Pluck And Luck (no. 519) (1908 05 13)
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Bet peed akon c sate USER H I ie, af RRRRP RIO aaagaat ARABAERBBS- 1 tiara ciy 0) saa Gap et Pall epnceye No. 519. - NEW YORK, MAY 13, 1908. Senne ets ee py. Be “= = oo gee ; & staggered to his feet and started away from the dangerous locality, with his father in his arms. But ere he made three paces the wall came down with a terrible crash and both son and father were buried beneath the debris.
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PLUCK AND LUCK — Stories of Adventure: Zosued bape POR Subscri $2.50 v. Entered as Second-Class Matter at the New Yor: N.Y. i Office, Ae item, according to act of Conprese, én the year 1008, inte afl the Congress, Washington, D. C., by Frank Tousey, Publisher, inion Square, New York. : No. 519. NEW YORK, MAY 13, 1908 Price 5 Cents. oR, Through Flame and Smoke By EX-FIRE-CHIEF WARDEN, ope Sea — } x er z es . if : { One night he heard the great bell clang, and he and his | father left the house at the same time. ; : Will Bayne ran to the headquarters of the Hook and Ladder Company, whilst Walter made a straight a) for the fire down in the third district. Walter was there ahead of the hook and mace by one minute. People were running out of the house, which was a tene- ment, whilst the dense black smoke was boiling out of the windows in immense volumes. Hearing screams on the third floor just as ti hook and ladder truck appeared in sight, Walter darted into — the an house, rushed through ‘the dense black smoke to the third floor, guided by the screams of a girl, and burst in the door of a rear apartment. f f There he saw a young eirt about his own age shricking wildly for help. Y “Keep quiet now,” he said, “and Tl get yok out an right.” nk tee Mee “Oh, save me! ‘teva me!” she eried, throwing her arms — around him. : A ia} Ee _ “Yes, but keep quiet. The stairs are ablaze. Here, ‘aes i ‘me wrap this around you and you'll be safe enough,” and i he yan to a bed in a corner of the room and snatched | a blanket from dione 4 That he threw over the young: girl, completely envelo; ls ing her from head to feet. i . Then he caught her in his arms, lifted her ‘clear ot floor and dashed out of the room with her. ‘ The girl quietly submitted, and in another moment he CHAPTER I. } FATHER AND SON. ; Walter Bayne was the son of Will Bayne, the foreman of “Hook and Ladder Truck No. 1” of the town of Mill Dale. He was sixteen years old and going to school at the time of which we write. Among, his school fellows he was very popular, for he had a kindly disposition and a love for fun and frolic iat. eropped out on all occasions. A Then he was the strongest boy in school, the swiftest Ne runner, and, withal, a manly courage that made all the weaker ones seek him for protection when rig sides upon Hem by rude companions. e ‘Walter's father,’ Will Bayne, was regarded as the most x daring fireman in the town. He- had saved several lives at } ’ yarious fires, sometimés at the risk of his own, and the a fae had praised him to the utmost that language would ermit, The council of the town had voted him a gol medal, and the brave fireman and his wife were very proud of ae ME But the Baynes were very poor. Will Bayne was an assistant foreman in one of the mills ; and out of the scanty savings of his wages he had been making quarterly payments on the little cottage home in : which they lived for several years. The cottage stood almost on jthe river bank, and trom the “windows ‘of the rear rooms they could look out at the. re - stream as it rippled over the rocks towards the falls a half} was descending the: stairs in a cloud of dense ‘Dlack ae mile below, which furnighed: the immense water power to He had to hold his breath all the way down-stairs, He the a. a3 bed - | when he reached the bottom of the flight he: was: completely. ‘used up and had to ‘swallow. a cloud of 9 ~ It strangled him, but he made’ fa “desperate ron towa Jin front and passed out id the street, Tonge ane Lend over on the ground with his tair burden. e _ Some of the fits . ma e dash fo 2
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bores fees A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN, him for saving her life, and then darted away in the crowd of ‘spectators. . " It was quite a surprise to Will Bayne when he saw what his stalwart boy had done. He patted him on the back and said: “Good for you, Walter. But you are not a fireman. Keep out of the way, or you may be hurt.” . The -next moment a piercing scream from the burning building told the perspiring firemen that all had not been saved ‘yet. ~ ' There was a rush for the ladder, Will Bayne in the lead. He ran up like a squirrel, and entered a_ fourth story window. There he found a very stout lady some forty years of age screaming for help at the top of her lungs. “Here’s help, ma’am,” he said. “Here’s'a ladder. Make haste and run down. The walls will fall in five minutes.” - ¥ No; meine! but he is hurt. They are BERENS ai 1 E home.” : Ge “Art you hurt?” ey Ve ets i ps ; “Not much. BMG ARS SEE: SE, AR oe
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— € { : A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. , she replied in the deep anguish of her soul as she looked -at the soot-stained face of the daring fireman on the litter. “Oh, he is by no means,a dead man yet, ma’am,” said the doctor. “Just lay him on the bed, and I will look and see to what extent he is hurt.” She showed them into the bedroom in the rear of the front parlor, and they laid him on the bed there. Dr. Williams made an examination of his hurts, and found that he was bruised in a dozen places, and that some of them . Were quite serious. . Days and weeks passed, and some of the wounds healed } rapidly. Yet the brave fireman remained confined, to his hed A as helpless as an infant. The doctors held a consultation, and decided that his spinal } column was so badly injured that he would never have the strength to walk again. Tt was a terrible blow to the faithful wife and her two: children. Wattle Nellie was but ten years old and could’ not appreciate it to its full meaning. But Walter and his mother could. Walter was not very nario in his diapouicion, but he felt deeply and keenly the hard blow the family had re- ceived. But his mother was heartbroken in her grief, though she tried to keep it concealed from her husband. “Don’t worry, mother,” said the brave boy, to his mother. “The mortgage on the house is not due for several months yet. il stop schoo] now and go to work. You don’t know how strong Tam. I can do a man’s work if lam but sixteen years old. I’ll take care of you and father and Nellie,” and Wal- ter’s eyes flashed with the stern resolve to do as he said} -he would or die in the attempt. ; , Everybody in Mill. Dale had been talking about the heroic rescue of Minnie Taylor by Walter Bayne on the niga: ‘his father was hurt. He had brought the girl out unharmed fronk the yery jaws of death, and everybody was singing his praises. .. “He has the making of a good fireman in him,” said Fire Chief Wyckoff, the foreman of one of the big mills below the falls. s “So he has,” said another old fireman. his father, one of the bravest firemen I ever knew. were older I’d try ‘hard to get him into our company.” “He will have to leave school now,”remarked .the chief, # “We gets it from If he “since the income of the family is cut. off. I fear they will luck to catch a larger ‘on e. all haye a hard time of it.” an “So do I. the pay of one.”. “Yes. There, he goes now. I guess he is on the lookout ioe fora job now.” _ “Well, I don’t see that we can give you any work. We have no work now for green hands.” “Have you no need for a strong laborer?” Bayne asked. - “T know just what I want, young man, without any ques- tioning from you. Get out now!” Walter looked at him in some surprise for a moment ‘or two, to the very great annoyance of the superintendent. But he opened the office door and passed out without saying i'man Wyckoff spoke to him, saying: “Yes, “sir.” a “None here?” 5 “No, sir.” fis “ihe ; oe “Well, I am sorry. Wherever you apply refer to me—the chief of the fire department—and J’ll say all the good things 'T can in your favor.” “Thank you, sir,” said Walter. find work somewhere,” and he bowed to the chief and panes out of the mill. He called. at three other mills with a like result, a the employment to be had in the town—almost. On returning home in the middle of the afternoon he re- ported to his mother and father his failure to find work, “You can try again to-morrow,” said the father. f “Yes, and so I will,” he replied. do. I can catch some fish for supper,” and he looked out of the window at the water dancing over the rocks. “Just on the other side of that big bowlder out there I can get two or three big fine fish, and you can lie here sti see me land ‘em on the rock, father.” Walter left the house and a. half hour later he was leap- ing from rock io rock, with a ten foot board in his hand, on which he intended to cross over to the big bowlder. " His father lay in his bed by the window and watched him make his way to the rock on the board. Soon he was deeply engaged in angling for the fish he sus- pected of making a home under the rock, and in a little while he caught a fine trout weighing some two or three pounds. ‘He held it aloft to let his father see the beauty. He caught — a glimpse of his mother’s face at the window and held the fish up again. “T know that will help me. outlook was very discouraging, for the mills furnished all the “But I know:what 1 can 4) another word, and was about to leave the mill, when Fore-» En “Looking for work, Walter?” . Pah eee: Then he angled for another, ana preity goon had the good me x i “This is luck as well as fun,” he said, “and it means a set He is not a bac workman, and can’t get good supper all around, too.” “Oh, Walter,” called a girlish vole behind, ‘him. come out there and fish with yo It was the voice of Josie Wyckoff, the only daughter of The foreman saw young ‘Walter come ‘into ae mill and go the chief of the fire department. ' into the business office. Walter had come to ask for work. very unpopular with the operatives. “Yes, come ahead!” he answered, and she came’ ‘isipbtae i t kind -of a over the stones like a fairy, and finally walked the plank : The superintendent was a very stern kim of a man, an | which landed her by hig side. “Oh, those are beauties!” she exclaimed, on ee the; two He owned a good deal of stock in the mill and drew a} he ha a just caught. large salary also as superintendent. , “Mr. Bradshaw, ” said Waiter, on entering the superin-| your luck.” tendent’s office, “ean you give me any work to do?” The pompous superintendent looked over his gold-rimmed | poo, for her. “glasses at him, and asked: _ “Who are you and what can you do?” “My name is Walter Bayne. I am ebrong, and willing to - work at anything.” “Walter Bayne, eh?” “Yes, sir.” ee “You have never “So they are. Here, let me bait your hook so, you can wy “You are kind, Walter,” she said, as he carefully batted ni “Just drop it over on that gide. now, and Ti bet you ¢ a big one.” She did so, and in a very little. while was pulling hard a fish-who seemed determined not to leave the water. » er, / “Steady, Josie!” cried Walter, and she held a taut lin | the fish, moving about, the rock bs order &® eet bs ty of: to play him. nS ; ‘int Suddenly nee A ated ‘fro “May I se
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4 ———— Se. f : A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. , peared from sight like a flash, The next instant. Walter dropped his pole and plunged in after her. His mother seeing him do that fell fainting to the floor by her husband’s bed- side. CHAPTER III. THE YOUNG WIREMAN, Walter Bayne was a splendid swimmer, and had no fear of deep water. Many a time he had leaped into water ten times his depth and thought nothing of it. But now he was in a mad current which went leaping over rocks and ragged bowlders on its way to the falls below. Yet the danger did not deter him. He never thought of it, in fact, but boldly plunged in and came up within a few feet of her. A few bold strokes brought him to her. He caught and held her head above the water. She caught him around his neck and held on for dear life, “Don’t squeeze me so hard, Josie,” he said, collar and I'll swim out with you.” . . “Save me!” gasped the tartdr- stricken girl. ““T will iyou will hold on to my collar,” he replied. The current crashed them against a rock just below the surface of’ the water, and carte near separating them. Josie uttered. a ery Of pain she fear, but Walter held on to her and. said: j “Now hold on to me and I can make yonder rock, where “ (we Will be safe.” -$he did hold on to him, and the brave youth struck out to make the point some distance below and quite near the sats " ghore. By this time the alarm had spread Hecoeoh the nearest ‘ mill that a boy and girl were drowning in the river, and fully two hundred men and women ran out to see if’ they could not render aid. “Pull hard, lad!” cried a strong-lunged mill-hand. “Pull _ hard and make for yonder rock! “Hold onto him, girl! God help the brave boy! Pull hard! A fewmore brave strokes! Down they go! That current is terrible!) Ah! There they are again! Pull hard now! Bravely Fade: my boy! You've a _. brave man! ‘Be careful! If you miss it you'll go over the falls! Pull hard! ‘Two or three more strokes! Ah! There you are! Thank God!” and the strong man-was so wrought up that he burst into tears of joy when he saw that the Jad had reached the rock and saved both himself and the girl. Women who witnessed the brave boy’s struggle eried and _ laughed by turns. . 4 . “Why, it’s Walt Bayne! * ” eried one of the women. a “A hero like his father!” cried another. “And Josie Wyckoff! Here, be eae Hee is,safe, thank God!” AY “Hold on to my , It’s your Josie! “Walter, my hoy!” exclaimed Chief Wychatt, eau pinig! the d’s hand, “you, have saved my child! | lam your friend for You are a brave: boy, ‘Walter. A brave poy! ‘You are son of ee bravest ‘man E ever Anew, and. you: are just a eee ce a a i ea eee ‘ a SESS SnD ee Rae aD FAINT SST ESET oem ay and Walter turned and ran to his home to put on a dry suit of clothes. “Oh, my son!” sereamed his mother, on seeing him enter alive and well. “Thank God, you are saved!”: 3 “Did you save the girl, Walter?” his father asked from the next room. “Yes, father,” he replied. ““Come here and give me your hand, boy! ‘You did just what I would have done. You are a chip off the old block!” and father and son clasped hands and looked into each other’s eyes. “I couldn’t help it, father,” said Walter. “She couldn’t swim and I could. My fish are out there on that rock. I'll run out and get them, for they are the finest I’ve caught in many a day.” He ran out of the house again without changing his clothes, — and in ten minutes moré was back in the house with’ back: enough for three meals. Then he changed his clothes and talked aie his father and mother and little Nellie till evening, when Chief Wyckoff and his wife called at the house to see the parents and again __. thank the son for saving their only child from a watery grave. When they went away they left with the happy praca an order for a barrel of flour and a ton of coal. | “Hello!” exclaimed Walter, when he heard his cine ; tell hig father of the gift. “I am of some acootinh. after ol a ain’t 1?” ; “Of course you are,” Said the father. “fe who. saves a sake bi as greater than he who captures a city.” ' Later in the week the hook and taddee company of cae Walter Bayne’ s father was foreman when he was hurt elected Walter an honorary member, and when the seeretary naciees him of the fact his father’s eyes brightened. “That’s an honor you ought to be proud of, my boy, ty he said. “None but men grown and solid citizens at had are ever so honored. You ought to be proud of it.” y “JT am proud of it, father, and am going to run with vem after this.” ; “That's right. Mary, eis. Fix up my old. firemen’: suit i for him. You will have to cut about two inches off. the. trousers. His head and mine ‘are the same size. _He can wear the helmet. Stand in your hasia td place, my, poy, and I - know you won't. disgrace the name.’ “Will! Will!” exclaimed Mrs, Bayne. “What are you say- " ing to the boy? He is adventurous and reckless enough now. without any encouragement in that eiesigges T would BEERS that he keep out of the fire company.” “That isn’t like you, Mary, my girl,” said the ‘brave arempis of; “You are letting your fears, get the better of you. Don’t. do that, Mary.” ; Nee - Mrs. Bayne turned away. with a shudder. ; iy The next day the alterations in the father’s fireman’s suit were made and Walter tried them on. MUMS EN ceibe vet ie ‘He looked every inch a fireman. fs se “Go down to the company’s headquarters this une ONS, boy,” said: his father, “and let *om see you. : Tell ‘em that ems sent you to do duty in my ‘place, and that you bi an for the name i William Bayne.” wr i Z Walter went down to the company’s quarters, “where a boys received him with a wild cheer. “My father told me to ‘answer to. ‘his name when it called,” he said. Acted pee “Yes, and to your own, pa: » ‘bald the abeletal fore “You are. ude age, but wel suspend | ‘the aes ? te a
