyer whole face changed. The color came and went and her eyes had a soft, expectant light in them. She hung her head and looked down at the floor. “Yes, I understand,” she said, in a low tone of voice. love her.” “T love you!” he blurted out, jerking her to him impetu- ously, and clasping her round the waist, “and if you don’t Say you love me I’ll walk into the next fire and stay there.” “Tf you do I’ll walk into the one after and stay there!” she replied. “Oh, Burt! ‘ I—I—love you, and—and——” “You She laughed in her joy, while tears filled her eyes, and Burt knew she was his. His mother had gone into the dining- room, not dreaming that such avowals were coming. He ran her into where she was, crying out: “Mother, mother! Nan and I are engaged!” The widow opened wide her arms, and Nannie ran to her, Said the wide -: NS pee YCWVES AY bs: ver! “Oh, I wasjq Bunice Lofton would take him away h from me!” S¢ kissing the widow, and then looking shyly 9 round | “she, isn’t lyeet as you,” he retorted. “But. she. iq_—_ f pet “give you up for a million of rich girls.” pee said you told her you would die for her, I felt as though I wanted to die then and there. . = won't let her eharm you away from me, Burt?” “TH stand security for him, dear,” the widow said. - you go home tell your mother all about it. Don’t keep it a “secret from her.” Nan put on her hat and was going to run home at once in her great joy. Burt called her back. She came to him and he put his arm round her neck and kissed her. She darted ottt and ran home, her heart leaping like a _ @aged bird all the way. Of course her parents were glad, for they loved Burt and had often wished he and Nannie would love each other. » “Y was afraid one of those romantic rich girls would win him just because he had saved her life,” said Mrs. Truman _ to her husband. «But our Nan is the best of all,” remarked Dan, “and Burt pees “the good sense to see it.” wou are just the girl I want for a daugh- relieve the glatiness in her heart. She had not been gone ten minutes ere a knocking at the door of the Briggs’ cottage called the widow’s attention to that quarter. On opening the door she saw a man there with a paper in his hand. “Are you Mrs. Briggs?” the man asked. “ves, sir,” - “Ig your son Burt at home?” , “Yes, sir. Will you come in?” “Thank you—no. Please send him to nee door ‘for a minute or so. # { A “She called Burt and he came to ‘the door. “re you Burt Briggs?” the, man asked. ; oe apse oy, name,” ela vepliety “When. ee Nan went. about the house singing, singing = a bird to employ a lawyer to defend him.’ He entered the ‘house sand ek | and then went back into’ the dining-room, i stung by a hornet. “Well, I have a warrant here for your arrest, charged Log : assault on the person of Jeremiah Morgan.” g “Ah! Has he done that?” “Yes, it seems so,” the man replied. “What in the world does it mean!” _ exclaimed Mrs. ries in great alarm. Burt quickly explained the matter to her, sayings.) j “T’ll go see Judge Lofton, and come home again in an hour or two. It is but a small matter.” He went with the officer, and on the way passed the engine-» ; house. He asked ‘Mack to send word to Judge Lofton to please see him at the sheriff’s office right away. ; Mack sent a messenger at once to the judge’s office, and he met Burt at the sheriff’s office, saying to that officer; “J am ready to go on this young man’s bail bond for any amount.” ee “He couldn’t have a better bondsman,” the sheriff remarked, and the matter was soon arranged. Burt thanked the judge and hastened back home to relieve the anxiety of his mother. When he reached there he found Mrs. Truman with his mother. They both made him tell all'that had happened to © him, after which Mrs. Truman returned home. She told * Nannie what had happened. “Jerry Morgan had him arrested,” Nan exclamed, her eyes — blazing with indignation. “Oh, but he will repent at “Wes will repent it as long as he lives!” ese V8 “Well, don’t you say anything about it, dear,” sanitised ve her mother. “He will repent it bitterly,” repeated Nannie. “Did you say Burt knocked him down with a pot of paint, mother?” “Yes, that’s what he was arrested for,” her mother re- plied. y “T am glad. Burt did that.” Mrs. Truman smiled at the manner and’ tone of Nannie, and then went about her household work, little dreaming of — what her daughter meant when she said Jerry Morgan’ wolld bitterly repent having had Burt arrested. i) Several days passed, and Burt was served with papers in = a suit for damages by Morgan, who claimed that a ‘thirty- dollar suit of clothes had been ruined by the paint vee mae ‘been emptied over him by the young fireman. | “T wonder if he will bring any more’ suits against me?” ae Burt said, as he read the papers. nee “That is more than I know,” said the man who had endee: them. “I know that he has no love for you or the Seti if of Edgewood No. 2.” eis “T hardly think they will hang his picture on’ the wall,” ae Ae marked Burt, as he put the papers in his ae 4 CHAPTER XVI. a ea oth NANNIE TRUMAN TELLS HER SECRET. “i el Burt Briggs went home with the papers of the suit in his pocket, thinking the matter over, and wondering if he ‘should went to his room. His mother followed him to say that ‘Mrs. i Truman had sent her a note by a neighbor’s little ‘girl asking D her to come over in the evening as she wished to see her. “You'll have to Zo, too, Burt, iy she Sales: Mas Tr — sale ; myself in the evening.” ; “Of course. ‘Did she ask for me, 002" Tae ea 1 “No; here’s the note,” and she gave him the note to rea, als ae Burt glanced over they as sa RPEaae his feet 3
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’ that matter. ‘read it. He was watching her face all the time. of a man with the scar she had described in the note. on 22 agers — “Great Scott!” he gasped, looking at the note again. Then he felt in his pocket for the note he had received a few days before in reference to his missing cross of gold.’ He held them side by side, and looked first at one and then at the other. “The same hand almost, and the same paper,” he muttered to himself, “I must find out about this. I don’t remember ever seeing her handwriting before, or Nan’s, either, as for ‘I won’t say anything to mother about it, but wait and see what I can find out about it.” That evening he went over to the Trumans with his mother. Of course he and Nannie paired off and went into the parlor, leaving their mothers in the room where Dan Truman was still confined with his broken leg. They were like any other young lovers on such occasions, and enjoyed themselves. only as ‘young lovers can. But by and by Burt said: » “Nan, I want to know who wrote this note to mother?” and he gave her a note to read. She turned pale for a moment or two, and then asked: “Why do you want to know?” “Did your mother write it?” he asked, évading her query. “No; I wrote it for her,” she answered. “Did you write this one, too?” and he gave her the un- signed note avout the gold cross. ~ She locied frightened and turned all sorts of colors as she He was con- vineed from her actions that she wrote it. “Mell me all about it,'dear,” he’ said. “J—J—oh, Burt, you won’t laugh at me, will you?” she stammered. t “No; dear. What does it mean?” She told him how she had seen the gold cross in the hands He seemed astonished.” “Why, you fell asleep in your chair and. dreamed it, Nan!” ' he exclaimed. » “No, I was not asleep, Burk, I got up and went to him as he sat looking at the cross, and that is how I saw the scar on his hand.” ; _ “But you were up in your room, were you not?” he asked. “Yes” “Surely there was no eeaue man up there, Nan!” , “No, Burt, but I saw him nevertheless. _to account for it and am not going to try to, either, but I am cettain I was not asleep, and am still more certain that i AE ‘such a man has, or did have, your jewel.” _ Burt shook his head, squeezed her hand, and said: “Hereafter, Nan, don’t dream of seeing anything or anybody but me.” » “But IT wasn’t dreaming, Burt! * she eae with a good deal ’ of emphasis in her tone, “Were you awake when you saw the:nut from the engine wheel thrown into that vacant lot? Or did you dream of that, too?” : Nan started. “Did I say anything about that?” she asked. “Yes, in your note to Mack. You wrote that one, too; and the one to the insurance agent. I’ve seen both, Nan.” She was silent for several minutes as he sat gazing at her. Then she asked: “The nut was found there, was it not?” “Veg, ” “Then, if it was a dream, that was true, wasn’t it?” “Yes, it would seem so.” “Then why may not the other one be true also?” > “Tt may, for ad, know. Who cast that nut over into that tote? Lies Soph hy I don’t know how |}: grea 2. ae Moreen” p Burt sprang to his-feet and uttered an exclamation of amazement, \ “Nan, do you know that?” he asked. “Yes, Burt, I do know it to be true.” “Did you see him?” “Yes, I saw him take it off the wheel, and so did pnaiie girl—Josie Weyman.” a “Great Scott! Tell me all about it, Nan,” and he dropped back into his chair and took her hand again. “How came ° you to be out that night?” . “Tt took tea with Josie that evening, and she came back with me to spend the night with me. When we passed the engine-house we stopped and looked in. We saw Mr. Morgan come down the stairs, go-to a box, take up a wrench and unscrew the nut, drop the wrench back into the box, and go out with the nut in his hand. He didn’t see us as he passed out, for we stepped back into the shadows of the house to escape notice: When he went on up the street we followed, as it was our way home. We saw him throw something into the vacant lot, and heard it strike the ground first and the fence afterward, We didn’t think anything was wrong, at all, and not until I saw the fuss made in the papers about the acident did it occur to me that he was the cause of it, so I wrote a note to Mr. Mack and told him WheEs to look for the nut.” “Well, well, Nan!” exclaimed Burt” in e “somete world didn’t you tell me all this before?” | +P sedans Wiel “Because I. was afraid to. I didY then that yo isi loved me. I was afraid you might tI bold ang—_» ays we “That'll do, dear. You are just tps and smartest Pein. girl in all Edgewood.” “And you don’t think I was dre, ) “Well, I believe in your dreams,” Sohn laugichot. Gera “Will you see Josie and ask her to keep thé! Wecret, ont iy) nee, her to corroborate your story?” “Yes. Dll do anything for you, Burt.” “Bless you—and I’d die for you.” . “Oh, you said that to Hunice.” “Ves, but that was in the fire. I am in love now.” They could not keep love out of business, and who could blame them? They were young and deeply infatuated with — each other. I He promised to call the next evening to meet Josie Warman, there, and then went home with his mother. The next day he was again at work with Truman’s heads, Joe Hulsey gave him all the work he could. Burt had never shirked or slouched a job, and Joe knew he could depend on him for faithful work. Just as he was about to go home to eae the insurance u agent, Copeland, appeared at the building and asked they foreman to permit him to have a few minutes’ | talk Wd young Briggs. ; a +t = “Just wait ten minutes, please,” Joe replied. “He wi. strike off to go to dinner and then you can talk with him as” much as you wish.” Copeland waited and introduced himself as the agent who had insurance on the houses of Jerry Morgan, adding: — “The company has held up payment of fifteen thousand _ dollars insurance, believing that he was in some way respon- sible for the accident to Edgewood No. 2.0n the night of the fire. I have been told that you had told him to his face that | you beliéved he was the cause eS the BRA, Do ae know Tes anything about it?” “T know more than I can tell you, Mr. Copeland, ” ‘Burt re- plied, “but I am following up a clew that will in my opinion — fasten it upon him, You know he has had me belay on the [eharge o: of assault ula intent to kil?”