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; A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. Chief Wyckoff came in, and the greeting he gave Walter | aroused the enthusiasm of the boys to the highest pitch. “T dm glad you are With us, my boy,” said the chief, “be- cause We can now help——” Clang! Clang! Clang! The great fire-bell struck for the third district, and every fireman sprang to his post. Walter caught the enthusiasm, and dashed away with them. He was as fleet of foot as the swiftest of them, and when they reached the scene of the fire he was as fresh as any man in thé company. It was a six story tenement house which = caught fire, and it was burning like a tinder-box. He dashed inte the burning building with two other fire- men, and soon came out with a little boy in one arm and a girl,/on the other.» Delivering them to sympathizers, he darted into the puild-|. ing and ran up two flights, where he found two terror-stricken women. . Two other firemen were with him; but when they under- took to go down with them they found all retreat cut off. , The entire stairway was in flames. “Up to the next floor!” cried one of the firemen, and they retreated. There they found that they se hive to go’to the next floor, which they found to be the top one. ~~~, *The ladder can’t reach the window!” cried one of the “firémi@m, as he looked out and down at the firemén. “To the roof, then!” cried the other. They ran up the little ladder which led to the scuttle in the roof, forced it open and emerged ‘to the top of me doomed _ building. R There they saw that the crowd below were screaming and pointing up to the next house, which was also burning. ' Walter Bayne threw himself face downward on the roof, -erawled to the edge and looked over. “My God!” he cried. “There are two young girls in the rooms just below us, and they are doomed unless we can ‘ gave them. 4 ” re A clothes line was on the stakes on the roof, and Walter. quickly seized it, doubled it, and proceeded ko fasten it around his waist. : “Here!” he cried. “You two are strong enough to hold me. », Lower me te that window, and I’ll save vem or perish with | “tem. aid “Good! the two did as he asked. : The next moment the vast crowd of acladt stasis below were -dismayed at seeing a fireman, suspended from the roof. When he arrived at ‘the window he reached out, caught ee hold ‘of the blind, and pulled himself in. Two young girls aetetbts threw. ‘themselves on him, - erying: “Save us! Oh, do please save us!” Sue al, “Yes, ‘that’s what T came for,” he replied. “Here, quick! “s Let me tie you—one of 1 Mae ‘this. oe and they’il ~ pull you up’ to the roof.” eS. quickly. tied the rope around one of the young girl’s waist, and ‘then stood upon the window ai and png: ‘out: to’ “Pull away! Up with her!” ine: Sa CHAPTER IV. bats oA eas EESCUE, Brave boy!” exclaimed one of 5 firemen, and | | boys, or you'll get caught.” || ) burning: building, and asked permission to pass» bea e | to the, roof. ; ; he firemen on the roof: Mate, fe ee fis “scuttle bance unfastened “es wits naee to ck down through the. soar E s oe faces were exposed by the red glare of the burning building, it seemed as if the daring boy must fall and be dashed to pieces on the pavement. But he held on to the rope with one hace. and With ‘the : other retained his hold on the shutter, whilst calling to the two firemen on the roof to pull hard. They did pull, and one of the young girls swung out of the window with a piercing shriek, The spectators held their breaths in. awful, painful sus~ pense, as the young girl hung at that dizzy height. The slightest accident and death would be inevitable and quick. | : But ts accident fiat paa and the half unconscious young — girl was drawn safely to the roof, amid the wild cheers of the crowd below. ’ Then the rope was lowered again and Walter datas bry In another minute he had it tied securely ApOURS the waist of. the other girl. “Pull away!” he yelled, and even the people below: heard his words and took up the cry. - ! “Pull away, pull away!” came up from the spectators ss a the roar-of old ocean in a storm. Again a girl swung out of the window, and again did the sturdy feliows on the roof pull hard on the rope that held a human life suspended between earth and sky. oe She was landed safely, and again the frantic yells came ae from below. “Quick! quick!” yelled the hook and. ladder boys: below. “Lower the rope to Walt. The flames have reached him! Quick, Henry, or you'll be too late!” - a They hurriedly lowered the rope and Walter reached wut! for it, though the window was like a smoke-stack of a - steamboat, so great was the volume of: sce 2 that poured — through it. “f After haying tied the rope ‘around himself securely, he A sung out: ; BE at “All right! Pull away!” - ee They did pull away, and as Walter Was a pretty solid ‘ack of a‘boy, they found it hard work. It was quite different from lowering him from the roof, and for a time, it. seemed. " as if they would not be able to pull him up. But they succeeded at last, and when the crowd’ below saw that he was ‘safe, oy made the welkin: ring with their « cheers. af - All three were Senay exhausted fee the hand Pe ® and they laid down on the hot roof to test a minute or two. “Oh, come away!” eried one of the aitls, “The ‘fre wit soon burst through the roof! Fe a : ; “That's so,” said Walter, rising to hisefeet Be Stalls ing away toward the roofs on the right of them. - Come. : The other two staggered to their feet and Fgisale fottowe ‘him and the two girls off the heated roof, = ie? The firemen. below, seeing that they’ had escaped to. an other roof, hastened to enter a house two doors: from th Tt was” ‘promptly - granted, and ‘one ‘of ‘them: ral When. they reached. the street a
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4 6 A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. Chief Wyckott ran up to him and grasped his hand, say- ing: “Walter Bayne, you are a hero. I am proud to take you by the hand. Those girls would have perished but for you.” “What’s the matter with the two fellows who pulled ’em up to the roof?” Walter asked, as he returned the chiel’s hand-shake. “Oh, they are all right, too,” was the reply, “but the main credit belongs to you.” Then the chief grasped the hands of the other two fire- men and said: “You three have the stuff that heroes are made of. Stand back now and rest awhile. There are no more lives to be saved.” ' They stood aside to let other firemen play ‘on the fire, and Were instantly surrounded by the eager crowd of spectators who wanted to shake each one of them by the hand. By and by the hook and ladder truck started to return to their headquarters, and on the way back the crowd gave them @ send-off that made them feel proud of their achievements that night. | “The next morning everybody in the town was talking about the heroic daring of the sixteen-year-old fireman who had saved the lives of the two poor girls. 1 Chief Wyckoff went by the house of Will’ Bayne on his}. way to the mill to tell him about it, and say: “Tt would have done your heart good to see him. He seemed to bear a charmed life, and he went where no other fireman would have dared to go, and came out unharmed.” “T am proud of my brave boy, chief,” said the helpless ex- fireman. “But don’t let him. be so reckless, or he’ll he brought home dead some day or evening. “T wish with all my heart that he was out of that fire company,” said Mrs, Bayne. “If he should be crippled or, - killed what would become of us?” “Don’t talk that way, Mary,” said Will Bayne, “or the _ chief may think you are opposed to our boy saving a human dite.” Y . “tam not opposed to that. I would do that myself at the risk of my own life,. But there are many good people in this town who are not firemen. They ‘never risk their lives at a fire. Why should my boy risk his life? one in a family enough to lose?” . “Come, / come, Mary,” said Will Bayne. “BHvery one to ‘his liking. Walter likes it, and be hag proven himself a “hero. He may Meir “I wish he did not like it,” she retorted, interrupting oe 3 _, Then she turned to Wyckoff and asked if Walter could not in be given work in the mill where he was employed. _ *“There-is no room for him at present,” he replied, “put TI am going to Keep a sharp lookout for him, and if there is’ 2Eny chance for him I will let him know.” ~ The chief went ' on to the mill, and Walter soon after started in ‘search of: work. ? The family were now reduced to almost absolute want, if , not starvation. To make matters worse, the man who held the mortgage on their littie home sent a written notice that he expected rangements to use the money. age “We ‘shall Jose our home,” said Mrs. Bayne, “for we can- i make the payment. “We have no money even for bread.” alter visited ed a mills and stores Ate anes of, work an failed’ to, get it. sed gey “That is “awful,” he said. y beds wo sleep Ot {teats Is not. Struck a private house, on the gle of which ateon. a number the last payment to be made when’ due, as he had: made ar-. areas 1" ac = The great fire-bell startled the town, and in an instant . every fireman, wherever employed, made a break for the post of duty. The boy fireman and the Hook and Ladder company reached the fire ahead of the engines, and found that it was in the finest hotel in the town. 4 y, The house was filled with guests, and the Pe among them was simply terrible. Women and children on almost every floor shrieked for help, and the firemen had a busy time getting them out. ; The building was a four story frame, the wood being dry — and very inflammable, hence it was impossible to save it. In looking through the rooms on the third floor’ to see that no one was left, Walter Bayne discovered a sick lady who had been forgotten in the excitement. 3 She was very ill and could not stand on her feet. “Madam, I’ll wrap the bed-clothes about you, and get oe 1 out,” he said, suiting his actions to his words. He gathered her in his arms and. made a dash for the stairs, which were now all ablaze. Just as he passed out of the door into the ofieesitae: Wee caught a glimpse of a man’s face and heard a voice day: “Hurry out or you’re lost,”/and at the same time foe his feet kicked out from under him. He fell to the floor with his burden, though ‘he mantedd to prevent her receiving any hurt. But shé was torn from his grasp, and when he rose to his feet he could See Aothing = of her. The smoke was so dense that he could not see anything at all, and so he hurried away to escape. — : But as he made his way to the stairs he stumblea over Ee a body, and stooping to examine it at it to be that. Bee the sick lady he had lost. Quick as he possibly could he snatched her ‘up’ aaa gid hurried down-stairs and succeeded in. reaching the street. in an almost papediier condition. ; : festa nis CHAPTER V. THE HOTEL FIRE—A RESCUE AND poh JOSEARR: Out on the street one of the firemen came be ae relief < on gsi ie seeing him reel-and stagger with his burden in his arms. We “This way, Walt,” said the fireman, leading him across the street so as to be as far removed, from the heat as possible. The crowd gave way for them, seeing that a sick lady was. - in the arms of one of them, and they pushed on til: théy = of ladies. ' “Can we leave this, lak woman in your fates till aia can ; be moved again?” the ‘fireman ainie of a portly ‘old 1a ee : the stoop. * ey “Yes; of course,” was the prompt rani “Come. right. in. : with her,” and she led the way into the manne toflowed: by \ Walter and the other fireman. et “Lay her on the bed—wait a cig tT tiple a ; and the elderly lady soon hag the bed in on order, to ‘Te ceive the sick woman. Z : She was deposited there, and fennel to be daeonmoaiie: “Send for a doctor,” Walter said, “She may be ina taint,” %, 3 and with that he and the other ‘fifeman. left a house return to the scene of ling See “We ‘shall have. to pawn the|
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A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. Hea a) there, whom I took out of-the hotel. She seems half dead. You had better see her.” “Ah. She must be my patient,” said the doctor. ‘was wondering if she had been saved,” see her. The hotel was reduced to. ashes and a row of stores on the south side of it threatened with destruction. Walter worked with the hook and ladder boys till there a was no more need of their services, after which he returned to headquarters with them. He’ was hungry—very hungry, and had nothing with which to buy:a meal, and he knew that there was no more. bread } at home than would be needed for supper. What was he to do? He was too proud to let any one know his situation. “T'll eatch some fish,” he said. “They won’t cost me any- thing, and I guess I'll have a square meal at. supper. What in heaven’s name shall be do for bread to-morrow?” He returned home, told his mother and father about ee __ fire at the hotel, and then went to the river, “T can’t understand why that man tripped me up and took the sick woman away from me,” he said to himself, as he sat there on the rock and angled for a bite. “I got a glimpse of his face, and saw that he had a black mustache |’ -He kicked my feet from under me }j, and very large nose. a 2a downed me as slick as wet soap. What did he do that seal “Hi-he wanted to help me save the woman why did he not say so, and ask to let him take her out. He snatched her from me ‘when I was down, and then left her at the head of the stairs. I wonder if he got out! all right him- self?” ~ He-was thinking of the incident and debating with himself when he felt a pull at his hook. A quick jerk told him that he had a big fish, and that he would have to be wary in land- ing him. His invalid father was looking at him from the bedroom ~ window, and he wanted to make sure of the prize. Some twenty minutes was spent in trying to land him, and at} last he sueceeded in doing so, the prize proving to be a six- teen-pounder. “Whew!” he exclaimed. “That’s luck! [ll take him to the house at once and let mother clean him. He'll make four or five square meals.” He gathered up the prize and returned home with it. ites “Here’s fish enough for you, mother,” he said, as he entered the kitchen. “Oh, mercy!” she cried on seeing it. “yeu ever caught.” “f “believe it is.” Neve 4 - “We can’t eat it all, Walter, and it won't: ee in warm weather. You can get a price for it at one of tie hotels, and buy some bread and butter and-—” “But you want ‘something else besides feet ‘and butter, ~ mother.” “Yes. Sell: ‘this big one, and then catch another one for supper. You will have plenty of time.” He acted on her suggestion and sold the big fish for ‘$1. 50, gave her the money, and then caught enough: for SuDpSt and breakfast. Phat evening at the headquarters of the hook and ladder - ¢ompany he was telling some of the firemen about the big fish, when a man came to the door and asked’ if, Walter Bayne was in. ~ ; “Yes,” said a fireman, “hey is. x “Hello,” answered Walter oe ate “A ‘gentleman here wishes! to | bee +" a ota 7 “dot a man, an enti exh “That’s the largest Come in. and he hurried off to} ‘the reply. ‘watter2” Bo! teats “Are you Walter Bayne?” “Yes, sir.” ; “You were at the fire this morning?” “Yes, I was there.” “You saved a sick lady from the flames?” “Yes, I believe I did.” : } “Well, I am her husband. I have come to thank you and give you this,” and he thrust a purse into Walter’s hand. Then he started to turn away and leave jwithout another word, when Walter caught hold of his arm and said: : “Stop, . please, and allow me to thank you, and also ask if the lady is any worse for the terrible excitement binds naia which she passed?” ~ “Thanks. I think she is a little better if anything,” was’ { Sométhing in the man’s voice excited a desire on Walter's — part to see his fact, for the stranger’ stood outside in the — shadow. He took him by the arm and pulled him into the | light where he saw the face of the man who had tripped |him up in the corridor of the burning hotel that morning. But the mustache was gone. The nose was unmistakable, though, and the voice he was sure of. Pee esd rat Walter was staggered, but he did not say anything other than to again thank the man for calling. “What did he give you, Walt?” the fireman who had calted him to the door asked. “J don’t know,” replied Walt. “I'll look and see,” and he produced the purse and examined iis contents, — ‘ “Money, by George!” exclaimed one of the firemen. as he © saw a roll of bills taken from the purse. : “Well, I’m glad of that,” said Walter, peenslie: to count =f the bills. “Here are twenty $5 bills, $100. in all.” - “What a windfall!” “What’s his name?” a dozen voices asked. ‘The purse was examined again, but nothing was found to indicate who the man was. No name—nothing whatever of a : written character save what was on the bills. x. Ci aN “Well, you’re in luck, my boy,” said an old fireman, laying _ his hand ion Walt’s shoulder, “and I am glad of it for your yf father’s sake.” fie They all congratulated him on fite* good fortune, en he. soon left the truck house to hasten home to let his mother know the good news. aene On his way home Walter ‘eould not help thinking of the man who had tripped him up in the éorridor of the burning. hotel. , se .“He is the same man,” he said to himself, “though he Has", “ee _|eut his mustache off. I knew his voice and recognized his nose. What does it mean? He did not care to have me see him ~ in the light to-night when che gave me that purse. I've a bi mind to tell father all about it and see if he can understand it. Tt couldn’t have been an accident, that tripping-up busi- si ness, for he swept my feet from under me like a flash, re and——” ; : : eee eS f rosie? oe as he was bata an old barn on his wis home told him that oy" | Somebody had shot at his head. ; sey
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Bey ee A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. He Was about to spring at his assailant when a voice some fifty yards on the left sang out “Hello, there! Mind how you shoot! me that time.” On hearing that the unknown marksman turned and ran from the spot with sueh speed as’ to place him utterly out (of sight in the darkness of thé night. “What's the matter there?” cried the voice out on the _ left, and footsteps were heard approaching. _“That’s what I want to’ know myself,” replied Walter, as aman, a citizen on his way home, came up. i “Who fired that shot?” /-' “ don’t know.” “Who, was he shooting at?” You came near hitting eth thought he was pares at me, as the flash was enna ‘in my face.” “Well, the bullet came within an ace of hitting me. I heard it whistle by me. Have you any idea who done it?” “Not the least in the world, sir,” replied Walter. haven't an enemy that I know of.” ; “Who are you, young man?” ma 1 _, “My name is Walter Bayne.” Zk “The young fireman,” h) OS SATs fi. “I haye heard of you. I can’t see sty anybody should want to shoot you. Maybe it was some half drunken fool who wanted to empty his revolver.” - “Maybe so, but it looked as/if he wanted to blow my head off,” and Walter continued on his way home, and the citizen proceeded in the direction of his own residénce. When he reached home, Walter found that his’ imother had gone to bed, so‘he did not have time to Bisa her With his good fortune. ‘He went to bed himself and lay awake for hours trying to ap ‘Teason: out the incidents growing out of the hotel fire. | “It that sick woman’s husband really tripped me up on ~ purpose,” he said to himself, “why did he come and give me $100 to-night’ for saving. her life? Then why did he shave _ ofthis mustache?) Maybe he got it burned and had to do it. The lady is actually better since the fire. Hanged if it don’t puzzle me, anyway. Iam sure that some- _ body shot at me at the corner of Richardson's barn, for the de pistol ‘was pointed right at my face when it exploded. ‘Well, ; maybe Vl find out some day. eo) be a happy woman in, the morning when she finds out about bf: the $100. It’s just, half enough to pay off the Sr bl ie on our home.’ Ae tte il f He fell asleep and slept till morning, eh he sprang \up “and went out into the kitchen where his mother was pre- _ paring some of ‘his fish for breakfast. se he said, hist haye a Feel for you,” and he on’t know. the man or eretlian who gave you ‘such temioney as this?” th mother. he proceeded to. tell her» the story of the sick bis hotel and adi he succeeded in eee i ba 2 man who. sala he was her husband came ‘off the mortgage. place for me somewhere in the mill where he On I just know that mother will | ‘Walter asked.” | not?” He did not give me ‘a chance to: find out, ie when I saw him last: night. without “us mustache ing up and running into the bed-room where her husband lays, “Took! Look, Will!” she cried, oleae him the bills. “A grateful husband gave this to our Walter for saving the ~ life of his invalid wife yesterday at the hotel fire!” “Well, that’s good,” ‘said Bill Bayne, gazing at the roll of bills in her hand. “Our boy is of some use after all, isn’t he?” tie “Heaven bless him—yes! Another hundred would pay Oh, if we could only get it from somebody or somewhere! ”’ ‘ u i “Yes—put it away and don’t spend a cent of it. We'll have need for it yet. Maybe we can get enough to pay off the mortgage yet.” Mrs. Bayne was a happy mother that morning. She no longer pleaded with Walter not to be a fireman. She was glad that he had saved hunian life, and wanted him to save , all he could: “T know it would make you feel better, mother,” he said, as he sat down to breakfast. “When I catch on to a good job of work and begin to earn money reguintly, you won't want for) anything.” '«T shall feel much better when -you get the job,” Bue: re- marked. “Oh,: I think Mr. Wyckoff will find a i ee yes, of course. “T hope so.” Walter, went out again in quest ‘of work, id in vaste through Main ‘street he met eh old Dr. Williams, who hailed him with; “Hello, Walter!” : B Walter tipped his hat to him and went ag seth took. “hts hand. eo “T hear that you are in luck, Walter, " the doctor said, “Yes, sir, a little bit.” ( ie it “T heard the: husband of that sick lady speaking of you in the highest terms of praise. He gave you sae did he not?” ay: “Yes, sir.” — | “Tt ought to have been a thousand. “They are very “rich: eee The excitement. ee seemed to have benefitted her. She wants to See you. When — can you call at the hotel?” ‘ npn “What hotel?” : lips “Oh, they have taken rooms at the River House, “i said pea doctor. “Better rooms than the others were.” aye “What is their name?” bit eee “Don’t you know? Haven’t you ‘heard thetr name?” Taek “No, sir.” ; ie “Well, that’s strange. Their name 4g Bosworth, and they ‘come from Boston, 1 believe, fox a Te ve air sgh Mrs. Bosworth.” Bie SH i; “Didn’t Mr. Bosworth have a big black mustache, doctor?” + » “Yes, and it was rainal by the ‘fire 80° he had to ‘pak tt off to start a new one. avi was pretty hot work, was | f Bi ra “Yes, indeed. He- has a bie ‘nose, ine Giceae he?” ; “Yes, Why, didn’t you ‘See, him when he gave you. th money last: night?” : “Yes, sir, but I ‘thought 1 had seen him once sb ore valed to aps him Bald i seh ig Rane
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A FIREMAN ATT SIXTEEN. At 3 o’clock precisely Walter ao the hotel, and going to the clerk’s desk, said: “f have been sent for by Mrs. Bosworth. ‘Will you please send some one to show me the way up to her rooms?” “Yes,” said the clerk, tapping a bell, to which a boy re- Sponded. “Show this gentleman to Room 22.” The boy turned and led the way up-stairs and Walter fol- lowed him. At the top,of the first flight they met Mr. Bosworth, who stopped the boy, saying to him: : “You may go back. I'll show him the rest of the way myself.” The boy returned and left Beans 07 with the husband ‘of the sick lady. “What ig wanted?” Mr. Bosworth asked, turning to the young fireman. “Dr. Williams requested me to call at three o’clock, as Mrs. Bosworth wanted to sée me,” replied Walter, with great frankness. “Young man, can you keep a secret,” Bosworth asked. “Yes, sir.” ~ “Well, Pll give you one to keep. Mrs. Bosworth is not ’ in her right mind. You must never attempt to see her, as to do so may cost you your life. Keep all that a profound ’ secret and go away at once!” Z x CHAPTER VII. IN SEARCH OF WORK—THE FIGHT IN THE MILL. r ? To ‘say that Walter Bayne was surprised at the words of. Mr. Bosworth would be but a very mild way of putting it. He was astonished, for Dr. Williams had not said a word to him in regard to the sanity of the sick lady. The thought that flashed through his. mind was' that Dr. _ Williams would: not betray a professional secret, and had left him to find out the facts for himself. He stood at the head of the stairs, and the very metacing | attitude and tone of Mr. Bosworth impressed him with the idea that he had no other recourse than to retire under the circumstances. “Your wishes shall be respected, sir,” he eo to him, as Sohe turned to go down the stairs. “Thanks, sir,” returned Bosworth grasping his arm. “Of course. you will keep the secret to yourself, and spare my feelings. I would not co the public ae the facts under --~any consideration,” Z re ~have nothing whatever to do with your private affairs, | - Mr. ‘Bosworth, ” replied. Walter, “and do. ‘not wish to.” With that he turned and made his way down-stairs again » ‘wondering why the doctor had not posted him as to. the Mental condition of his patient. ' \ He was’ angry with himself for having gone to ‘the hotel, for he had received the impression from Bosworth’s manner ‘toward him ‘that he had been denied access to the room by the aristocratic husband because he was poor and penniless. | That thought made ‘his eyes ‘flash and his cheeks slow: with ; indignation. ; y “Blast him! ” he hissed through his elenched teeth. “I He am a. better man than he is any day, and T'll bet that T have] — St a ‘better education than he has. He has nothing | but money, whilst I have everything else but that. Hanged if I don’t tell Dr. Williams how I have been treated. At won't be giving He passed a down, the street” and on | kk al Hidoe x ‘the newspaper men about it himself?” | applied to for work. He soon reached the mill and made ‘him. | of you!” Pi ee ' the secret. away, for he knows all about it, of course.’ aah i policeman with whom he was acquainted © ‘came up to him and said: “That was a lucky fire for 208 yesterday, Walter. oy; “How so?” “Why, the paper says Mr, Bosworth gave you $209 last night ‘for saving the ite of his wife.” ' “Oh, yes, so he did. “But I wonder if he: went oe told The officer laughed and asked: “What do you care if he did, as long as you have the money. I'd like to tackle a fire like that myself about once a fey all the year round. What started that fire?” “T don’t know.” “I hear that the chief of the fire department has been ordered to report all he knows about it.” a “Well, I think it ought to be investigated, and——” prams He stopped short and looked around at a man who had come up behind him so close that he touched him. The man was Bosworth, the husband of the sick lady. He bowed and moved aside to let him pass, and ithe — stranger returned the bow and went on, though his eyes — quickly, glanced at the face of the young fireman. as “That man is Bosworth, » remarked Walter to the Da man, when the former had passed them. J “Eh! Is that so?” “ Yes. » ); “Well, he didn’t speak to you as though he was. elnds you saved His wife.” He “Oh, he thinks that the one hundred dollars settled all that. He is one of the ‘high pie’ kind of men, I guess.” “No doubt of it. Pity he didn’t get burned up yester- day.” oa “Yes, I think so, too,” and Walter walked down the street toward the river, where stood a mill which he -had not yet — his way into the business office where he asked for work.' “Go up to the third floor,” said a clerk in the office. “The superintendent will attend to you.” y ‘He made his way up two flights of stairs and, Abt seeing the superintendent there, asked one of ee girls where ie could be found. i i The girl looked up and exclaimed: ; “Oh, here’s Walter Bayne!” and then she grasped his “hand and fairly danced around him, saying: “I am so glad to see, ‘you! I owe you my life!” | She was one of the two sisters whose lives he had’ saved by descending to their window from the roof. The other sister seeing who he was ran up to him also to show her gratitude. ' ‘Then all the other girls’ left aie posts t0 Looe a and see him, for they had talked bankas nothing else the past week but his daring exploits. a “T, want to see the superintendent, girls, "he eaid, "ph g hands with as, many as he could. brat “Thunder and lightning! ” -valled an angry eles ) “What does this mean! Back to your work, every The girls” dartea away with ‘seared ‘tebks and ‘aes uittle feminine screams, and resumed their. work without even, ice looking pack at the superintendent. ; : “Who are you, and what do you he by : ‘his. question. : “But why have you inter fered ¥