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EDGEWOOD NG 2. “No; I didn’t know he had charged you with intent to kill.” “Nor did I until several days after the arrest. proye such intention on my part I’) go to prison for three or four years. I don’t believe he can prove it, though. I am satisfied I can put him behind iron bars and am going to try pretty hard to do it. I have no money to pay lawyers, ‘Yyhough.” : x “I am authorized by the insurance company to offer you’ vethe services of their lawyer, who is one of the best in Edge- wood—free of charge.” “By George! That’s kind—and lucky for me! is on my bond. Who is your lawyer?” “George Titus.” : “Ah! He is a good one, Shall I go to him?” “Yes, whenever you please.” “Thank you. Tell your company to let him sue. Ill prove his guilt. But keep all that a secret from the public till the trial comes off.” Copeland was overjoyed. “You are sure of your ground, are you?” he asked. '“Yes, quite sure,” and then they parted at the gate of the Briggs cottage. Judge Lofton CHAPTER XVIII. Sao RYE\RECEIVES A VALUABLE PRESENT AND MAKES A DISCOVERY. When Burt went home that evening his mother said to him: : “Burt, Mrs. Lofton and Bunice called on me this afternoon.” hy “Did they?” ae and Mors, Loften was anxious to see you. os ates ee 5 = nd let: ja and do something for you. She wants fany hornet that wielded a sting.” f rm She seems really | “Come off are aac Burt, who saw that Nan had told Josie her secret. “As long as I have yours in My heart, ~ If he ean why shouid you kick on this one in my watch?” Nan blushed and. looked happy, and then Burt began ques- tioning Josie about what she and Nan had seen Jerry Morgan do on the night of the accident.to Edgewood No, 2 engine. She told precisely the same story that Nan had told. “Now, Josie,” he said, “you are Nan’s friend, and therefore mine. Jerry Morgan is trying to send me to prison. If you and Nan stand by me in this matter I’ll send him there!” “T'll stand by you, Burt,” said Josie. “Thank you. I know Nan will.” “Yes, of. course, though you did tell another girl you’d die for her,” and Nan pretended to pout. He laughed and said: “T suppose I shall never hear the end of that.” “Why, who did he say that to?” Josie aried in no ‘little surprise. Nan pointed to the watch gad Josie opened setae her eyes. Burt then explained it and said: ‘4 “It was not a sentiment of love, but one of duty to a help; e less girl in the presence of death.” By and by Mrs. Briggs got a chance to talk a ie moments with Nan, and told her what Burt had said about how he loved her. The girl was beside herself with joy and m ed to tell him before he left that she did not object to eet ing Bunice’s picture in the watch. : That night Burt was quite happy in his Padotoutian of the surprise he had in store for ‘Jerry Morgan. , “He thinks he has me in a tight place,” he said to himself in his room, “but 1 make him wish he had never been born — before I get through with him. I am the only boy in the fire company, but I’ll prove to him that the wae is worse than A few days later he received a noite tera: ‘the insurance — gratecul-y ourgor Eunice, she just kissed me as though I was | company’ s lawyer asking him to call at his office, as he wished her own mother. she handed him a magnificent gold watch and chain. “Great Scott!” gasped Burt, as he took the watch from her hand. “It’s a beauty! He opened it and in the back case was engraved a record of the two rescues. In the front cover was her picture. - * “She is a beautiful girl,” he said, as he gazed at the like- ness. “Yes,” assented his mother. He shook his head. i “tT love Nan, mother,” he said, looking up. “But Hunice has a ae and Nan is poor,” suggested the widow. “You could win her, Burt.” “Yq rather have Nan in rags than any other girl in’silks | Y and in a palace,” he replied. “Ah ¢bless you, Burt! sf like a true heart, Aiea Tam going to tell Sa gayou said, “TPT take “ye watch .with me round there to-night, Will ei MOU BOR. m7, ; “why, you were there last night.” “Yes, but I promised to be there again to-night. ¥ Not suspecting why he had promised to go, the widow went along with him. She was surprised at seeing Josie ‘Weyman _ there. Of course she didn’t interfere with the young people, but “went in to see Dan and his wife. Burt showed the two girls his watch. They praised it, 5 Josie of her engagement to Burt, and that mischievous minx asked her: ae “How about the picture, “Nan?” siphy eat think it’s horrid,” Nan replied. for I have something to tell you.” . frequented street. put Nan did not quite relish the picture in it. She had told | ‘and asked her how she recovered it, and she. said te ey suen found a ‘pps returned. it. I She gave me this watch to give to you,” and }to have an interview with him. He took an afternoon off and went to see him. He found the lawyer a brainy fellow who, when he had heard his story, said: “You have got Morgan in your power. He will have to go to prison.” ; “T shall do my best to send him there,” Burt replied. “He is the most recklessly, vindictive man I ever knew.” _ “Yes, so it seems,” assented the lawyer. “Do you wish me to conduct. the prosecution for you?” “Mr. Copeland assured me that you would do so free of charge.” ° Ae “Free of charge to you. The company will ager ae fee.” “I thank both you and the company. Send for me when you need me, I’ll bring the girls whenever you say so.” 4 “Very well, I’ll let you know.” » Burt left and went down to the street. On the adam he met Hunice Lofton. She bowed, smiled and stopped hirh. “T am so glad to see you,” she said. “Walk with me, ‘please, He walked along Main street with her, av she. was all animation and smiles. By and by they turned aad an. un- “Did you know that the diamond cross belonging, to Mrs. Austin has been found?” she asked. ; “No, I did not?” he said, quite surprised. and where was it found?” Det ire “A fireman found it and got a large serra for it, nie : oe “Where was it found?” i “I don’t know. Irene, m “Who found it, ; my sister; saw it on Mrs... : Z
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24 EDGEWOOD: NO. 2. that you were not informed of it by the Austins, in view of | “I heard that both you and’ Joe Hulsey were suspected ot > the way they treated you about it.” “Yes, so am I. J thank you from the bottom of my heart for ‘telling me about it. Ill hunt up Campbell and: question him about it.” Le “T°am sorry [ didn’t find 3 you at home the other day.” “I was, too,” he replied. “My mother gave me the watch and chain, and when I look forthe time I see your picture. I thank you for your kindness, Miss Lofton.” “Tt am not ‘Miss Lofton.’ Irene is Miss Lofton, I am ‘Hunice’. Don’t forget. that.” “I won’t.forget it.” “You won’t forget me, either, will you?” “Never.” “Won’t you come and see me sometimes, Burt?” He was silent for a few moments, during which time she seemed embarrassed. “I would like to,” he said, “but I know people would say I was taking advantage of your friendship for what I had done,” “What do you care for that? If I want you to come, whose business is it?” . “Nobddy’s but ours, Yet people will talk, you know?” “Well, let ’em talk. You will come sometime soon?” see “Yes.” =" “Vidal, I shall look for you.” They parted on a corner and she tripped along homeward, while he turned and retraced his steps back toward Main Street. To you eeenads the corner below. having taken it,” he replied. R “How is it you didn’t let me know you had returned it?” ~ “Why, I thought they. would notify you, or that it would be published in the papers.” “Did. they tell you not to say anything about it?” “T don’t remember,” and he had a guilty look in his eyesuc ig when he made that reply. “When did you hear of Dy keane “Not an hour ago, and to make sure that it was true + hunted you up at once. I am very much obliged to you fo" aaa telling me about it,” and he turned to leave. Campbell followed him a few paces and asked: “Have you ever heard from your cross of gold?” - “I’ve never seen it since it was stolen with my coat,” said — Burt. “I would offer a reward for it if I had the money to offer.” 3 See j “Tt’s too bad.” — ; ; “Yes, and I am also Puente of having robbed that old miser, too.” “Oh, everybody knows you could not have done that, though the old villain hints that you had something to do with it.” “Yes, so I have heard. They say he is crazy over his loss.” _ “T believe he was crazy before,” and Campbell laughed as he made the remark. ‘ ‘ “T never saw or heard of him before that night, and so don’t know whether he was or not,” and then he. Romed tor. Campbell and left him. ‘ “There’s a mystery about this,” he said to himself, leche “Nan may not have been dreaming Just as he reached ‘that thoroughfare he met the foreman |after all when she saw the cross of gold in a scarred hand. of another fire company, Who stépped and shook hands with I can’t understand it, and am going to have her see him, If . him. “T am glad I mer you,” he said to. the’ fireman. «y am look- ing for a fireman named Campbell in some one of the fire ¢gompanies. Do you know him?” “Yes;-Tom Campbell. He belongs to my company. He | That fellow is a rascal!” she recognizes him, I’ll give the case to a detective. I don’t believe he found that diamond cross several days after the fire. He got it the night of the fire, and ken{-itger the ae oe fe a BS or Lak He went home, and found’ Nan there with hi tae: ane? | works for the spring bed company down on Bedford street— | blushed, and said she came to bring a. message to his ee 7” a’ canvasser, I believe.” _ “Thank you,” said Burt. “I'll go down there and see him.” ' Tn ten minutes he was at the spring bed factory. Campbell was there, and when Burt spoke to him he saw an ugly scar on the left hand at the base of the thumb. CHAPTER XIX. BURT anrs A CONTRACT. To say that Burt was astonished at seeing the scar on - Gampbell’s hand is to put it very mildly, He was too much ~ surprised to speak for a few moments. When he did arent “he said: ; ty “Mr. Campbell, I want to ask you if it is true that you found and returned Mrs. Austin’s diamond cross to her?” " “Yes, more than a Month ago,” was the reply of the fire- _ man. “Where did you find it?” “Im the open lot between the burned building and the house into which you tossed the baby.” ‘ Beg did you find it?” > #Tt was some days after the fire. Tt was on a Sunday _ afternoon when I, with a number of others, was looking at ' the ruins. T waited to see if it was claimed by anybody, and when he advertised for it I gave it up and got the re- ward...” be ‘suppose you knew I had ‘ate aceused of stealing 1622, Burt) hay aa Sto Ab, | thousand faces. PBuUrt 7 ii ’ | stopped by a man from, the eles poy, awn; esi “And you didn’t come to see me?” he asked. ene “No. i thought you would not get home till after: ax: o’clock.’ “Well, I am glad to see you, anyhow,” he said. “I was going to run in to gee you after supper. Just stay till hen: aij He TYll see you safe at home again.” The widow made her stay, and after tea ‘Burt walked | home with her. On the way he asked her if she would know the face of the man ues the scarred hand if she, should see it. ne. “Yes,” ae replied niombtits “TI would know t among. a. : Why do you ask? Have shen found: ‘him, “I have found a man with Rian a scar on 1 his! lett thaxid ast ‘a you described. I want you to see if you can pick Ut we tt, j you must say nothing if you recognize him.’ pe “Where did you find him?” — pein Ne “He is a canvasser for a bed spring ie ef saw him: at the factory to-day. He is a eek belonging pal one 0: the other companies.” te i “How can I see him?” brent aithentt “I'll go with you to the factory. to-morrow.” d iti “when?” ! i “About the same hour as I went to-day. oY tum he wil be there then.” — eye fy Be Burt went home that evening a very ‘happy: wcutie and. : dreams were such that he was happy ‘even in his sleep. _ The next morning, as he was. going to his work, he Wi he was Burt Briggs. bi “Yes, iT ‘guess. qT am, % oe sella
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EDGEWOOD NO. 2. < 5 “hy 25 “Well, Mr. Boyden sent me to ask you to call at his office,|to the bed spring factory and fully identified Campbell, the as he wished to see you about some painting.” ‘ “He is the owner of the factory, is he not?” Burt asked.-° “Ves. . You saved his daughter from a roasting in the factory fire. She has been very sick ever since.” “Ah! I am sorry to hear that,” exclaimed Burt. “Where "his office?” “In the little house that has been put up in a corner. of (the factory lot since the fire,” said the man. » “Tg he there now?” “Yes; I have just left him.” “Then I'll go by and see him.” He found the rich manufacturer in the little office and ' said: f “You sent for me. I am Burt Briggs.” “Ah! I am glad to see you, my boy,” and the man grabbed hig hand and shook it warmly. “I haye been wanting to see you and thank you for saving my daughter’s life. She has been very sick ever since the day after the fire, so neither she nor her mother could get out; and I have Si so: busy here that I have had no time to get round to you.” Burt tried to disclaim any credit, but Boyden cut him off with: “Yes, I know. You did only your duty and all that, but when a man risks life in the discharge of duty he goes up m ahead , ee jhis fellows. That's how you stand with me. A ia: I have sixty houses “triend © dis mo you “Are a good painter. that must be painted. I let out the contract last year to a . firm who put on very inferior paint. Here’s a list of the 4 houses. Take it'and look at them and tell me what you will / put good paint on them for. When the factory is built up ‘again you can have that job, too.” we ny Panik you, six, (éaid Burt, as he took the list. | to it and let Lpons®¢Low as soon as I’ve geen all the houses.” “Go ahead. When ea is out again she will send for you, as she wishes to see \you.” Burt went hie. with tha: list in his pocket, saying to him- | self: ie By George, I like that fellow! He talks business. * -houses!. Whew! That’s a big contract—a whole year’s work ' for a big gang of painters—and there’s money in it, too. Tl n Make enough out of it be set up with Nan. I'll go by and | See Dan about ater ' Nan was surprised to see him so early. She and her mother era just finished breakfast when he came in. ' “Tt want to see your father, Nan,” he said to her, | She ran upstairs with him and heard him tell her father | Of Boyden’s offer, and asked his advice. J “Take it, Burt, by all means!” exclaimed Dan Truman. “ue -will set you up at once as a big contractor.” EthBut. I have no money with which to buy paint and pay egttiemen.“ Burt said. ' “Don’t let that»pother you. I can let you have the paint, als Boyden will pay you every week, so your men won't “Vl attend oe f i Sixty “ He insisted that Dan should be his partner, and Dan awed “ana Truman & Briggs became a firm of contractors. .A large force of painters were at once engaged and put to work, with Burt and Joe as foremen to look after them. CHAPTER XX. ie iy THE CROSS OF Gor TURNS uP. | But-not a word would Campbell utter—no. exp] man with the scarred hand, as the one she had so mysteriously seen with the cross of gold in his possession. “T knew him as soon as I saw him,” she said, cues I had only seen one side of his face before,” Burt went to see his lawyers and told him the wiibie story. The man of legal lore was Bachan and asked many ques- tions about Nan. ' “Such things are scouted at in court,” he said, “but in view of your suspicions in regard to the diamond cross, I think we are justified in applying for a search warrant.” “Do so then. I am satisfied he Bees has the cross of gold or knows where it is,” Burt replied.) The search warrant was granted, ‘alla a detective-whom Burt had posted was sent to make the search, accompanied by a policeman. Campbell was a single man and lived in two rooms, one of which was always locked and bolted. That one was opened by a skeleton key, and two trunks were found there also locked. ft took them a long time to find a way to open thé trunks. They finally got them open. To the utter amaze- meni of the two officers a package of bonds, non coin, Jewelry and watches were found. “These are Mathew’s bonds!” exclaimed the “detective? “Yes, without doubt,” assented the policeman, as hé looked. DOR them over. 4 Fa “Ah! Here’s the cross of gold!” val ne The detective had found it wrapped in a bhi of area paper in the very bottom of the trunk. — “That settles it. The man is a thief. Yet I saw him at the fire on the night. this cross was stolen from Hagewooa No. 2 engine-house.” “Then he has some. pals in the business. We must ‘secure him promptly.” ; They took charge of the two trunks aid sent etiam to ‘police. headquarters, after which they went in search of Campbell himself. It seemed for a time as though he had taken the alarm and left the city, for they did not fing him till near midnight. He had failed to report to the factory and was - found playing cards in a rear room of a well-known saloon. When told he was a prisoner he sprang to his feet and drew a formidable looking knife, pr “Drop that, Campbell!” cried the detective, eevee him with his revolver. He let the knife fall at his feet.. “Hold out your hands!” \ They were held out, and in another moment a pair of teak We cuffs clasped his wrists. ie “Now, what is it all about?” he asked, very coolly. “Burt Briggs’ gold cross.” “What about it?” F ae eee “He says you have it.” BL Sy “He lies! I’ve never seen it!” Rin “But we found it in your trunk.” asin He glared at the detective and turned pale as death, but aia eR not utter a word more. They took him to the station and locked him in a cell, after he refused to answer any question, ‘ jeven as to his name and age. Hered The cross was identified by several me ame of Bagewooa we No. 2 before Burt saw it the next morning. ‘Then. old miser Mathews was sent for to identify his bonds. He came like — {a maniac, and the police had to hold him. He identified the | |\ponds, watches and jewelry, and claimed. all the gold coin | found in the trunk. j rida! He was locked up in a cell on the charge. of disorderly con t ric | duet and he raved like. a madman for hours. aa