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10 A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. ee EEE me. I am not brute enough to tell them to go back to work.” f “Who are you?” “T am Walter Bayne, at your service, and came here to see if I could get employment.” “Ah. I understand why the girls acted like geese. You saved the lives of two of them, and the others all- wanted to See you. Business. I shall dock every one on this floor for lost time,” and he looked around the room with an angry stare. “Ts that the way you treat your operatives,” Walter asked. “That’g the rule of the mill.” : “I came here in seatch of work, but I guess I don’t care to work in tifis mill. I know something about that docking business. They lost five minutes, but they’ll be docked an hour, sé the mill gets fifty-five minutes work out of each girl for which they get no pay.” ; “Young man, you want to go right down-stairs and make ‘a straight shoot for the front door, to avoid being fired out -of a window,” and the Bu perinbengent glared at him as, he ' goaade the remark. “Tll do that, sir,” returned Walter, “but won’t be in a yery great aurry about it. Who is your bouncer here?” i ent can do all the bouncing without any trouble,” and he seized Walter by the collar and attempted to jerk him toward the stairs. i : He tore the coat, and the next moment Walter dealt him a blow that sent him rolling headlong down the staifs ahead © of him. Walter then coolly walked down the stairs, spins over the half-unconscious superintendent and tripped down the second flight as though nothing had occurred to mar his serenity. _ Just as he reached the front door a man from the office “asked: “Did you see the superintendent?” SOV OSs Rin SS “Get a job?”: “No,) sir.” \ “Why, he said this morning that he wanted two men for thew! Hello” The superintendent came rushing at the young fireman t like a tiger on the spring. é ‘Walter wheeled, gave him a blow that jaid him ont on ie fioor, and then passed out of the ‘mill. No one caine Out in pursuit of him, and in a few minutes more he was walking leisurely along up the street toward tony the headgnar ters of Hook and Ladder Gompany No. 1. hoa CHAPTER VIII wo Fai 3 x ry yiecag : aca gavel ! oat ie NG WALTER: TURNS, THE. TABLES. : ‘Walter remained at the. truck house till near sunset, and then he left to go home. . On the way he met Dr. Williams, who. hailed him with: » > AT Bay, Walter, you foolish boy!? ‘, a “What is it, doctor?” - : “Why have you not been to see Mrs. “Hosworth? her that you would call at three o'clock. “come. ° How foolish of you.” i i ee 8 did go,” he said. : a hh! i , /When I saw Mr. have had time to ‘think it over, find her. | as to be utterly unable to say what happened. ee I told “I was there at ‘ four, and she was very cine disappointed because ie did not Bosworth, who told me Mrs. Bosworth was insane, and that ! if I tried to see her it would be at the peril of my life.” | Dr. Williams was utterly dumfounded at what he heard, ~ and stared at the young fireman as though half inclined to doubt the truth of what he had said. “I don’t think I quite understand you, Walter, " he said. “Just say that all over again and maybe I’ll catch it.” Walter repeated his statement, and the doctor continued | staring him in the face as he listened. . “She is no more insane than you or I, Walter,” he finally said, “ and I cannot understand why he should say so. What | you have told me astonishes me beyond measure. And did he tell you to say nothing to any one Shent what he ae said?” “He did.” “Well, I can’t understand it. She is not out of her head, that is certain. She spoke so highly of you in his presence that he may have taken offense at it. She heard that he had ~~ given you a purse with one hundred dollars in it, and asked’ me to tell you to come and see her.” “Doctor, there is something else I want to tell you ‘about him,” said Walter, after a pause of some minutes, “and rve y er been worrying about it ever since it oceurred.” : “Well, what was it? Out with it and bie see Bi I can make out of it.” Ml “Tt is about my rescue of Mrs. Bosworth.. eg was ranning: ; along the corridors of the hotel looking into all the rooms to make sure that everybody was out, when I found: one-ae locked. I kicked it open and found Mis. Bosworth very sick in bed. I took her in my arms, wrapped in the bedelothes” and started out with her. The corridor was filled with a dense’ ’ smoke. A man rushed up to me, told me to hurry out, tripped é me by kicking my feet from under me, took the woman out of my arms and disappeared with her. I got on my fest = as soon as I could and rushed for the stairs. At the head i ; of the stairs I stumbled over the sick woman. who had been - left there, and taking her up the second time, brought: her out. safely. I remember seeing the face of the man. who ie rex me up, and he had a very large nose and big plack mustache. Bosworth for the first time last night I recognized his nose and voice’ though his mustache was gone... He says it got burnt and he had to have it: one off. Now | what do you think of that?” ; Dr. Williams looked puzzled, and silently shook his head. a ee ““{ don’t know what to think of it, my dear boy,” he sila. “But I would advise you not to say anything about it till I aS Tt seems to me that there is is something wrong somewhere. He says that he took | his wife out.of your arms to save her himself, and that. some- body ran against him, knockéd. him down, and’ that. yoen sty he got up he: was so blinded by the smoke that he could not. 42 One of the firemen, he says, ‘caught hold of him & and ran down the stairs with him. She says that she recol- lects hearing his voice, when he spoke to” you, remembers” your fall, and then was so confused and excited after: Oa, _ “Well, it’s. very strange that he should trip fe ) th Ri, way he did.” “Yes, But are you sure it was done “purposely?? : “Doctor, there is no process of reasoning that could. yemove that impression from my mird,” ‘Walter replied. “I am Pp tive of it. It could not have been done otherwise.” obey “Maybe he did it to get his wife cha from. ‘you, ‘you asked him about anete “No; nor do I intend to,” he replied. _ have anything more to do wit 7 about + his Wife b
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“Well, don’t say anything about it till I see them’ again,” advised the doctor, “which I will do to-morrow.” | “Oh, I, won’t say a word,” and so they parted. ; Walter went on his way home and sat down by his father’s bedside to tell him all the news he had heard out in the town. While they were at supper a knock at the front door startled them. é ; Little Nellie ran to see who it was. “T want to see Walter,” said a man at the door. “Oh, it’s Mr. Wilson,” cried Nellie,’ on recognizing the ao “Come in, please.” . Wilson was a constable, and was well acquainted with — ae Walter went to the door to see him, suspecting the object of his visit. eh -< “— have a warrant for you, Walter,” he said, by Trainor of the Columbian Mills.” “Yes, I expected it. 1 knocked him down twice this rte noon.” j + “I am sorry my duty compels me to take you to the police ” ¥fation till morning.” “What's the use of that?” Walter asked. -to-morrow when wanted.” “I must do my. duty, Walter,” said the constable. ‘would do the same yourself.” Soeaceat vee-— When was the warrant given to you?” oNe Ne “ten minutes ago.” “By whom?” : ' “Mr. Trainor ieee and he told me “to” arrest you at once.” “Very well. rll go with you,”, his mother all about it. Mrs. Bayne was badly frightened, but Walter and the constable both told her that il was nothing to be worried » about. A A Walter went with him to the police station, where he was “Tooked up for the night. ; “This was done to keep me from giving bail,” he ‘said, after he had been locked up an hour. “I'll get even with) bim for it if I have to suffer for it.” Barly the next morning he sent for a young lawyer who | Wasia member of the Hook and Ladder Company No. 1. ;The Ay: Seuryer came, and was very much surprised at whe had taken place. } He wanted to degrade you as much as he could by having ‘you arrested at a time when you could not arrange about ~ bail. I'll give him a dose for that if you are willing to remain 5 here another night.” “T'll leave the case in your hands,” said Walter. . *Very well, then. I'll ask for a postponement of one i) eee to get witnesses of the case,” and the young lawyer then _ added, “but you need not remain here. I can get bail for You. ” } . The young lawyer proceeded to get a good man to go bail’ ) “sworn, out “Tll be on hand and he went back to tell ‘the attendance of witnesses. : then, late in the afternoon, ‘Walter swore out a ~warrant fot x the arrest of Trainor for assault and battery. The young lawyer, whose name was ‘Campbell, held the “warrant, till abont nine o’clock in the “evening. He then hunted up| “Constable Wilson, ‘Bave him the warrant and ‘said: - i : i ot scat as you were: Saat night. oat A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. | Seeray | him in.” “You! “if i him, and then asked for one day in which sto procure | The delay was granted, and | x “Now let’s see if you w-will be a atte in 1 the performance “All right. Ill be at the police station to see you bring Campbell. one Walter then went to the station to await the superintendent’s arrival. In about an hour he came with the ecuatel exclaiming: “This is an outrage! I can give any bail required. There was no need of——” ‘Waiter burst into a laugh, and said: “Let him have my cell, sergeant. plank bed as being very. healthy.” Trainor gritted his teeth with rage, and protested. “What's the matter. with you?” the ‘sergeant asked. “Do you think there is one law for Bayne and another for you?” “Of course he does,” put in Walter. “But he’ll get eau of the mistake before I am done with him.” Trainor was given the same cell that Walter had on the previous night, and then the young fireman said to him: “Good-night, superintendent! Pleasant dreams to you,” and went away, accompanied by his lawyer and about a dozen firemen who had come to see him through. 'The next morning the whole town was laughing at the superintendent having to occupy a cell in the station-house en complaint of the youth whom he had placed there the night before. : When the case came to trial Walter had a dozen of the mili girls on hand to swear that the superintendent struck the first blow by grabbing Walter’s collar, quitted. I can recommend the ten dollars and costs. The firemen took Walter on their aheienes and bore him — away in triumph. eh ge CHAPTER. LX. 4 “THE FIRE AT THE MILL. The superintendent of the Columbia Mills swore to be revenged on the young fireman, and he at once began his” spite on the girls who testified in court against him. Four 2 of them were discharged that afternoon, and six others — were made to do work that was impossible for them to ‘do well enough to pass inspection. ; The four girls at once made an outery, and the next day when the mill, opened not one of the 120 etre ieee ooh in te the place bpeirted for work. The superintendent and owners of the mill” were ‘dum-_ = founded at the situation, for they had a very large order to Ri fill, and. would have to run on full time with a full aoe site order to do it. ‘The superintendent was soon told that the four — girs | | would have to be. taken back ere any of them would gO aT Se work. and he es . The superintendent was then tried, found guilty, and fned” Sie - “Tell ‘em to come pack diga » said the owners, “and the other six. must be given their usual besa sai the committee from the Strikers. . “What's that?” the superintendent exclaimed. one to run ‘the mill?” et che
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2 4 5 ane cause you know as well as I do that he is our bitter enemy, f * 12 but was unsuccessful. So many skilled hands were now out of work on account of the strike, that he had no show what- ever, never having worked in a mill. Meeting Dr. Williams again on the street, medicine said to him: “TJ can’t understand why Mr. Bosworth told you that his wife was insane. Are you sure that he told you that?” “Why, doctor, do you have any doubts about it? Surely the man of “you don’t think that I told you a lie?” “No; but people can be honestly mistaken sometimes.” “Yes, I know, but not in this case. Did you say anything to him about it?” “Not a word; but I did to her. She was very much sur- prised. She says now that she will see you at all hazards, and that you must come to the hotel.” “I don’t, want to have any trouble with him, doctor.” “I don’t think there will be any trouble. She seems to suspect him of having some motive in doing as he did, and ‘wants to investigate it as far as she’ can.” “What had I better do?” Walter asked. ‘See her, of course.” , “But how?” “You must be at some place iota: a messenger can find you. _When Mr. Bosworth is away from the hotel she will “send. you | ‘word and you can meet her in the ladies’ parlor of the hotel.” ‘ST1] “be at the hook and ladder company’s ecaaaiaes all day to-morrow,” said Walter, “and a messenger can find " me there. 22 LNG 1 tell her that this evening then.” “Tf you like.” ‘Walter shook hands with the doctor and passed on, and}, on the next block. he felt some one tap him on the shoulder. On looking around he saw Mr. Elliott, the man to whom | his father owed one more. payment on his home, “Walter,” said Mr. Elliott, “I am glad I saw you. It’ will ‘save me the trouble of writing. Tell your father that’ on "yesterday I sold the mortgage on his place to another man, asd was in need of some ready money. It don’t make any difference to whom he pays the money, you know.” ““Who bought it?” Walter asked. yi es Trainor of the Columbia Mills.” ~ Walter turned pale. . “Tt am very. sorry you did What Mr. Blliott,” he said, “Be- - and by selling him that mortgage you force either my mother ve or myself to'deal with him.” “Pon my word, I.never once thought of that, Walter;” said Elliott. (ak won't j make any difference, though. If you don’t: ‘wish to have anything to do with him bring me im for you, and won't charge anything for services. 4 Walter knew that. the money was not in the house by 4 “about: one-half, ‘SO he simply said: “Seeing what you have done, all I can say is, that I will ell my father what you have said to me. about two months, is ‘it not?” “Yes, two months and four days, I believe.” - Valter went back ‘to the hook and ladder headquarters to it. down and think. He was so utterly broken up by what It is due in A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. but no bones were broken. the money on the day before it is due, and Til settle: with || anything when I found him.” ri Mee in. s rier) haye to lie in bed a week at Teast. Nee a att The Columbia Mills were on fire, and intense excitement prevailed all over the lower part of the town. Hook and Ladder No. 1 was the first on the ground, as usual, and rendered efficient service in saving thousands of dollars’ worth of goods. Superintendent Trainor was in and out working like a beaver to save some of the stock. ’ ; Upon the third floor, where Walter was received so warmly by, the mill girls/when he went there for work, the fire was raging like a furnace. Walter saw Trainor going up hex, and yelled to him to come back. The half dazed man did not hear him, but kept on up. A minute or two later there was a crash, as of something | falling, and Walter made a dash up the stairs +O see if any one was hurt. “Good Lord!” he gasped as he looked around, and failed to see the superintendent. “It’s the last of him. «I must get out myself, or I may be too late.” He ran down one fii and was about to make the de- scent of the second. o run up once more and look for Trainor. peewee Half way up the stairs he felt a wriggling something when something impelled him ee rolling down against his legs. c Tt was Trainor; who had succumbed to tie heat and smoke, and was utterly unconscious. “IT must get him out,” said Walter, ihoaee it age Be. be shard work.” He took him up on his shoulders and staggered’ 3 sa ga : “Ladder here,” he pelted : % They hurried with the ladder, and Walter Sees 105 climb out of the window, but he was so near strangled with smoke that he lost his grip and went crashing earthward _ with his DUE ee a he CHAPTER x. i THE INVALID. AND THE FIREMAN. ; * Barty G's Strange as a may seem to the ee, oe WwW nai ‘Waiter Bayne lost his grip up at the second story window of the: mill, he ne; and the unconscious superintendent went sai te boat, me. ladder like two logs ei ‘selves to catch them. They succeeded, but the Soto bea sent | all four’ rolling over on the ground. i, Two of the firemen saw them. desis ‘and braced ee | dow. ae _ They were bruised more or. less by the ‘al and ollisi ie Walter was the second one on his feet, exclaiming: “By George, but I thought I was a goner that time!” — “Are, you hurt?” Chief Wyckoff, asked of him. ee “Not much—just a few bruises T believe. Hone ae oe Rit “You had a close shave.” — <i you?” Prat hy ed “a Ves. (He 4s poe done He l ses, as he ‘dian’t ‘Trainor was nawabes to his. home and, his. tana 5 ; ‘He was pretty badly hurt, and the doctor