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26 lawyer and one was sent for. He talked with him, but to no one else. The cross of gold and the other articles found in the trunks ‘were turned over to the authorities to be used as silent wit- nesses at his trial. not to bother anyone about his bonds and other things, as _ they were receipted for and would be returned to him. The arrest was a sensation in the city, and Burt received , ‘congratulations from hundreds of people. Everybody believed that Campbell had stolen the diamond cross of the Austins, and gaye it up solely because the reward was more than he | | pointed his finger at Morgan. The contractor seemed on the could hope to get from it. ’ Burt told it that the Austins kept the fact of the discovery of the diamonds a secret through malice. Burt wrote one also, giving him a roasting that made him fairly tremble in his palatial home. , “T am the only boy in the fire company,” Burt said in his card. “My beard has not started yet, but when my good name is assailed I cease to be a boy on the instant. Had Mr. Austin possessed any instinct above the lowest brutes he would have infornied the public of the recovery of his jewel. But he has never forgiven me for es his head, hence the malice ae ‘his: silence.” “He may be a boy in years, ” said Judge Lofton, when he read the young fireman’s card, “but he wields a pen equal to the oldest writer in the Jand; That boy has a future before him.” . Austin made no reply. He did not care to provoke him any farther. But the firemen kept up the excitement. Every _ member of Campbell’s company signed a card that he was at the fire, and worked bravely on the night the cross of gold was Stolen, hence they said he could not have been the thief in that case. Burt frankly admitted that he saw him at the fire, but could not say how long he remained there. The detectives said he had a pal, and did their utmost to find him. Campbell himself would not say a word to anyone but his lawyer, and that astute individual was equally reticent. Time wore on, and Morgan’s case against Burt came up in court. aiken ‘Burt’s utter amazement, Morgan swore that he was artes with a pot of paint from behind, the blow landing on the side of the head—a deliberate attempt at murder, as the - paint weighed at least ten pounds. Had it not been turned in some way he would have been instantly killed. | ‘Burt sat like one half dazed by the rank perjury of the man. His lawyer, too, was dumfounded, for he feared that the word of the rich contractor would be believed by the jury as against the poor boy. He cross-examined him long and ' mercilessly, but did not succeed in. ee him contradict himself. f Burt asked permission to_ ask hit some questions, and the ‘court suggested that he had better let his counsel ask them - Jest he jeopardize his ease. ee am willing to take the chances on that, your honor,” he ‘replied. “I have implicit confidence in the ability and skill of my counsel. - the defendant on the stand that I cannot fully éxplain some things: to my counsel now without a long private consultation - with him, which the court cannot wait for me to do.” The counsel arose and consented to his client’s request and ae © front of Morgan, looking him full in the face some two or three minutes without uttering a word. Morgan was seen to wince for a moment and then brace up defiantly. Old Mathews was released on his promise ; It got into the) papers and Jared Austin promptly wrote a card denying it. But I am so astounded at the story told by } the court granted it. Counsel sat down and Burt stood up in| _ Every eye in the courtroom was on the young fireman. | « N y every Se of ‘Bdgewood No, 2 was present, and | EDGEWOOD NO. 2. . a ee areyeseh pee ee Seep rane Saved sia che eoneata seed this turn in the case caused each one to watch him closely to : catch every word he uttered. ag “Your honor,” he called to the judge, in a clear, ringing = voice, “I desire to ask if perjury committed on the witness ~ stand in this court in a case like this is punishable by law?” d “Certainly it is,” replied the judge. 5 Burt then turned and gazed at Morgan. The aenticiles: face grew white as a Sheet, and he squirmed in the chair as though it had suddenly grown too hot for him. The judge,” : | jury and spectators noticed his fear and confusion with as- ~ tonishment. Burt looked round at the twelve jurymen and verge of a collapse when his ae sprang to his feet and sung out: “Your honor, I object to this saktoriind, It’s an——” “Keep your seat, sir,” said Burt. “I hayen’t asked your client a single question yet. What are you frightened about? You won’t*be punished for his perjury.” : The judge, court and jury laughed, and the lawyer sat dose * blushing and greatly canfused. Somehow or other he was . all broken up by the keen thrust at both himself and client. Burt was as cool as ice, but his eyes flashed as he again turned — his gaze on the contractor in the witness chair. Again he gazed silently at him for a couple of minutes, and the suspense © Hi of the witness was painful in a marked degree. a 7 es ae by techs CHAPTER XXI. ; } int BURT MAKES A WONDERFUL SPEECH IN COURT. Tats aS It was a singular proceeding in a court es. Jjusticacand; oh 8 Alls for ihe intense interest of the judge hims. an the effect of the young fireman’s query as to perjury in his court, it. would have been checked by an order to proceed in the examination — of the witness. ‘ Again the witness’ counsel interposed by asking wity he ry did not examine him. “T was wondering if he really wished to have me do $0,” Burt replied. “If he will tell the truth, as he and I both know | it, I won’t ask him any questions. If he does not, he knows — what to expect. What will you do, Mr. Morgan?” “Tell the truth. I have told it already.” “Do you stick to what you Have already testified?” “ “Yes. ”? Morgan had recovered from his terrible fright caused by his first question to the judge. g “Very well. Have you ever made any threats bees) me in the hearing of anyone else?” — uk “No.” 5 Pete | “You didn’t say to Bill Stokely that you would make hy wish I had never béen born?” s “ No. ” ; 7 - “Nor to Tom Boyd that some day you'd ewe halt the bones in my body?” pai “ No. ” A 3 ; § 5 ; fil “Nor to John Boyle that you “intended % whale the life out of me?” s ) a “No. ” \ ; ie “Did you tell Bob Satin del that if I had not had th: of paint in my Bante you’d have choked the life out | “ No. ” “And you didn’t tell him that I had the ‘sondanes to. you of taking the nut off me wheel of tas Reh caer i Y
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— EDGEWOOD NO. 2. * he - “You umay step down, Mr. Sheriff, please call Bob John- son. I saw: him in the crowd back there a little while ago.” Johnson did not wait to be called. He came forward and took the stand after being sworn, He said that Morgan, two days after the paint pot episode, told him just what he had told Burt. The other three wit- nesses sustained the questions Burt had asked Morgan on the stand. Morgan’s lawyer could not shake their testimony y pry even the most rigid cross-examination, ‘ “i Then “he addressed the jury, making the best plea he could ~ under the circumstances. He pooh-poohed the idea of a big strong man—a man of wealth and position—making threats against a youth not yet out of his teens. When ‘the counsel for Morgan ceased speaking, Burt’s counsel was about to rise to his feet to reply. But the young fireman pulled him down, saying: “Let me intimidate the.jury, Mr. feet. “T hope, gentlemen of the jury,” he began, “that none of you will feel intimidated to the extent preventing you from considering this case on its merits,” and that sarcastic re- 4 * Titus,” and he rose to his Pee q of every member of the bar present. They listened with _. breathless interest, not to say aStonishment. His words came in a torrent of eloquence the like of which had never been heard in that courtroom before. When he described the wee (en “ofa guilty conscience portrayed in the human face, as they had seen that day on the witness stand, everyone i was amazed at the marvelous descriptive power he displayed. “And now, gentlemen of the jury,” the young fireman ex- claimed in conclusion, “your verdict is going to be right, is going to be a double one—acquitting me and condemning etn. the same breath, That is the merciless logic of justice, His “‘hoser-has «declare ed from the bench that perjury in this court is a great, erime. My acquittal means his conviction - of perjury, and another trial will end in hig consignment to prison. You will bear witness that I sought to save him as he sat there wrapped in the mantle of his crime. But like the ancient Jews, when the Divine Master went oyer Jeru- - salem, he would not be saved. His blood be upon his own “head, for he destroyed himself in the very temple of jus- tice! ” Se ee ee ee eee ee tomb for a minute or two. Then a roar like a storm-swept sea shook the building. The judge nor the court officers could stem the cheering tide. The firemen present yelled them- selves hoarse. One of them during a lull sung out: “And he is the only boy in the fire company!” Then the storm roared and howled again. But the en- usiasm simmered- down and the judge began his charge to It was calm, cool and fair, leaving the jurymien e yada of the facts. ” ‘The jury consulted three minutes without retiring, and then rendered the verdict: “Not guilty.” \ i Again pandemonium broke loose. ‘ The firemen, forgetting the dignity of the court, “made a rush for the young foreman, lifted him on their shoulders and bore him away. Every spectator followed them out, The judge adjourned court immediately. It was a triumphal march to the- headquarters of Bdge- wood No. 2. When the firemen reached there a thousand cheering friends were. roundabout them. Burt made a short speech, oe every one present for his good will and ympa: { That ae Widow Briggs kept open Awiees at her little cottage home, Firemen and. friends came to congratulate her | OS SSS a eee > / ™ { and mark not only convulsed judge and jury, but opened the eyes It. When he sat down the packed audience was still as the’ pk SEE Se aR ee See aes A = . a ~ - ; oe ease Lofton papas with Irene and Eunice in et one of the ¢ rpelgst lawyers t in the singe if Fa in the eta carriage, Beautiful, blushing Eunice ran up to the widow, threw her arms round her, kissed her and said: eS “T know you are the proudest, happiest mother in all Edge- wood to-night, Papa says it was the grandest speech he ever heard in all his life!” and then, without waiting for the widow to say a word, she looked around for Burt. He was surrounded by firemen, They gave way for her and she went up to him with both hands extended. He caught them in his. Said she: “I congratulate you, Burt. I hear your praises all over the city. We have never understood you—never knew you till now.” “I thank you deep down in my heart, Miss Bunice,” he re- plied, pressing her hand to his lips. “I didn’t know myself that I could make a speech, but something told me I had to do it. : The man swore falsely, and I thought I was in a tight place.” “Tf you will take advice, young man,” said Judge Lofton, pressing forward: and extending his hard to him, “you will study law and———” ° “I haye been doing that for over a year, Judge,” Burt in- terrupted him. Expressions of astonishment came from nearly every ae ; present. In the meantime Mrs. Briggs had sent tor een tee ar mother to assist her. Nan came with sparkling eyes and rosy ‘cheeks, tor the young fireman who went for her told her how ‘Burt had as- tonished the town and ruined Jerry Morgan. , She went round to the rear door, not wishing to pass through the crowd in the front room. Mrs. Briggs was in the dining-room. She and Nan’s mother kissed each other, and just then Burt entered. Nan went to him, He folded her to his heart and kissed her. When she pulled away from him she saw Bunice Lofton standing in the door that opened into the corridor, her face the color of ‘death, Their eyes met. “He is mine!” said Nan, in a low, ake defiant tone. are engaged.” Burt wheeled to see to whom she was speaking, ant beheld the fair Eunice sinking to the floor in a death-like. swoon. “Shut that door—quick!” he exclaimed, as he sprang for- ward and caught her in his arms. Mrs. Briggs closed the door and Burt bore the fainting girl into the other room beyond the hall and laid her on a Sr mother’ s, bed. ERG tf fj x “We x ‘ CHAPTER XXII. TWO SECRETS FOR A) LIFETIME. The sudden swooning of Hunice Lofton in the dining-room — greatly demoralized the two elderly women for a few mo- ments. Had not Burt kept his presence of mind, the entire assemblage would have been alarmed. ‘ : "Shut the door and sprinkle water in her face,” he said to his mother and Mrs, Truman, and he went out of the room, shut the door behind him and joined Nannie, who still remained in the dining-room. She looked him in the eyes in}; a questioning way, and he said to her: “Nan, you Must never say a word to- anyone about this. ” “No, I never, will,” she “replied. “But—but are. you, sure you don’t love her, Burt?” “Yes, I am sure that I don’t loye any girl but you, Nan,” : ‘She went into the front room, which was, filled to. oyer- flowing with friends of the young fireman. Judge. Lofton talking, and the others were listening. He was saying. that Burt was @ marvel and a mystery, and that he would make {
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“left home this morning,” he replied. told such’ ‘@ brazen falsehood on the witness stand I felt that | wo the jury with the idea of his perjury. 28 Just then Burt came into. the room and friends surrounded him.- Irene Lofton paid him a high compliment, for which ' he thanked her. Trene slipped over to Nannie and asked where Hunice was, “JT think she is with my mother and Mrs. Briggs,” Nan re- . plied. “Do you wish to see her?” “Yes, It is time for, us to return home.” Nan went out to the dining-room, but not seeing anyone there, she went into the bedroom and there found Bunice just recovering from her swoon. She went up to her and tenderly kissed her. Bunice looked hard at her for a few “moments, and then said: '“My heart is broken, Nannie, - though, will you not?” “Yes, it shall be sacred with me,” Nan replied. “And with us, too, dear,” said the widow and Mrs. Truman. “We have loved each other a long time,” said Nan. “Had ‘he, not loved me he would have loved you—he told me that,” and she again kissed her. “Your sister is waiting for you to go home with her.” “Please tell her to wait just ten minutes. can be ready to go.” Rous went out and told Irene what Eunice had said. “When the door closed again Eunice beckoned Mrs. Briggs to her “side, put her arms about her neck, kissed her and said: “You know the secret of my heart. I shall ever ede you as a mother because you are his mother. My heart is broken.” But no tears came to her eyes. There was a deep, fathom- less. despair in, their gaze which Mrs. Briggs never forgot. “Will you let me see Burt a few moments before I go away?” she asked. “ Alone?” “Yes, just a few moments.” Mrs. Briggs went after Burt, and sent him ‘es the room where she was. Mrs. Truman had left the room with Nannie, We shall drop the curtain over that interview, which lasted seven minutes by the clock on the mantel in the dining-room. Those fleeting moments were sacred to both. When he came - out his eyes were full of tears and his face pale. In ten minutes Eunice came out and joined her sister and father, looking a, trifle pale, but smiling bravely, Burt led her out to the carriage, saw her seated comfortably therein, bowed and returned to his friends in the house. The erowd finally dispersed and Burt was lett alone with You will keep my secret, By that time I ie] his mother. “Oh, I wish I could have heard you speak, Burt,” she said to him. “Why did you not let me know it?” “Because I never dreamed of doing such a thing when I “When Mr. Morgan ZT would lose the case if I did not do something to- impress I was afraid my lawyer would not agree with me, so I just got up and pitched in. Iam going to send him to ap eh prison if there is any law a to put him there.’ is They retired, and did not meet again until breakfast time. _ Of course the papers were full of reports of the scene in the |: ngs courthouse, and Burt read them to his mother, who listened with motherly pride. Ab)” he sudderiy, exclaimed, as His. eye caught a bit of news as he looked at another column. “Morgan has been Su arrested for perjury, and had to give pail to appear for trial. i “Burt, can you prove that he gna perjury?” “Of course I can—easily,” he replied. men who were. painting: the oes houses. EDGEWOOD NO. 2. 'Boyden left the room and Bessie gave him both her hands | He. ate his breakfast quickly and ten hurried off ‘Gi look | a after his were all on hand and busy at work. The workmen cheered him as he appeared on the grounds. “Oh, that’s nonsense, boys,” he said, laughing. that any more.” A few days after that Mr. Boyden sent word to him to call at his office. He promptly appedred. “Bessie and her mother wish to see you at the house,” the mil] owner said to him. ; “Mr: Boyden, if they merely want to thank Me for what « iy I did at the fire I don’t want to go,” Burt replied. ; “My dear young man,” said Boyden, “as you grow siecle you will learn more than you know now, and one of the most — profitable lessons will be on the utility of humoring the other sex. My advice to you is to go.” Burt laughed and said: “Perhaps you are right. I’ll go,” and he see hands with the manufacturer and went home to change his clothes. An hour later he called at the Boyden residence. He was shown into the parlor, where Mrs. Boyden met and over- whelmed him with her thanks. He had prepared himself for it and made the proper reply to her. A little later Bessie _ came in looking quite pale from her recent illness. Mrs. “Don't do — : and poured out a torrent of thanks for saving her ite. “How could I do otherwise?” he asked, leading her to a seat. baianeg Se ee “Tt don’t know. I have tried to do otherwise myself, pet = my heart has gone out to you ever since that hour, and now I want you to take my hand and fortune with jt.” Burt was dumfounded. He had not dreamed of such a thing. Here was a girl, the only child of a man who was a millionaire several times, offering herself to him, a por boy not yet out of his teens who had a widowed mother ; [port. He was staggered and made no reply for sortie pie ts. She spoke again, saying: pipes “You are young, and perhaps never thought of marriage, 1 never did, either, until you saved my life. I am just’ twenty. You are not so old: Happiness comes with love, not — age, and——” 4 “But I love another,” he blurted out, ik amy! onenged. to sh her.” She didn’t turn pale—she only seemed surprised, and | e claimed: hh Lads a “Oh, my! Is that so? Who is she?” | ea een He told her, and she asked: 4 lis “May T eall on her?” — “Of course. She is a swect girl, and you will ‘not wonder wy that I love her.” » i By con T’ll call on her in Bi few days. gthe room. j oo CHAPTER XXII. “NEITHER OF US CARE TO sm When he reached home he suse oe there. and asked: “Where have you been in your Sunday suit on a week a Burt?” } » “Oh, have I got to tell - you where rT g0 before we | ried?” he asked, DIaYEUN Yi é “Of course you have, when I ask: ‘you. se “You belong to me, don’t you?” — “No. You belong to. me, i he Sopa She laughed and said: ‘she | ' cht tell 3 ie ed