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A FIREMAN \ 8 ae eae “But I saved Mr, Trainor’s life at the mill this afternoon,” he added, “and I don’t think, after that, that we have any reason to be afraid of him.” “How strange things do get mixed up sometimes,” said Will Bayne as he heard the story. “Trainor bought that mortgage to. get us in his power. He is a very vindictive man, He knew that my income had stopped and that we’ would not have the money with which to make the last payment.” “But what will he do now?” Mrs. Bayne asked. “The Lord only knows,” and the ex-fireman shook his head. “Surely he won’t turn us out when our Bay has saved his life,” she said. “No one can tell.” “Can't we get somebody else to take the mortgage and hold it?” Walter asked. “Ordinarily we could,” his father replied. “But’ just now people know that we have no income and that we cannot even pay the interest on the amount.” ’ *But the place is good for it,” said Walter. “Of course, but it would have to be sold to make it, and “ndbody cares to place himself where he would have to put. _ us dut doors to make his money. That’s the way I look at it? Walter saw the point and said: “Well, if we can raise the money in any way we won't ask any favors of John Trainor.” Say A Le dc@O Ud ‘se not. But watch Saat and see if aren is Still your enemy.” Walter did not leave the hovae again that evening, as he preferred to lie down and rest after the hard work of the mill fire. “f \ But the next day he went to the truck house to fertiean there all day, or at least till he was sent for to go to the hotel. It was sia eleven o’clock when a messenger eame for him. | He burried away and till he reached the hotel he turned neither to the right or left. , r On entering the” hotel he- “met Dr. Williams, who. said to him: “Go right up to the parlor. ing-chair.” A . He went upstairs, and as he entered the Andithe? parlor eS saw a fair, pale-faced lady seated in a Higa arm-chair : and well wrapped up. He removed his hat, bowed and stood before her. ‘She looked up at him in silent admiration for a pogeie of ~ imigufes, and then said: ; ; Bap ieg \ “I am glad to see you. It is hard for 1 me to believe that you are only sixteen years old. Sit dow and ‘let me. tell va) “She is Sitting ih the big rock- “Please don’t do that, ma’am,” _ did my’ duty as a fireman then.” Yes, so you did, but I am none the ese gratetut on ‘that account. But for your ‘manly performance of- ‘duty I would ‘hot be alive to-day. Did you know that the detectives. and the hiet of the fire department have declared that ‘the fire was. ae work: se an ee ; Ne sft, you how grateful I am to you er saying my life: the cima day.” Het he said, “because ¥ Suge! ih, AT SIXTEEN, : “Yes, tmha’am.” : ha “You met. my \erusbana in the corridor just a few atop from our room door. I heard his voice telling you to hurry - out as the stairs was ablaze. Then you fell down, did you not?” “Yes, ma’am,” ‘ . “How came you to fall?” "4 “My feet were knocked from under me sie your, husband.” - “You are sure of that?” “TI am as sure of it as I am that I am now sitting here. before you,” he answered. ; “What did he‘do then?” ; « “He tore you from my arms and disappeared in the smoke in, the corridor.” : “Where did you find me next?”, “At the head ofthe stairs. I stumbled over you.” “And you took me up again and brought’ me pe pratt , “Yes, ma’am.” “Did my husband ever Bay, anything abont it to you after- ward?” “Yes, ma’am. He came to the headquarters of our fire company and thanked me, thrust a purse in my hand and Went away.” % ae “What was in the purse?” pe: e “One hundred dollars.” / Lov “Now tell me why you did not come to see me the’ ‘other iF day?” “Tt did call, but. Mr. Bosworth met me at. the. head of the s stairs, and said that T could not see you.” \ ; “He did?” and her eyes flashed as she asked Sr question, “Yes, ma’am,” “What did he say?” “I—I-—don’t think T ought to tell you. that, ma’am.” “Tell me everything, I must hear all. What did he say?” “He said that you were out. of your head, and that if I attempted to see/you it would be at the peril of my fe." 0" She looked at the young fireman with her great brown if ‘eyes opened to their widest extent, whilst her, already very pale face assumed an ashen hue. a “You went away after sp rkil ” she eal “believing what he told you?” “Yes, ma’ ‘am, I believed it till I ae Dr. genie about Then he told me that you were no ‘more out. of your. head than he or I were.” =f “And he was right. The doctor tells me that: your father» was injured for life whllst trying to save life and Drapery at a fire?” ; “Yes, ma’am.” - a “And that you are the oly Support of hs family?" “Yes, ma’am, but just now it is no. support at ae ‘am out of employment.” \ “What is your father’s. name?” Rees “William Bayne.” fies “And your mother’s?” PSE ERS Lo ee a “Mary Bayne. Sehae. 1 iia are “And yours?”. Me 2 ee ee tay “Walter Bayne.” Petia TL REP i “And you have a little shivtont have you not?” “Yes, ma’am, Her name is. Nellie, ten years old.” Mrs. Bosworth wrote ici their names with a ‘penell; and a then’ said: 3 “Please: > don't say anything about. hat. ft: ee ‘said FEO a
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*T didn’t know how much Dr. 14 husband had left me to perish. husband may return at any moment.” She extended her hand to him, and he took it, bowed low, “and left the hotel as quietly as he had entered it. CHAPTER XI. “THROUGH FLAME AND SMOKE.” Out on the street Walter Bayne wondered why the invalid », lady had asked him such pointed questions. 4 “There was no way of evading them,” he said to himself, Williams had told her, so there was no chance for me to withhold anything. It may make trouble between them, but I can’t help that. He had no business to lie to me in the way he did. It he had told me that he objected to my calling on his wife it would have | been enough.” «Hello, Walter!” called a voice behind him, and looking ey around he saw Hiliott, the real estate man. “i, 1 ay. ry “Hello, * he returned. /° “Dia you tell your father about the bday of that mort- “Bage?”” ees sire) “What did he say?” |. “He was Very much worried about it.” “Well, he needn't be, I should think, since what occurred cae the mill yesterday. But for you Trainor would not have j been alive to-day.” f don’t think that he is the man to let gratitude inteér- ' fere with business. Besides, we don’t, want to have any- thing to do, with him. -I understand that the owners of the mill say that I was the cause of the strike of the mill girls, ot ; A FIREMAN AT seotate aa You must £0 now, for my | know of any one who will take and hold it for us for another year, so as to give us a chance to get ahead?” “Yes, I think I do.” . “Give me his name, please.” : “His name is Wyckoff. He'll give Jou a check for one hundred we to-morrow, so you can take up the mort- gage at once.” Walter was staggered. “I—I don’t know how to thank you, sir.” “Don’t worry about that, my boy. I have the money, and I also have a daughter whom [I vada not have had had you not saved her from a watery grave.” “But you will take the mortgage and——-” “No, | won’t. You go and pay it off to-morrow, Saks it to your father and tell him to tear it.” “Then ru make it a debt of honor, Mr. Wyckoff. Shake hands with me on that,” and he extended his hand.to the © chief, who shook it heartily, saying: : “My debt of gratitude is greater than your debt’ of honor, my boy. _Have you found any employment yet?” “No, sir.” , Eyre IN “Well, don’t give up. You’ll strike it after awhile. if- you get in a. tight place the firemen will give you a benefit.” On his: way home Walter felt as happy as a bird. “It will be ‘good news to mother,” he said, as he entered the house. At the supper table he told his ek aa all etn ofits and Mr. Wyckoff’s action in regard to the mortgage. a : She was so overjoyed that she burst into tears. ; The ex-fireman dréw a long breath of, relief when he heard it. : “It has come to us through flame and ‘smchey he said. “T am glad our boy has become a fireman.” ‘ “Yes,” said his wife. “We stil have a home, even thoustt and that they believe that if there had been no strike there | We May starve in it.” =» ; ai o we would have been no fire. But if Mr. Trainor had not acted| “We are not going to eae mother,” said Walter. Tl : ee as he did there would have been no trouble.” . be sure to get. work soon now.” ¢ er taa “T may as well tell you that we have not a mouthful of food in the house for to-morrow, nor a cent of ‘money win which to buy it.” : ; _ “Is that so, mother?” ; \ - “Yes, it is just the truth.” “Why not use some of the money. for. the mortgage. Tt is. is , not due for two months yet?” f “So I can. Well, it’s good news, and it comes RES oes That morteasy TRUE H PP paid Se-mGIEOW, Spits our, - flame and smoke to us at home.” home secured to us forever. as “Yes, so it docs. It seems strange that you should:be the| . Ye% Save the home first. We won't. starve. Catel 0 some ; "means: of saving the life of your worst enemy. Do you know } avr for breakfast. We can eat fish without bread? ‘that the detectives are looking for the incendiary Patho ‘started Yo, rl Berut ang catch some LoTEht; _, “Well, I don’t know anything about the merits of the quarrel between you and Mr. Trainor, ‘but I will say that Mr. Trainor’ has. sent me word to-day to sell the mortgage for him to some one else, as he does, not wish to hold it.” — “Indeed!” Pp “Yes, and now you can Have a chance to find some friend |, to take it up for you.” BG ‘e4- — ‘The moon. shines - = that. » the hote] fire the other day?” , “Yes, sir. I heard iMat they were.” “Do you think that the mill was set on fire by some of the strikers?” ae if i “No, I don’t. i ‘can’t be made to believe such a thing as “Well, the owners claim that it was, anyhow. They were fully insured. Let’ me know if you find any one to buy ve mortgage. bh Mab CF sir, I think I know a fr iend who will take it up and hold it for us, and T Il’see him to-night.” home, as it Was now near supper time. | On the’ ay. a overtook the a ‘of the fire department, meal. : : a |a little while after he saw Walt go out there he saw anoth dark form crossing the oe sis bli the ies, b the two rocks. i He parted from the real°estate man and started’ toward 7 ' “I wonder who it can be?” ~ “4 tet and saw. them: standing bright enough, ” and Walter prepared to go out on the rocks, where he had so often - caught a mess of fish for a. famil ae Half an hour later his father saw him out on the big ro at least he could see a dark form there Kiba he took t him. Ms ' He could not see his son catnning: any. fish, for ‘en dis. tance was too great for him to, see so far by moonlight. But “Somebody -has- joined him’ at Aching,” said. ye Will Bayne gazed out at the two dark figures in, gfe ide by spe On | the E wae i vith little Nellie, hol nad come inti the “yoo ( tertained ie tin
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A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. “My God!” Walter a i Sie does it mean?” . “Who is he?” eae “Tl tell you when I see him aan mother,” and then. ‘he led her into the house, where he told ‘his father that he was all right save the ducking he had received. “But how came you to fall into the water?” his father aged “Oh, that was an easy thing to do,” replied Walter, laugh-_ ing. “I’ll try it over again,. and see if I can’t get a good mess of fish for your breakfast,” and to avoid answering the ques- tions which they were putting to him, he hastened nhc to; the river to try his luck at’ fishing again. Py Out of hearing of his parents, Walter talked. to and reasoned with himself incessantly. ; x ; ‘ x “He was slipping up on me when I happened to isd: around ‘ and saw him. Then he spoke pleasantly, and asked me what — luck I was having. Something told me that he had followed me there for no good purpose. I thought maybe he had heard of my call at the hotel, and that he had come to seé me ‘about it. Lucky for me (hat I rose up to talk with him. Wh he began to question me about my visit to the hotel I sav that, he had come for a fight, and there I was unarmed: and at his merey. At-last, when he drew his dagger and struck at me, I slipped off the rock into the water and left him there all alone. He is the only. man who ever made-me ‘take. water,’ and I was glad enough to do it. But Pll face him to- — morrow and show him that I am ablé to avenge a blow given io my mother. He came there to kill me, I belieye, and had I not slipped into the water, where he dared not follow me, he would have done so. I believe that he is the-yery same man who shot at me the other night, but what in thunder he want- ed to do it for puzzles me. One day he gives me one hundred > dollars for saving his wife! from fire, and the next tries to shoot me. Then he told me a big lie about his wife being’ erazy, and told me I could not see her. Now he comes at me with a dagger. Ill be ready for him next al or my nameis not Walter Bayne!” . Ks Walter reached the rock which he had 60 igaddénly left an hour before, and pulled the plank away with him so that no one could again join him without his knowledge or consent. Then he went to work and caught three very fine fish, with which he returned to the house. : “We have: ‘enough to give us two meals at least,” he said — to his mother, “and I am quite sure that I can Saas: to provide. bread in some way.” % Mrs. Bayne had retired, fecling very much prostrated. over the shock of the blow she had received. “Why, don’t you know that I am as hard io drown » as any fish in the river?” - § : _ “Oh, I am so glad you are safe again. Who was the man on the rock with you?” “He was an acquaintance, Why ‘ad you ask?” We B “Because when I asked se who he was he turned and - Knocked me down.” Bilal Fe syeuioine Fou, down!” ; , ‘
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16 rey “T am glad to hear that,” said Waiter, placing the money back into his pocket. He hastened back home to place the canceled mortgage in his father’s hands, and give his mother the seven dollars dis- count, That done he saw them happier than at any time since the ferrible mishap to his father, Then he left“the house to go in quest of Mr. Bosworth.’ ©n the: way uptown he met two of the Hook and Ladder boys, “I say, fellows,” he said to them, “a man tried to get away with me last night, and I had to take water because I had no weapons. I want to borrow a gun and call on him.” “T havew’t any with me,” said one of the two, “Nor have I,” said the other, “Well, I’ll tackle him without one, then.” “Who is'it?” > : “Neyer mind. I won’t call any names,” and he left them. At the hotel he stood around till he saw Bosworth come downstairs, and then started toward him, Bosworth saw him and turned pale as death, but quickly redched around to his pistol pocket/for his weapon as Walter - sprang at him like a tiger. f CHAPTER. XIIT. x. : * UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY. Ere Walter could reach him Bosworth drew a knife and - Made a desperate lunge at him with it. But the young fire- man parried the thrust, caught him by the wrist with his left hand, and dealt him a blow with the other that sent, him reel- - ing back against the: bottom of the stairs. It was done in about ten seconds, and then a half-dozen ‘guests of the house ran up to separate them. ores 3 SO ant of my way!” hissed Bosworth, flourishing his dagger menacingly. “Ill kill him! Out of my way!” Seeing the dagger in his hand they gave him a wide berth, and he “rushed at Walter again. The horrified guests expected to see “ina young fireman |. slain there and then, whilst they were powerless to prevent it. | _ But in another-moment they saw the youth strike out from » the shoulder and the dagger went flying toward the ceiling '» whilst its owner staggered backward and then went down in. | a heap. Then the bystanders rushed in and aad both men to pre- vent any further collisions. Bosworth was fairly dazed by the terrific bios he. had re- _ ceived. Walter was strong, quick and indignant, and he had put. all ‘his foree in the blow, which landed full between the man’s eyes. | - “What's it all about?” one full-bearded man asked. “What do you mean by coming in here and attacking one of my» guests?” the landlord asked. “Your guest is.a coward ape a acoundrel, besides. being a would-be assassin.” ; : _ “What ‘do you mean?” , ‘ - “I mean just what I say—that your guest Bosworth thied to kill me last night with that very dagger.” Beet GAMER EF false!” exclaimed ‘Bosworth. _ “You. attacked me, and but for the dagger you would have murdered me!” — \ Cyd was dumfounded at the a e. accusation, ae ag moment was a ene Die to. make any reply. a FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN | have a chance at him for striking my mother.” at “Down on Main street.” “Ah?” ejaculated Walter. “I'll prove him t6 be a liar now. The moon was shining very bright*last night, and I went out on the rocks in the river back of our house to catch some fish for breakfast this morning. ‘To reach a big bowlder I had to make a bridge with a plank some ten feet long. I was seated on that rock, when he came up behind me. The ‘roar-| ing ofthe water over the rocks drowned his footsteps, and had.I not happened tb look round he would have been able to kill me then and there. As it was, I sprang up and con- \- fronted him. After a few words he drew his blade and rushed at me. I saved myself by slipping off the rock and disap- pearing from his sight, and by dint of hard swimming caught on to rocks below. My father saw us both on the’ rock front his bedroom window, and when he missed one of the two dark ~ figures there he sent my mother out to see what had happened. | She ran out, met Bosworth coming away, took hold of his arm and demanded to know who he was. He brutally struck < ‘ner to the ground, and ran away. She bears the marks of the blow in her face this morning. I came here unarmed to see him about it, and the moment he saw me he drew that dagger again. Turn him lose now and let me have a chance at the | ‘cowardly assassin!” The young firenlan’s story, told in a very dramatic manner created a sensation among those who heard it. hen ' “It is false in every particular,” said Bosworth. “The youn! yillain met me, and, after a few words, attacked me like tiger, and I defended myself so well that he took to_ble-hes He came here to-day to blackmail me.” “My father and mother ean corroborate my story. er man who knows my father would believe him against all the world,” and Walter Bayne’s face seemed to blaze with pride — as he spoke, “and,” he added, “no honest man will say that i. ever told him a lie.” By this time a large crowd had gathered in the ‘hotel. The proprietor undertook to put Walter out, but the crowd knew the brave young fireman, and believed ; his. story as against — ihe story of the man whom Soy did not pate ss and would ‘cite sai let him be put out. a3 Then the landlord sent for the police. They came, ann the - crowd had to retire from the hotel. f But they did not make any arrests. : ‘ ne Walter met some of the members of Hook and Ladder. No, Secs 1, and when they heard his story they insisted on his going before a justice and swearing out a warrant against Bosworth, BE: ' “Td rather give him a. good, old-fashioned thrashing,” he ; said to them. — ai “But there is a law which ee) you afer not do that, yf said a young man in the party. “Don’t get out from behind pet las yourself. Swear out a warrant for his” arrest. and you = rean land him in State’s prison, where he belongs.” s So he went before a’ justice and swore out a warrant, whi ‘ was placed in a constable’s hands for execution. ( The officer went to the hotel to make the. arrest, but Hos- < worth could not be found, Ca He waited there for him, and when night came on ‘he was ae ‘still there, but no Bosworth did he see. Be, “Guess he has skipped,” said one of the Hook and Ladder boys, when. he heard that he had not been seen. “Tf he has, said Walter, “T am ‘yery sorry, for I want, rte ; , “Tf he has skipped,” said another, Op is an acknowletg- ment of the truth of your accusation against him.” _ “Yes, but it does ‘not tive me the satisfaction Iwan iplied Walter. = * BR vr In the evening the chief of ‘the fre departmen came t taking ‘Aba ay
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Ts MT, waaybe you did right after all. _.“¥ can’t believe such a thing as that. A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. “That man ought to have been your best friend. What has passed. between you to make him your enemy?” “It is something singular,” replied Walter, “and has puz- zled me ever since it occurred,” and he then related his first meeting with Bosworth on the day of the fire in the hotel. “He tripped you up, seized his wife, and then left her where till to-day, and the attempt last night I attributed to his hay-- ing heard that I went to the hotel to see his wife after he had told me that I should not do so.” A “Did he tell you not to see her?”»’ “Oh, yes,” and then Walter related the nace of the ~ meeting at, the top of the stairs, when Bosworth told him that the fire was hottest?” the chief gasped in dumfounded saonagcte Mrs, Boewor th was insane, and that he ‘should not see her. ment. “Yes—-I stumbled over her as I was making my way out and took her up again.” “Yes. He wore a big black mustache then, but when he came to see me in the evening his mustache was shaved off.” “Well, well! I wish I had known that sooner. Is that all you kttow about it?” “I have a suspicion on my mind that he tried to iil me on the very night following the fire.” : “How?” “By shooting at me in the dark as I was going home.” “Why, I never heard of that.” “{ didn’t say anything about it, but it is known to Mr. Baker, who came very near stopping the bullet away over _on the other side of. the street, for he hollered over to know : ‘hat 1 was shooting at. Then he camé over to where I was, id I told him somebody had fired off a pistol almost in my |. 4ce, and then took to his: heels.” |. |*Why have you kept that a secret till now?” Fire Chief Vyckoff asked. | “For my mother’s sake. T knew how it outa worry her,” I think I can see through the whole business now, Walter.” “Well, what is it?” “You must keep it a ‘profound secret. You know it has: been found that the fire was an incendiary one?” oA Yes.” “Well, I am quite sure now that Boswerth was the incen: diary.” “Oh, that can’t be!” exclaimed Walter. “What object could. a rich man like him haye in setting the hotel on fire?” “ny “To kill his wife!" replied the chief. ; Walter started as if stung. i ; He remembered the sweet face of the invalld lady, and won- dered if anyone could be so fiendish as to want to harm even a hair of her head. | : ~ "Mir, Wyckoff,” he said, after a silence of a minute or two, out?” “She is an invalid, and, therefore of great expense and anxiety to him. He set the hotel on fire to cover up his crime, locked his wife’s room door and left her to her fate. \On see- “Ing you go to her rescue, he rushed up, told you to hurry, trip- ped you-up, snatched her out of your arms and dropped her: where she would be sure to perish, and hastened to ‘save _ himself. brought her safely out.” “But he came to me that very evening, and gave me a purse ; of $100 as a token of gratitude for saving her life.” | 3 That was simply a blind, my dear boy,” replied the chief. “He is a rich man, and knew that people would wonder and make remarks if he did not do something of the kind. He eut off his mustache in the hope of deceiving you so that you} could not recognize him. He undoubtedly shot at you for fear that you might tell about the tripping-up business. - man’s face.” gies > “T ean-hardly peliave 5 i enise” tel Walter, PRG OS aie on have you sBonnnted: for the two oe Wed “ane you, How as. you reason it” Luckily for her, you stumbled over her again and | Then the attempt on you ast ripe ae that as apenis as a nose on a “There! He did not want to say anything to her to arouse her suspicions, or to have her ask you any questions. Did _ she ask you any questions about the fire when he did see ler?” “Yes, and I am sure that she suspected that siiaiaee was. wrong,” ' : “Well, then, that’s why he maile up his mind to settle yea before any investigation could take place. With you out of ihe way, suspicion would not point in his direction. , Walter, I am going to get at the bottom of this thing. I shall get a. week’s leave from the mill and give my whole time to looking into the thing. The detective who is engaged to ferret out ‘the incendiary thinks one of the servants set fire to the place, but I am satisfied that he is Mer ae % F , = CHAPTER XIV. H NARROW ESCAPE. When Walter parted with the chief of the fire department on the evening of the encounter with Bosworth he was like one ina dream. It was hard for him to believe that the chief was right in his suspicions, and yet everything seemed to be, ‘ pointing in that direction. “But what in the world could he want to kill such a aint ; little woman as his wife is for?” he- asked himself a dozen times on the way home. “He is up to some kind of a game, — It may be because she is an ‘invalid that he wants to get rid y of her, or he may want to get hold of some property. One thing is certain—he has done his best to fix me, and it’s sheer good luck that I am alive to-night. I hope the chief will be able to get at the bottom of the mystery. His skipping as soon as he heard that I had sworn out a warrant for his arrest — shows that he knows I have enough to make it hot for him.” _ Wyckoff went to the chief of police on leaving Walter, and — told that official that Bosworth was the Hireodey, Bias had gr: fired the hotel the week before. > Ae The policé official was astonished, and asked for particulars, a Wyckoff gave him the whole story. ae “You are right,” he said, “but I fear he has made his escape if from Mill Dale.” a 3, “But his wife is still here. ” “We can’t do anything with her on his naked ( ba were “Of course not, but her mail might be watched and—” : “Oh, there are many ways of getting at him. tits run him down if it takes us ten years to do i? ' ‘ “Well, I hope you'll get him, ” said the fire chief. Na “Yes, T’ll post every ‘officer on ane se with instructions, to arrest him on sight.” %, . The fire chief was about to leave the police pesddudbion eG when the firebell rang out an alarm of fire in ithe: first ‘dl xe trict. i * He hastened mee with all; his abe: and ake the brave ak Hook and Ladder boys when they came up.’ | | ‘The fire was in an old carriage’shop, but. it spread eBieehaineh int ment house adjoining it, and the firemen been hard to get ft the women and ‘children Cut Scie: h - Walter Bayne ‘was in and out of ‘tte tenement house | |B dozen times, bringing out someone. af Bais :
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18 A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. But once he went in, and.@ minute or so later a pistol shot was heard. 7 “Did you hear that?’ the foreman of the Mill Dale fire engine asked of the chief. ' “Yes. Some pistol or gun left in there has exploded,” — But Walter didnot make his appearance again, and the chief became very uneasy about him. The flames were roaring and crackling with savage heat and fury, and the firemen were suffering terribly. “Who will go in and bring Bayne out?” the chief sang out. The brave boys were appalled at the idea of going into such a fiery furnace as that, and looked at the chief as if to see if he was in earnest. The chief saw that he had called for volunteers io go where they did not believe’ that he would dare go himself. He was a man of dauntless'courage. The brave boy fireman had saved his child from death by drowning, at the risk of his own life, and now he was doubtless in need of help himself. He dashed into the burning building himself, going through _ & sheet-of flame to pass the door. “He'll lose his life!” cried. one. “They are both lost!” cried another, “No chance for ’em!” yelled a third. Murmurs of horror were heard on all sides. Seconds seémed minutes, and minutes appeared to draw their slow length into hours, when the chief suddenly burst out of the furnace, with the form of Walter Bayne in his arms! «Bring them away!” cried the foreman of the hook and lad- der, gréatly excited. . Three or four firemen rushed técwara and brought them -away. They were unconscious, and their clothing was on fire in several’ places. ' The excitement was intense, and the police had hard work to keep the people back, so eager were they to see whether the two. brave men were dead or alive, They were taken up and carried home, and when Dr. Wil- liams examined Walter Bayne he found a scalp wound made by a bullet on the left side of the top of his head. ; Tt made an ugly-looking wound, but did not penetrate the i skull, It had evidently stunned him, and that, with the suf- focation resulting from hese smoke, had rendered ae unecon- scious. os By dint of hard work he siceoseg in ‘restoring conscious- ‘ness to Walter, who looked around i see where he was the ‘moment he opened his eyes, : “You are all right now, my boy;” said Dr. Williams. doctor caught it. “Just keep quiet now,” the latter said, all right in a little while.” “What’s the matter?” Walter: asked, “You wére hurt in the fire,” Pps the doctor. “Who hurt me?” ; “Something hit you on the head.” “and you will be Again Walter raised a hand to his head, and this: time be} os felt the bandage. “Don’t move the bandage, Walter,” out his mother. f have: been badly hurt, and hae ates to feet good care of your- : self. % : Kt was not. so bad with Chief Weekort. the intense heat to which he had been exposed, and. save for the ‘burns he had received was all right. vee as in es Be ha “You. : ‘His unconsciousness: had resulted from. inhaling smoke and He recovered: ‘consciousness soon after reaching his home;| His burns were: quite severe in two places, but he did ae saved the Ake. of Ava young Walter raised a hand to feel of his bandaged head, when the |— The next day Josie Wyckoff, the daughter’ of the fire Te came over to the cottage to see how Walter was. She was amazed at being told that Walter Bayne had ia shot. She ran up to the bedside, and, ipsking into his eyes, asked: “Who shot you, Walter?” ; > ; “J don’t know,” he replied, “The doctor says I have - been shot, but I don’t know anything about it. I remember feeling a blow on my head, and then I didn’t know anything” till they brought me home. They tell me your father is hurt, too.” ; “Yes, but not so much as you,” said the girl “He was burned in several places, and his clothes were ruined. But he is perfectly happy over having saved you, Walter.” “Yes, I owe him a for that. I EEPEOe I would have been hice roasted,” : “Well, you ee me, you know, and that put us av in ue Me SO, “Oh, that wasn’t fire. You and I both liked the bath we» a had. -I’d like to take another swim with you.” She laughed and said: “Well, I wouldn’t like it, I am sure, at feng not . a Bae dangerous place as that was.” She went back home to tell her father the news, mud Ww turned over and went to sleep. * | | \ { i CHAPTER XV. THE CHIEF oF POLICE AND THE LADY. On hearing that Dr. Williams had pronounced the pone : on Walter’s head a bullet wound, ae chief of Pe called ony: him and asked about it. 4 : “Yes,” said the BLOgtORS “it was Mais oe a bullet and noth ing else.” _ “JT understand that a shot was heard in the pe build- ing,” said the official, “but that-is the cage in most fires wher guns and pistols are among the things destroyed by fire. et Bayne say that he saw anybody shoot at him?” ; “No. He said that he remembers hearing the shot behing him, and of his falling to the floor, and beyond that he knows nothing more.” “Well, I'll set a detective to. looking for some- clew | tot though it looks as if it would be Mme to do so.” ; “Yes, it would seem SO, eS : or not anyone was seen to pare the beip ei after “oes , shot was eed ment when he brought Walter out. ey Then he began to inquire of those who were in i Official. “The fire was in full blast when ie ahbk V and he may. have fallen a victim to it. Tn have the raked over to see whether or Pat aia charred bones found.”