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“Well, I’ve been ito see Bessie Boyden.” She turned pale and looked inquiringly at him. “My poor, jealous little Nan,” he said; “you can’t hear of My looking at another girl without turning pale and haying 4 great fear tugging at your heart. Have you no confidence in my constancy?” “Why did you go to see her, Burt?” “Because she and her mother sent for me. She has been ill ever-since the fire, and wanted to see me and tell me how fnuch she appreciated my work on that afternoon. She said /she was afraid that any longer delay on her part might cause the to think her ungratéful. I told her I was engaged to you, | and she said she would call on you in a few days.” “Oh, Burt, did she say that?” “Yes, Nan. I believe I could get, her if I wanted her, but | 1 have no room in my heart but for one girl, and she is - Jealous,” » “TM never be jealous again, Burt," Nan said, resting her ‘head on his shoulder. “We'll see, dear. I hope you won't.” | Time passed and Burt was kept busy, working on his con- | tract in the daytime and studying law at night. He visited Nan all day Sundays. She had the good sense to be satisfied 4} with that, ’ ' One day he came home to dinner and found Nan there to See him, She had something to tell him, and in the little ) parlor shedsaid: “*Bessie Boyden came to see me yesterday afternoon and offered to divide her fortune with me if I’d’ give up you to her!” }. The devil ) “I guess not,” and she nestled up to him, feeling happier than any of the angels. She had won against two of the K wealthiest girls in Edgewood, and was the happiest maiden ‘in all the world. A little later Morgan’s suit against the insurance company ie came to trial. He little dreamed what was in store for him. To his consternation they proved that he was the one’ who ‘took the nut off the engine wheel of Edgewood No. 2 on the ) night ‘of the fire. Of course that killed his case, and the jury. 4 pers for the insurance company. A second indictment for ofty was found, and he was arrested again and put under se [20 yi pondsandie was a ruined man. May. “She must be xpenditure of money. would save him. His lawyer appealed case, telling him he could get a new trial, and so he tried ‘brazen it out. The good people of Hdgewood shunned im, though, and he got no more contracts in the city. ' He sent a man to the two gir 1s to see if they could be bribed leave Edgewood in case he obtained a new trial, But they tly refused ‘to entertain the idea. In the meantime Campbell’s trial came up. It was a strange One. He refused to Make any explanations as, to how Burt's cross and the old miser’s effects came into his possession. tolea members ‘of his fire company swore he could not have EDGEWOOD. NO. 2. Mak He was rich» end obstinate, and believed that a liberal | _ | sear on his” left cheek, where he h x a Nor could any one swear he had seen him enter the apart- ment of the old miser on that night. But the bonds, ete., were found in his possession. The jury convicted him. But his sentence was much lighter, than it would have been could positive proof that he had taken them himself been adduced, _| It was believed by everybody that a woman had taken theni, and he preferred to suffer rather than betray. That belie? brought him no little sympathy, for it evinced a BIE that excites admiration from many people. The cross of gold’ was returned to Burt, and he kept it in a secure place aver after, wearing it only on occasions of moment, He prized it a thousand times above its intrinsic value. ’ earhe . One day he went up to Judge Lofton’s office to get a law book which he wished to read. He saw two young ladies there, one of whom quickly drew a veil down over her face. The other he did not know. But he acai his hat, and asked the clerk if the judge was in. “Yes, but he is engaged,” ” was the reply. thing for you?” “T don’t know, I wish to borrow a. book on Evidence, e “T dare not give out a book without his consent.” “Very well. I'll: call again,” and he started | toward ‘the door. Ms ere The veiled lady sprang up, laid a hand on his 2 “Wait.” Ns oes He stopped, hat in hand, and gazed at the ‘veiled Tage Niet knew her voice. She was Eunice Lofton. “My father has offered Mr. Briggs the use of his. brary. Let him have the book.” The clerk bowed and went in search of the book, and Burt turned to her and stig 7% “TI thank you!” She bowed and stood like one undecided what eet to do. He took her hand and led her to a seat at, the opposite end of the room. She sat down. Her hand was cold as ice in his. He took out his watch, opened it, and let her see the beautiful: face—her own likeness on the inside of the lid. — “T shall never part with that face,” he said in a low fone: ; of voice, “nor forget whose it is.” She raised her veil partly and let him see her face. It Was not only pale as ‘death, but bore traces of most intense suffering. He felt shocked, and taking her hand again, whis- pered: “Tf I am ever free again I shall come to you—if you will let me.” “JT will wait for you.” | Just then the clerk came with the book, and she rose Yo her feet, bowed to Burt and walked across the room to where her ‘companion sat. ag Burt thanked the clerk, bowed low to the two ladies and left the office. He never told a living being of ‘oie, last pee we: Eunice Lofton, and years passed ere he saw her again. ‘She ; sailed for Europe a fortnight later. a On the very night the ship left New York a great fire’ Leos e out in Edgewood, and a score of houses were destroyed by the devouring element. Many lives were lost. Two firemen were i . ‘killed by falling walls. Burt saved several lives. and was . himself so hurt that he was laid up a fortnight in'the hospital. — But his business did not suffer, “ei Dan Truman was now able to resume work REBINS Toy 4 pocae e ine. “Can I do any- ie) Sets Sia oh ein CHAPTER MI itn foe CONCLUSION, a eee Th “When Burt came out of the ieee he ha } gue cut b NY Beli SAA
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30° piece of falling timber. people of the city, he was a hero of whom they were proud, The only boy in the-fire company, where many strong, burly Men were members, he yet seemed to be the incarnation of courage and daring. The common council of Edgewood voted him a medal and had inscriptions engraved on a silver trumpet “-and presented to him. In the following June the entire fire department of the city had a parade through the main streets. A couple of carriages went before Edgewood No. 2, bearing the girls and children ' whose lives he had saved. Hunice Lofton was in Europe, but Irene ‘rode in her place. In the evening Burt delivered an oration in the Opera House to the brave firemen of the city. It was pronounced a marvel of eloquence by all who heard it, and the chief of the fire department said it would do more good among the firemen than anything that could have been said. Such enthusiasm at a lecture or speech had never before been seen in Hdgewood. His mother, who was present, shed tears of joy aS she listened. She never dreamed of hig mar- velous powers of speech., As for Nan, she almost stood in awe of him eohci that day. The next day he went to. see her. . She trembled in his presence, remembering the er and orator = yt day before. Her manner puzzled him, and he asked a ite s lover-tike way: ay “what's the matter, Nan? Don't 3 you love me aug more?” “T—I- worship you!” she said. “Oh, don’t do that, dear,” and he laughed. “Just love me. That’s all I want you to do, except to’ name the day when yor will come home with me- as my wife.” “Oh, Burt!” she gasped. “The contract has paid me png to enable me to support a wife and——” “But we are both so young,” she added, eager to have him urge her to yield. He looked surprised and asked: “Do you think we really are too young to marry, Nan?” “T_J—don’t—know,” she stammered. “I will—do as you want me to.” j “Oh, you level-headed little witch! Just see your mother and arrange the day, and I’ll get ready for you at mother’s. We are hoth young, but we love hard enough to make ue for lack of years, eh?” She laughed and was happy. The time was set in a day or two, and Burt applieW for ad- . Mission to the bar a week later. He was admitted, and on the yery next day a poor woman came to him to take a case against a railroad in whose service her aus. had been killed. “Madam,” he said, ee his head, “I am too young to cope with the astute lawyers of the railroad. I have abso- lutely no experience at the bar. I fear T would lose the case.” “T. have had a lawyer for months,” she replied. “He is a learned man, but can’t make a Speech to save his life. The ' case comes up next week, and he has sent me to ask you to help. him with it,” *Ah! That's another matter, Who is he?” “Mr, Adrian, in the Lofton Building.” © “T’ll go and see him.” He called on the old lawyer at once, and had a long talk with him. .. “J have the case in good shape, ans all the strong points . at my fingers’ ends,” said the old man. “But one of the counsel for the road.is a very powerful man before a jury, _ hence I suggested that you be engaged to talk to the jury.’ ip Burt went away, and came back in. the afternoon to get t the points, amd read the law and decisions bearing on the case, Re sat up nearly all night etadving: and reading, and HDGEWOOD NO, ‘But in the eyes of all the thinking | when he went to bea he was 4 complete master of every point involved. The case came on, and Burt was on hand, calm and eool, With his law books on the table before him. He took notes of all the testimony for both sides. Adrian was a keen ques- tioner, but Burt several times suggested queries that evinced a clear conception of the spirit of the case. In two days all the testimony was in, and Burt roge to. address the jury. He carried everything before him with: his. marvelous eloquence, his fairness, his pathos and tnanswer-~ able points covering the case. The opposing counsel made~ the speech of his life, but it was far below that to which the jury had just listened. Burt’s closing speech was a crusher. . Every juror, and even the judge, was blinded with tears over | his word picture of the grief of the widow in her terrible desolation. The counsel for the road fairly writhed and squirmed under the terrific denunciations that deluged them, and they knew : that their defense was a. hopeless one. The jury quickly gave’ a verdict for the widow, and Burt Belgge’ fame as a lawyer” Wwas,;made. He was overwhelmed with consrarutatione iy Judge, lawyers and spectators, and Adrian proposed a partnership with him