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A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. tion, but the chief of the police had the ashes sifted most - carefully till every little thing that would throw a light on _ the matter was carefully examined: At last a diamond was found, : The heat had damaged it but very litle. “That’s what I was looking for,” said the chief, as: he took the precious stone in his hand. “I am now satisfied that the ‘man who fired that shot at Walter Bayne is dead, and that this was worn by him.” “Who was he?” a citizen asked. “Wait a bit, and maybe I'll tell you.” -He went back to his headquarters, and then piedsaa for} -.@ visit to Mrs. /Boswor th,/to whom he sent up his card at the hotel where she was living. ; She was wrapped in shawls, and Seated in an arm-chair when he was shown in, jee om Madam,” he said, making. her a very profound eee “T am the chief of police of this city, and have come to ask if you know where your husband is?” ap ” she replied, “I don’t know where he is.” * come 4you- know if this diamond ‘is like the one he wore,” and “Handed her the diamond which had been fished out of the “Ha of the late fire. ° beet took and looked at it, : ; with veally cannot say,” she replied, after a silence of ‘some ie fish. ites. “T never saw the diamond®he wore out of the set- psf and would hardly. know it.. Why do you ask me that?” Monette: it Wwas found in the ashes of the ast ne cu “Was he present at that fire?” -, “No one knows. We are trying to find out “if he was.” “I have not seen him since the day he had the trouble with | that young fireman. I don’ t. think he has been in Mill Dale since that day.” “Did he leave the town that day?” “J don’t know. I have not seen him since unat day.” “*You cannot identify that diamond?” “No, sir, not out of the setting, if it was his. “think it is my husband's diamond?” “Someone said that it resembled the one he. wore, ind Iam trying to find out who was bcos up in that fire night before ast.” eaE am quite sure that he was not in Mill Dale on that even- ig ‘ing, ” said the invalid lady. { sok Vat you cannot say where he was at that time?” ; “No, not with any certainty.” : “You don’t believe that he has been lost in ‘he: fire, though?” “No, I have no reason to think so,” she replied. “You do not seem to be in any way, uneasy about him?” : “Tam not of a very emotional nature,” she said. at a: etal death. It must be the most. painful death one can die. you tell me if young Bayne is out of danger?- Can He saved my his welfare. sf ; “Yes, so he did. He is a young hero. I Sateye the Aéciets have said that he was out of danger, though badly hurt.” j “Ah, Iam very glad to’ hear that. - he was not expected tovlive.? | “He will be out again in a week or 50, ‘the head. and bruised in a few places, Firemen don’t mind such things. They are used to ihem, you know.” . _ worth again, and asked: “You a e sure, are you, that this stone was s mot the sake your yore?” EN. 2 ; : ‘why do you would be very sorry to hear of anyone dying such a “horrible: ke é : _ life once, you know, and hence I am very much i ach in I was told yesterday that |- He was hurt: on : T e chief received back the diamond and stowed it. away in | is vest pocket. Taking: up his. hat, he turned to Mrs. ‘Bos: ; He made a profound bow to her and withdréw. ae .“She is'a puzzle to me,” said the chief to himself. “She doesn’t seem to-care two. cents, what has become of her hus- © {band. On the contrary, she is utterly indifferent about it.” On reaching his office the chief found a note on Bis dest, which read: : “Dear Chief—Come and see me at once. Something to tell you.—Walter Bayne.” “IT wonder what he wants,” the chief said, looking at his watch. “I'll take the time to go and see him later si the even- ing. ” > v9 When he called, the chief found the young Fireman sitting up aera well able to talk 5 * glad to see you, chief,” Walter said. “since I’ve had my head to feel all right again, I've been thinking that the ~ man who fired that shot at me trom behind perished in the Titec : _. “Why do you think so?” “Because I made the escape from the very spot where the floor was ‘sinking under me just a moment before, and as the ‘shot ‘came I-heard. a voice say in MESDPrane ba a ““T am lost. mae “Why have you not said anything about it before?” ; “Becausé my head hurt me so that I could aS: think of everything that took place.” 3 “Well, you want to do some more iindag. hye: have tounit the charred remains of a man da the ashes, and this dia- mond,” ; ‘ Bayne took the diamond, aiid looked at it. “Tt looks like Bosworth’s,” he said. “Yes, and we also found a meyelven with the woodwork all : burned away.” : i “Did you find a Knife.” “No. ” 5 sham % “He had a clasp-knife. See if you can find it, and that. will settle the question as to whether he was Bosworth.” . — it The chief went back to his quarters, and was there told by. one Of the firemen that a gunsmith had repaired a revolver for Bosworth a few days before, and that he thought he would know if the one found in the ashes was the. same one or not, “Take it to him, then,” said the chief. ye: Ties A few minutes later a porter from the hotel dashed eta | the office and handed him a note. — High 2 ites It was addressed to the chief of police, and the:handwriting, a was that of a lady. He opened the note. and read: ie “Mrs. Bosworth would be pleased to have the chiet of Holtea vee eall at the hotel at his: paelices convenience on very Anite : Jant business. ae That was all, but in yiew ‘of what the chief heard. her say that day he was moved to hurry off to the hotel at encel Si je On arriving at the hotel the chief was shown _up to: ‘the ae ladies’ parlor, where. he found the lady waiting for him. = a i She was white as a sheet, and her eyes flashed fire, “Chief,” she said, the moment: he entered. panes my hus- band and I will sak you 0. n i S ‘ » nis r Xi5 © ‘ eh Se \ - Fn pte 1 ¥ / gS ne oe ies Baas oa ee = serStEny oF hoarse FATE. * The ihiee of police was. ‘auetaaiced’ ‘at. her. eared at her in’ silence for a minute or two, as if t ee ee to say more. But ds said mOUnIne. _ She
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20 \ Ge A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. “ell the men that one thousand dollars will be paid to the one who arrests him,” she added. ' He bowed and said: “Your wishes shall be attended. to, madam.” “And when he is arrested send me word at once, so that I may see him.” He again bowed, and then asked: “Will you be so kind as to ee me why you wish to have him arrested?” ; “That you shall hear when I see him under arrest, * she re- plied. “I, will be responsible for the arrest, and my responsi- bility is worth a good deal, sir. { have a fortune in my own rn right,” See, ‘The chief was about to leave her presence when she said: “Keep my name in the background, please. Simply say the reward will be paid.” “Yes, madam,” and he turned and left the parlor, wondering what had happened since he had seen the lady that morning. Bie, Once more out on the street the chief said to himself: Rips “Something has happened to arouse the ire of the lady. Her eyes were blazing with wrath when she spoke to me. She ' has heard something or made some discovery since I saw her this morning. Can it be possible that she and her husband have separated? If so, it is of very recent date,! Hello!” _ He had run up against Dr. Williams, and the collision came ‘near sending the man of medicine to the gutter. “7 beg your pardon, doctor,” said the chief. “I didn’t see you, though you feel like a very solid individual.” oe “Well, I flatter myself that “I am,” returned the dogtor, laughing. “By the way, I have been twice to your office to _ -See you, and each time you had just gone out. Mrs. Bosworth at the hotel: wants to see you.” -*T have just been to see her,” said the chief. “Oh, you have, eh? She. told you what she wanted?” ff “Vos, ” “Well, what are you going to do about it?” f ' “Tam going to do as she says.” : “Did She tell you why she wanted him arrested?” j ’ “No,” and the chief looked hard at him as if ae pi for him to say something more, \. | of ‘Hook and Ladder No. 1 were looking for Bosworth, ' But the old doctor did not, and the chief asked: chief of polige paid a visit to the home of fae Baynes, ie _. “Do you know anything about it?” was received with a warm welcome. Watt 5g a aeons “Perhaps I do professionally. ” “Have you heard the news, Walter?” he Hinnoa to the young Pa “Have they separated?” fireman and asked, as soon as he was seated by the bedside. . “I think they have.” “T don’t know that I have,” he replied. | “What is it?” “It is a mystery to me.” “The members of Hook and Ladder No, 1 have been Toolein |. “Yes, there is a good deal of EES pnetied with t? for Bosworth to lyneth him.” — - remarked the doctor, warns “Well, I hadn’t heard of that,’ ” said Walter. iy hope. #hey “Well, texpe his arrest will clear it ai up. rT hate, miys- won't find him then.” tery. a “An! That's just what I waited to hear you say,” ‘said the “Most people like it, I think, is the doctor said, as he walked chief, “It would be a ‘stain on the. good name of our littl iy s away. : \ ‘ city. I want you to write a note to the foreman of the com- 5) The chief returned to. his office, and sat'down to think over | pany asking him to put a stop to such foolish talk. an tk - the situation, é ; Tl take it to him myself this evening. Such a ‘thing as : i “She. means business,” he said, “and it’s Lata that he. is: lynching in Mill Dale would ruin. the S008 name of the. neo ina bad way if the police should get hold of him, I only| for twenty years to come,” f ~ wish the jad yhad told me what she had against him. I sup-| “Of course it would. ru write the letter a seu Rig pose Vl find out all about it when he is arrested, ‘ Lord, how His mother brought him pen, ink, and paper, and 8 her eyes flashed when she told me to arrest him! She is a| minutes ‘the wrote the note. eae by the ch woman who can hate with a vengeance.” and. gave it to him, o seas t as he was about to leave his office, the fireman who| “I hope you will soon be able te: be out seein ken the pistol found in ne Are, to the neta rie chief said | as. ae placed, the Pragrasy baht in i okie said; : _ “Thanks. gun smith says. that he will cot mie the pistol gene said Tam ewe well too fast to oe him. pit thy 80?” og SoeR 3 lar Vi At last he said: “lve got something to tell you, chief, but you must not give me away. ig “Bh? What? No, I won’t give you away. What is it?” “The boys of the Hook and Ladder No. 1 ae ieee to hang Bosworth if they can catch him.” : “Jerusalem! Lynch law here in Mill Dale!” ; “Yes, sir. They say he has now made two attempts on his life—Walter Bayne’s—and now they are going to make one on his. If they catch him they'll hang him sure.” ' “Well, well,” ejaculated the chief, “Are all of them in that racket?” “The last one of them, sir; I told them that it was wrong, and they told me that. it made no difference, so I thought that if you sgid a few words to them they might listen to you.” “Yes, yes; you are right. I will see them Lo-morneww, even- ing.” Beane ' “Don’t give me away ‘now, Bs cautioned the fireman, “No danger of that,” said the chief, “The boys must not — |do any such thing as that, though. It would disgrace oe Tit~ ' tle city. IPIl drop in at their quarters to-morrow eV. 50! 10 eh tea give them a quiet little talk about such foolishness yal The fireman went away, and the chief of police sh’ nes! walked leisurely down. the street toward his home. ‘ gne “It seems: that this is a very unhealthy place for) «y worth,” said the chief to, himself as he strélled ali, inv ing a cigar. “His wife offers a thousand dollars for \ gue and the firemen of Hook and Ladder No. 1 offef-te Zea as soon as he puts in an appearance. Really, I would not Re blame him if he gives the place a wide berth, It is a dan- a4 gerous ground for him.” yy te AAS Raat x | / ' ii ueaces CHAPTER “XVIL- THE ‘SUNSHINE comEs THROUGH wants AND sso, ° i