in the practice of law. He accepted the offer. A few weeks later he and Nannie were married, Every member of Edgewood No. 2 was present in uniform to witness — the nuptials and present the bride a splendid si’ ror service, c A year later on the eve of another trial Jerry Morgan dis- appeared from Edgewood and was never heard of again. He — could not face the trial for perjury. : | About the same time Burt became a father and the measure — of his happiness was full to overflowing. His law practice increased to such an extent that he. was fast becoming: rich. : Time wore on and.in ten years he was a rich mies % three children. He was elected to Cong ~g ES ANE in Wish-_ . ington Nannie died and he wag left. ‘with three TOA leas children for his mother to take care of. By Two years later he was re-elected and sent hack to Wash iy ington. : One day, while Speaking in the House, ve saw Bunice Tipton: é in the gallery, her eyes riveted on his. face. After the speech * he sought her and found her a mature woman, beautiful ond. eH unmarried—an old maid—though but 30 years ge Z “T am free,” he said to her. “Are you also?” “Yes,” she replied. tah Panis “Will you come to me?” “Yes.” mt ioe “Go home then, and in two weeks Tl join you.” : She returned to Edgewood and prepared for the wedding, — She had -loved faithfully and waited long, refusing. many S offers in order to marry him who was “the only boy ie 18} fire company, ” a and the ‘only one she eyer lov’ ee eee Pe THE END. SEA, ” by Captain: "Thos. H. elie which will be sie ne number (422) of “Pluck and Luck.” SPECIAL NOTICE; All ee numbers of this. wee are always’in print. Tf you cannot obtain them from a newsdealer, send the price in money or postage stamp: mail to FRANK TOUSEY, PUBLISHER, 24 UNI SQUARE, NEW YORK, and you bh receive th aon order by Toaen aie i Nein
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| These Books Teil You Everything! | 4 COMPLETE SET IS A REGULAR ENCYCLOPEDIA = = Bach book consists of sixty-four pages, printed on good paper,in clear type and neatly bound in an attractive, illustrated cover. | Most of the books are also profusely illustrated, and all of the subjects treated upon are explained in such a simple manner that i ¢ a san thoroughly understand them: Look oyer the list as classified and see if you want to know anything about the subje mentioned. . ies ; t THESE BOOKS ARE FOR SALE BY ALL NEWSDEALERS OR WILL BE SENT BY MAIL TO ANY ADDRDSS /FROM THIS OFFICE ON RECHIPT OF PRICE, TEN OBNTS BACH, OR ANY TUREH BOOKS FOR TWENTY-FIVE ‘| GENTS. POSTAGH STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONHY. Address FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24 Union Square, N.Y. \. 4 MESMERISM. No. 72. HOW TO DO SIXTY TRICKS WITH CARDS.—Em- |. No. 81. HOW TO MESMERIZH.—Containing the most ap- pace ali oF Oe te et ce ae i il- [Proved methods of mesmerism; also how to eure all kinds of |‘™S7™ T7 HOW TO DO YORTY TRICKS WITH CARDS.— - } Giseases by animal magnetism, or, magnetic healing. By Prof. Leo Gonrenie deceptive Card Trick erfonmed by dead pera lela +} Hugo Koch, A. CG, S., author of “How to Hypnotize,” etc. and thagi ithe x 2B i for b os me Tai m, Fully illustrated, , PALMISTRYs MAG } ‘a ‘ No. 82. HOW TO DO PALMISTRY.—Containing the most ap- : d GIC : Oe oved methods of reading the lines on the hand, together with} No. 2. HOW TO DO TRICKS.— The great book of magic and & full explanation of their meaning. Also explaining pomeepiogs card tricks, containing full instruction on alt the leading card tricks ind the key for telling character by the bumps on the head. By | of the day, also the most popular magical illusions as performed by o Hugo Koch, A. ©. S. Fully illustrated. our leading magicians; every boy should obtain a copy of this book, : HYPNOTISM “No. 22. HOW TO DO SHOOND SIGHT.—Heller ght Mad ° y ri oI 0. 22. 2 y am. p {. No. 88. HOW TO HYPNOTIZH.—Containing valuable and in-| oxplained by his former assistant Peas unt, The gmc Btructive information regarding the science of hypnotism.. Also y : eas ihe shdgivrad-ann he explaining the most approved methods which are employed by the Aa anal The. \Jeading hypnotists of the world. By Leo Hugo Koch, A.C.S. A ; SPORTING. . No. 21. HOW TO HUNT AND FISH.—The most complete hunting and fishing guide ever published. It contains full in- structions about guns, hunting dogs, traps, trapping and fishix g, orether-yith descriptions of game and fish. No. 26. HOW TO ROW, SAIL AND BUILD A BOAT.—Fully illustrated.. Every boy should know how to row and’ sail a boat. Full instructions are given in this little book, together with in- Structions on swimming and riding, companion sports to boating. » No. 47. HOW TO BREAK, RIDE AND DRIVE A HORSH.— A complete treatise on the horse. Describing the most useful horses for business, the best horses for the road; also valuable recipes for Mdliseases peculiar to the horse. 4. HOW TO BUILD-AND SAIL CANOBS.—A handy Andersons: wis aang! Book for bo,%3,,~ ataining full directions for constructing canoes No. 75. HOW TO BECOME A CONJUROR. — Gon: 90 - : “e : i j — Contain “gap tamer) are manner of sailing them. Fully illustrated. tricks with Dominos, Dice, Cups and Balls, Hats, ete. avert g by U. : le . | thirty-six illustrations. ry A. glare. Ce suet FORTUNE TELLING. No. 78. HOW TO DO THE BLACK ART.—Containing a com- _No. 1, NAPOLEON’S ORACULUM AND DRHAM BOOK.— | plete description of the mysteries of Magic and Sleight of Hand, Containing the great oracle of human destiny; also the true mean-| together with many wonderful experiments. By A. Anderson. ing of almost any aR of Tapers foarte ee charms, ceremonies, | Illustrated. ‘ and curious games of cards. A complete book. @ MECHANICAL. No. 23. HOW TO EXPLAIN DRBAMS.—Everybody dreams, No. 29. HOW TO BECOME AN INVENTOR.—Bver the little child to the aged man and woman. This little book -should know how inventions originated, This book é hd all, giving examples in electricity, hydraulics, oh Se i the explanation to all kinds of dreams, together with lucky atin one "pnlucky days, and ‘‘Napoleon’s Oraculum,” the, book of fate. phenina ties niechauina si ns sane instructive Gacks Tehedt GINEER.—Containing full ». 28. HOW TO THLL FORTUNES.—HBveryone is desirous of ing what his future life will bring forth, whether happiness or ies re aol yee ao eee 1 4 : ry, wealth or poverty. You can tell by a glance at this little | PStTUC et i dine hy ar but ain, r ee ine a one ve en-— i. Buy one and be convinced. ‘Tell your own fortune. Tell oath » full a rections rei ud nie a@ mod : iocomo' vi geth fortune of your. friends. with a full description of everything an me meer neni mews: Pag ». 78. HOW TO THLE FORTUNES BY THE HAND.—| ,, No. 57. HOW TO MAKE MUSICAL INSTRUMBENTS.—Full taining rules for telling fortunes by the aid of lines of the hand, eee pon fe make a banles NIGMS pedis Molinndate. Xylo- te secret of palmistry. “Also the secret of telling future events an of aadiy whee Papas bon pgrapnatig 2 eel ae at ne _ A lid of moles, marks, scars, ete. Illustrated. By A. cy eae modern times. Profusely illustrated. By Algerdon. §. Witugerald, e, ATHLETIC. for twenty years bandmaster of the Royal Bengal Marines. _ . 6. HOW TO BECOME AN ATHLETE.—Giving full in-| No. 59. HOW TO MAKE A MAGIO LANTERN.—Containing ction for the use of dumb. bells, Indian clubs, parallel bars, | 4 description of the lantern, together with its history and invention, _ ral bars 2nd various other methods of developing! 5 good, pea teeta pane ee ‘a use and for painting slides. Handsomely iy muscle; containing over sixty illustrations. Every: boy can | illustrated. By John Allen. antsy Fee i CT healthy by following the instructions contained| No. 71. HOW TO DO MECHANICAL TRICKS.—Containing is Tittle Hooke complete instructions for performing over sixty. Mechanical Tricks. ‘o. 10. HOW TO.BOX.—The art of self-defense made easy. | By A. Anderson. Fully illustrated. aining over thirty illustrations of guards, blows, and the ditfer- positions of a good boxer. Every boy should obtain one of e useful and instructive books, as'it will teach you how to box hout an instructor. YA pe, eA full ‘rans BECOME A GYMNAST.—Containing fu $ TO LADIES. one hundred highly amusing and instructive tricks wit By A. Anderson. Handsomely illustrated. f No. 69, HOW TO DO SLEIGHT OF HAND.—Containing over fifty of the latest and ‘best tricks used by magicians.’ Also contain- yi ee secret of second sight. Fully illustrated. By A. Anderson. _No. 70. HOW TO MAKE MAGIC TOYS.—Containing full directions for making Magic Toys and devices of many kinds, By A. Anderson. Fully illustrated. ° : No. 73. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH NUMBERS.—Showing. many curious tricks with figures and the magic of numbers. By A. if - io. 25. HOW TO A t : etions for all kinds of gymnastic sports and athletic exercises. ae bracing thirty-five illustrations. By Professor W. Macdonald. andy and useful book. ate ; Malo. 34. HOW TO FENCH.—Containing full instruction for mcing and the use of the broadsword; also instruction in archery. escribed with twenty-one practical illustrations, giving the best 2 t u No. 24. HOW TO WRITE LETTER sitions in fenzing- A complete book. TRICKS WITH CARDS. |
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WIDE AWAKE WEEKL A COMPLETE STORY EVERY WEEK — Price 5 Cents ; BY THE BEST AUTHORS Price 5 Cer cea HANDSOME ILLUSTRATED COVERS “Sg 4 —F- 32-PAGES OF READING MATTER “33g D>. MF «ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY “@q or Interesting Stories of Adventure in All Parts of the World gap TAKE NOTICE! “ag This handsome weekly contains intensely interesting stories of adventure on a great variety of | subjects. Hach number is replete with rousing situations and lively incidents. The heroes are . ted success. We have secured a staff of new authors, who write these stories in a manner ich will be a source of pleasure and profit to the reader. Each number has a handsome eol- — ~“ored illustration made by the most expert artists. Large sums of money are being spent to make’? this one of the best weeklies ever published. m : 3 2 is is wttere is a List of Some of the Titles | m No. 1 Smashing the Auto Record; or, Bart Wilson at the Speed Lever. By EDWARD N. Fox Fe tA. Oe « 2 Off the Ticker; or, Fate at a Moment’s Notice. By Tom Dawson . ..:... * 3 From Cadet to Captain; or, Dick Danforth’s West Point Nerve. By Lizvr. J. J. Barry « May : « 4 The Get-There Boys; or, Making Things Hum in Honduras. By Frep Warsurton “ « “ § Written in Cipher; or, The Skein Jack Barry Unravelled. By ‘Pror. OLIVER OwENs tages “ 6 The No-Good Boys; or Downing a Tough Name. By A. Howanp pe Writ .... & e “ @ Kicked off the Earth; or, Ted Trim’s Hard Luck Cure. By Rop Rox . . . re Ce “ 8 Doing It Quick; or, Ike Brown’s Hustle at Panama. By Caprain Hawrnory, U.S.N. « — _ For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24 Union Square, New ¥ IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS of our libraries, and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this office direct. Cut: out in the following @rdeg Blank and send it to us with the price of the books you want and we will ees them to turn mail, POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. coves BGA OATS Pek ad Foner hos Pei: (hbk RELL AA ew a a a ee , + RANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24 Union Square, New York, © 9 .see. A Dear Srr— Enclosed find...... cents for whieh please send me: _ eee ee . copies of FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY, Nos........2... eg tires oie dee ar ae igus ‘@, WIDM SWAT WHER IGY,° Nos.’ . (dshsdaueapevesan feneyacdbeue deen a sees Psat WORK AND WIN) N0s- 02. 16 oC lec on eae geass Cee IPE pets tL E Peete a8 acs @. “ FRANK MANLEY’S WEEKLY, Nos.......0.s.0000 ORT pe ee ie Micgowe A. “WEL WEST WEEKLY, Noe. icicrs cio. vgs cove cconwsped seap sss r hays en eae ieee vin, 4 PLUCK AND LUCK, ‘Noe. 0.45. 554 vant ya en wepouee Fed es gdbw ues Pam eoae te ‘ue. & & SECRET SERVICE, NoB..62..++040 A, paatnp aa Wee aie vt Gi dagade anas baa tet vs. ©. @ THE LIBERTY BOYS OF 226; Now 5.5 ee ach pas paris uae Rae a «“ THE YOUNG sek ae WEEKLY, Nos. 2+ serene Ta A eT
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374 7 ‘Pigey Pit OU CC Ke A IN DD i. U0 CC & CONTAINS ALL SORTS OF STORIES. BEAUTIFULLY COLORED COVERS. 32 PAGES. LATEST ISSUES: 353 Jack Izzard, the Yankee Middy. A Story of the War With Tri- poli. By Capt. Thos. H. Wilson. 354 The Senator’s Boy; or, The Early Struggles of a Great States- man. By H. K. ‘Shackleford. 355 Kit Carson on a Mysterious Trail; or, Branded a Renegade. By An Old Scout. 356 oe Lively Hight Social Club; or, From Cider to Rum. <A True Tem ce, Story. By Jno. B. Dowd. 357 Ee D f the School; or, The Boys of Bay Cliff. By Howard ustin. 858 Out in thé’ Streets; A Story of High and Low Life in New York. By N. 8S. Wood (The Young American Actor.) 359 Rentals Ray; The Young Leader of the Forlorn Hope. A True Story of the Mexican War By Gen’l. Jas. A. Gordon. 360 “3”; or, The Ten Treasure Houses of the Tartar King. By Rich- ard R. Montgomery. 361 age ea Rob; or, The Train Wreckers of the West. By Jas. C. erritt. 362 A Millionaire at 18; or, The American Boy Croesus. By H. K. Shackleford. 868 The Seven White Bears; or, The Band of Fate. A Story of Rus- sia. By Richard R. Montgomery. 864 Shamus O’Brien; or, The Bold Bop. ‘of Glingall. By Allyn Draper. 365 The Skeleton Scout ; or, The Dread Rider of the Plains. By An Old Scout. 866 “Merry Matt’; or, The Will-o’-the-Wisp of Wine. A True Tem- perance Story. By H. K. Shackleford. 367 The Boy With the Steel Mask; or, A ace That Was Never Seen. By Allan Arnold. 368 Clear-the-Track Tom; or, The Youngest Engineer on the Road. ’ By Jas. C. Merritt. 869 Gallant Jack Barry, The Young Father of the American Navy. By Capt. Thos. H. Wilson. 0 Laughing Luke, The Yankee Spy of the Revolution. By Gen’l Jas. ae xordon. to Governor; or, The Luck of a Waif. By H. K. tae or, “Be Sure You're Right, Then Go Ahead.” cout. amond Hunters; or, Two Runaway Boys in Treasure A Story of the South African Mines, By Allan Arnold. m Brig; or, The Chase of the Blying Clipper. By hos. H. Wilson. The Pride of the Road. Three Chums ; or, The Bosses of the School. By Jas. C. Merritt. By Allyn Draper. Oath-Bound on ths Battlefield. 375 376 B77 878 379 380 881 382 Special Bob; or, The Drummer Boy’s Secret ; By Gen’l. Jas, A. Gordon. Jack Lean or, The Struggles of a Working Boy. By Howard ustin The Unknown Renegade; or, The Three Great Scouts. By An Old Scout. 80 Degrees North; or, Two Years On The Arctic Circle. By Ber- ton Bertrew. Running Rob; or, Mad Anthony's Rollicking Scout. <A Tale of By or, The American Revolution. By Gen. Jas. A. Gordon. Down the Shaft; or, The Hidden Fortune of a Boy Miner. Howard Austin. The Boy Telegraph Inspectors; or, Across the Continent on a Hand Car. By Jas. C. Merritt. Lost Among the Head-Hunters. By Richard R, 883 384 Nazoma; or, Montgomery. From Newsboy to President; or, Mighting for Fame and lortune. By H. Kk. Shackleford. Jack Harold, The Cabin Boy; or, Ten Years on an Unlucky Ship. By Capt. Thos. H. Wilson. Gold Gulch; or, Pandy Ellis’s Last Trail. By An Old Scout. 8 Dick Darlton, the Poor-House Boy; or, The Struggles of a Friend- less Waif. By H. K. Shackleford. 385. 386 For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on rec FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, ~ IF YOU WANT Ai. of our Libraries and cannot procure them from newsdeale: return mail. A WSLS © 6 a 6 6 ea F a ele o's FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24 Union Dear Str—Enclosed find..... copies of WORK AND WIN, Nos........... ae «© WIDE AWAKE WEEKLY, Nos.... .... © © WILD WEST WEEKLY, Nos..... .... “© | THE LIBERTY BOYS OF 776, Nos.. 7 CRO ANT TACK, Noss vias i anes « © SECRET SERVICE, Nos.. fawe © “ Ten-Cent Hand. Books, Nos’... .'s.'.. Reldid Blame! <i... 3 ee Ea a Street and No.:.... , they can be obtained from this office direct. Cut out and in the following Order Blank and send it to ug with the price of the books you want and we will send them to ou . POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. Square, New York. URE ae .cents for which please send me: sf nee e eens “« “ FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY, Nos.. ee ee ee ry EVERY STORY COMPLETE PRICE 5 CENTS. 389 The Haunted Light-House; or, The Black Band of the Coast y Howard Austin. 390 The Boss Boy Bootblack of New York; or, Climbing the Laddex 0: Fortune. By N. 8S. Wood (The Young American Actor). 391 The Silver Tiger; or, The Adventures of a Young American i India. By Allan Arnold. 892 General Sherman’s Boy Spy; or, The March to the Sea. By. Gen’ Jas. A. Gordon. 393 Sam Strap, The Young Engineer; or, The Pluckiest Boy on t Road. By Jas. C. Merritt. t 394 Little Robert Emmet; or, The White Boys of Tipperary. Allyn Draper. 395 Kit Carson’s Kit; or, The Young Army Scout. By. An Old Scouw 396 Beyond the Aurora; or, The Search for the Magnet Mountai By Berton Bertrew. 397 Seven ae Skulls; or, The Secret City of Siam. By All rno 898 Over the Line; or, The Rich and Poor Boys of Riverdale Schoo By Allyn Draper. 899 The Twenty Silent ey ohed or, The Wild Riders of the Mou tains. By Richard R. Montgomery. 400 A Tt a te Working Boy; or, A Wight for a Fortune. By Ho ar us 401 Jack the Juggler ; or, A Boy’s Search for His Sister. By H. Shackleford. 402 Little Paul Jones; or, aor Scourge of the British Coast. Capt. Thos. H. Wilso: 403 Mazeppa No. 2, the Bow Fire Coney, of Carlton; or, Plue Work on Ladder and Line. By Wx-Fire Chief Warden. 404 The Blue Mask or, Fighting Against the Czar. By Allan Arnold 405 Dick, the Apprentice Boy; or, _ Bound to be an Wngineer. Story of Railroad Life.) By Jas, C. Merritt, 406 Kit Carson, Jr., In the Wild Southwest; or, The Search for Lost Claim. By An Old Scout. 407 The Rivals of Round Top Academy ; or, Missing from Scho: By Allyn Draper, 408 Jack Mason's Million; or, A Boy Broker’s Luck in Wall Stre By H. Shackleford. 409 The oat ‘City of the Andes; or, The Treasure of the Be (A eee a Adventures in a Strange Land.) By Richard R. Mo 410 The. Rapidan Rangers; or, General Washington's Boy Guard. ay of the American’ Revolution.) By Gen'l. James A. G 411 “old Put”; or, The Fire Boys of Brandon. By Px-Fire UY en, ~~ 412 Dead Game; or, Davy Crockett’s Double. By An Old Scout. 413 Barnum’s Young Sandow; or, The Strongest Boy in the Wor By Berton Bertrew. 414 Halsey & Co.; or, The Young Bankers and Speculators. * By: H. Shackleford. 415 Alow and Aloft; or, The Dashing Boy Harpooner, By Ca Thos. H. Wilson. 416 The Meteor Express; or, The gies Run of a Boy Hngineer. _ 417 Buttor ‘¢ or Cl bi to th uttons; or imbing to e To “(A Stor Of tes t) Luck and Pluck.) By Allyn Top. ERED. is ig 418 The Tron Grays; or, The Boy Riders “of the Rapidan. By Ge Jas. A. Gordon, 419 Money and Mystery; or, Hal Hallerton’s Tips in Wall Street. By H. Shackleford, 420 me Boy Sultan; or, Searching for a Lost Diamond Mine. By Al 421 Kd and No. 2; or, The Only Bi th 4 - Chief Warden. nl ee Company oF Ex 422 Lost un Raft; or, Driven from Sea to Sea, By Captain Thos, H, Wils 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, 24 Union Square, New Yor BACK NUMBERS Serene ere sees SO 9:60 a eemean ex ee a a ey