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A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. ©) are money to pay your bills during the time you are laid up from} “See there, mother,” he said, his eyes filling with tears. your hurts.” “That comes through flame and smoke, too!” “Is that so?” He handed her the letter. “Yes. I heard some of the councilmen talking about it last | She read it and carried it to her husband in the aad room. night. They are also going to vote $25 a month to your father: | “Yes,” said Will Bayne. “He saved one of the Bidwell chil- as long as he remains disabled.” ‘dren at the last.fire. I saw it in the papers. She was there “Oh, mother, do you hear that?” Walter cried. “ There'll on a visit, Bidwell & Jones is one of the best firms in the city. be no danger of our starving now!” Oh, we are not going to starve yet awhile.” Mrs. Bayne was so overjoyed that she ran into her husband’s} “No;” said Walter, “for I am going to get right up and ae room to tell him about it. to work.” The news sent a thrill through the sn ftie household, “Not till-the doctor tells you to,” said his mother. “Are you sure it will be done?” Mrs, Bayne asked. . _ They were ali very happy that day, and late in the after- “Oh, yes. Every one of the councilmen have expressed a|noon one of the firemen came in and said that all the firemen willingness to do it. The fact that a father and son, the }in the city were going to” give a grand benefit ball for Will breadwinners of a family, are laid up from wounds received; and Walter Bayne.. in trying to save property and life, has touched their sense of} “Here it comes, through flame and smoke again,” said Wal- iustiee. ‘The council will meet to-night, and I haven’t a doubt] ter, as he grasped the young, fireman’s hand and shook it that you willlreceive news before ten o'clock.” warmly. “Oh, it gives me a new lease of life and hope,” said Mrs, “I'd like to know who has been tarchets ‘more: flames and Bayne. “I had begun to think the sunshine would never |smoke than you and your father,” the visitor said. - hk and he placed the bill in the The visitor was a little surprised at the tone of his remarks, “hand of Mrs. Bayne. “The men in this family are heroes,| “I thought you were particularly anxious to have him pun- “and the women must have the same stuff in them, too. No, | ished?” he said. don't go to thanking me for it. I'd have done it long ago had} “So I am. » But I don’t want my fidudls to disgrace them- I suspected how you were fixed. Just hustle around and|selyes and the city whilst punishing him. That's all. The , Bet your boy on his pins again and that'll be all right. He’ll | chief of police has been here to see me. about it. He'll be at Bet a good place yet, and T can afford to wait till he does.” the Hook and Ladder headquarters, Repent to see the ies. "The chief picked up his hat and made his escape from the | about it.” f 4 * “house without giving Mrs. orden a chance to say a word of| That evening the chief went to the firemen’s A ‘and thanks to him. , talked with the boys” and read | ‘Walter’s letter to them. © “He is one of the best t'fetlows in ‘the world, ‘athens said} They cheered him and said that if they caught . ‘Bosworth. i _ Walter. “We have a good many friends in Mill Dale, only they” would place | him ona rail and ride him sili to police they, don't know how hard pushed we are.” us i headquarters. and have him locked up. Eee ; “But we didn’t want. them to Bugs that out, Walter,” ‘his| A messenger came in to say that the city council had just vos mother said. ‘ voted $25 a month to Will Bayne in recognition of his gal- AP 2 “We have nothing a be ashamed. of under thes circum- lant services in saving life and property in Mill Dale; and "stances. Ns Ie ea / ; also a sum to pay the entire expense of board, nursing and “No, and I am glad of that.” oat ! doctor's bills incurred in consequence of hurts received by dh: rap on the door startled Mrs. Rayne, and when she | Walter Bayne in the discharge of his duty as a fireman. i opened it she found | a lad there with a letter in his hand, When the brave firemen heard that they gave a io that i “This is for Mr. ‘Walter Bayne,” said the Brae) hate her nebtly raised aie roof off their aia i the letter. © rn UNO , ? i i She took it and the lad ran away ere she could get a chance a t sieve © ask if any answer was required. “it’s a letter for you, Walter,” Mrs. Bayne sad, returning the. room ‘and handing him the letter. : i Bide “Who. can it be from, I temas said Walter, opening and sire THE REVELATIONS Or THE WIDOW. — ask , * 4 * ,! " . ti tg i “ e x4 eae ep Hucsumng aby on the day following the incidents related in’ the as ne ware recovered from your ‘wounds i hapter, the. oe whe had been examining r mon conflagi ation wen CHAPTER XVIII. 4} kx oN as ae D ar ren ot
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22 { H A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. worth came to me with a revolver and asked me if I could put a stronger spring im the lock, as the one he had frequently failed to explode the cap. I told him that I believed I could, as T had a great variety of such things in my shop. “e left the weapon with me, and I repaired it as ordered. I am in the habit of placing a mark on every firearm that comes into my shop for repairs or work of any description. That mark is three little round holes about the size of pin heads made by a hard-pointed puneh and a sharp blow of a hammer. Well, I wut that mark on Bosworth’s pistol, and I have found them there on this one found in the ashes.” > “But have you not placed that same mark on scores of other revolvers in Mill Dale?” the chief asked. “Yes, But on his revolver I found another mark which i have never seen on any other—a filed cross under the’bottom of the long barrel, about an’inch from the muzzle.” “Do you find that mark on the burnt one?” “Yes, very distinctly.” “And so you are sure that it is the one that you repaired for . Bosworth?” “Tt am positive that it is the one,” he fapliea: “See ‘here, chief,” said an officer, coming in. “Here is a knife which has just been found in the ashes where the pistol was found two days ago.” The chief took the burnt blades in’ his hands and looked at them. ” “That was a clasp-knife,” said the gunsmith the moment he saw the blade. “I have repaired many a one.” “You are site of that, are you?” “Yes, sir.’ : “Do you know that this settles t Bosworth?” the chief asked. “No, I did not,” said the gunsmith. “Well, it does, and I am not sorry for. it. (- aiing me for overeat days. doubt. fs ' “Did he have a clasp knife vith him?” “Yes. He drew it on Walter Bayne the day they had the fracas in the hotel. Walter never forgot the knife.” “Then J should say he was the, man whose bones were found “. in’ the ashes.” . ° “Undoubtedly.” , When the gunsmith ‘went say the chiet of police sat dnwh t to think over the situation, ‘which had now changed somewhat. “Mrs; Bosworth will have to be informed of it,” he said to himself, “and I am not sure that it is going to be a pleasant task to do it. The bones of the dead man have all been gath- ered up—such as could be—and placed in a box. She will have to: say what must be done with them.” _ The chief called at the-hotel and sent up his re to the lady. She met him in the parlor, looking better than at any time since her arrival at the house. . “Madam,” he said, “I have an unpleasant duty to perform. ‘question of the fate of It has been puz- It settles the question beyond a pate The fact has. been fully established that your husband did perish in the fire the other day.” i She turned slightly, paler if scapes and sat down in an armchair, 5 “How has that fact hehe established?” she asked. hs knife and pistol, belonging to him, haye been identified few days before the fire.” se fr, haye no Jonger a shadow of. doubt about , ‘it, ‘nadia: ” said the. chief, “and now | have’ to as what diepoRiien -you wish ck OD the way he. did. | founded me when I discovered the truth. es, the gunsmith, who repaired the firearms for him only a}, He arose and was about to leave, when she asked him to. sit down again. He did so, and she said: “T think it proper to make an explanation to you. I have been married seven years, and have a very large fortune in my own right. I never had a child, and two years ago my husband induced me to make a will, leaving him the bulk of my fortune. Soon after that my health began to decline, and ~ we traveled to various sections, hoping the change.of air — and water would benefit me! I grew worse all the time, until1 was a mere wreck. S “At last. we came here, and the fire at the hotel occurred, - For the first time I suspected my husband of trying to en= a compass my death, and after hearing young Bayne’s story tes: was sure of it. I began to investigate and soon discovered that he was slowly drugging me to death. When I made that dis-" 7 covery and obtained the fullest proof of it_I offered the reward. for his arrest. But in his eagerness to put young Bayne. ‘out of the way as a witness he has lost his own life. My health ay has steadily improved since the day of the last fire, and ne not F the least doubt remains that I will fully recover my~ healthity.* a You can now fully understand why I offered that reward, and. you are at liberty to give the explanation to the public if you). think it necessary to do so. I shAll remain here till my nealei, is fully restored, as I have received so much sympathy fone the guests of this house.” : “Madam, your story astounds me!” said the chief. _ “J am not surprised at that,” she replied. “Th uttemy I have not the least regret for the fate that overtook him. The shame of: being the widow of such a man is mine, but I can bear it now that I am free from him.” ee Br “Let me express the hope that you may entirely. recover your health, and that you may live to be as happy a as you could wish to be.” ~ Weare “Thanks, sir. I wish you all ve happiness one can enjoy se this life.” The chief went away to give orders for the purial ot ‘Boo Ma worth’s remains in accordance with her instructions., ; Her story soon reached the public and created an immense sensation, and as Walter Bayne was more or. less connected - “| with it he came in for a vast amount of congratulations, A few days later found Walter at work in the store of ‘Bid- well & Jones, having recovered sufficiently to enable him attend to business. : In the store as a clerk was a young man aphons father was i one of the heavy stockholders of the mill of which Mr. ‘Traino , had. been superintendent. His father was very bitter. a ples Walter, believing that- Walter. haa caused the strike: and that the strikers set the mill on fire. ~ es “Are you going to work here?” the young man asked him. “Yes,” was the reply. “Then I'll leave!” 2 sR ont oe : fe ; Re : oc % CHAPTER 8 aoe THE youNG DUDE’S: SKISTARE,, es a bs Giant: The young man left him 5 aamatlasaty pe as Ure front office of the Stes and ‘Walter went a nerath g another
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A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. | Par gu e “Oh, that’s *Dolph Widmer. His father owned about a third _ of the mill where you saved Trainor from a roasting.” “Oh, yes,” and Walter dJooked through thé glass partition of the office and saw young Widmer engaged in conversation with the head of the house. “You don’t know him?” the clerk asked. INO. 2) 5 \“He’s the dude of the establishment, and ar a great pull with the boss.”” “Well, he has just told me if I stayed here he was going to leave.” “Did he tell you that?” “Yes, and I am going to make him explain what he means.” / “Oh, I can tell you what he means easily enough,” said-the clerk. “I heard him talking about it last night. He says that you were ‘the cause of the mill being: fired, and that you were a low fellow whom he -will not associate with.” ~ “Did he say that?” “Yes.” “Well, I don’t think he will give me such an explanation : as that. I am going right in there and ask him about it.” “No—no! don’t go in there, but wait till he comes out.” Walter waited till young Widmer came out, and then step- , ped up te him and asked: _ “What did you mean by what you said to me just before you _ went into the office?” “ygiSt meont.just what I said—that you and I can’t work in the _$ame house.” —~ ; “An insult is implied in that remark,” said Walter, very ‘ coolly, “and if you don’t apologize Tl make you.” 5 “You make me apologize!” exclaimed the young man. “Take that and get out of my way.” - He aimed a blow at his face which Walter parried, and .the next moment ‘was knocked all in a heap: by the young “‘fremen. He arose to his feet in a half-dazed condition, and minds w for Walter again. This time Walter put in a blow right under his left eye that sent him sprawling on the floor: . The proprietor and two of the bookkeepers came running. out of the office to separate them. “What does this mean?” Mr. Bidwell demanded in very an- gry tones. $s Pt means that I am giving him a | thrashing for insulting ( Te,” replied Walter. : ? ; “Well, let him alone.” \ Je ‘a i es: pardon,” said Walter. Pipoiccte. a ae “But I won *t have any fighting here in the states" ‘said the aroprietor ‘of the place. ( “You may discharge me, sir, if you like,” toed Walter. “But I didn’t part with my manhood when I entered your em- Bley, and he sprang at young Widmer again, and exclaimed: “Do you apologize?” ‘ aiahy “T am going to make gts “All right, then. ‘You want to be careful how you insult ot young fireman, ‘Your betters hereafter.” “He ack at me first,” rebtied “Walter. jd Pah take an insult from any man. fhe © ‘of chief of the department to remain with Hook oud Ladder |'No, 1, and you are the one\to take it.” : Yes," replied the young man, who had end enough of the} ‘purpose of electing his, successor, ey Every fire company in Mill Dale at once nominated a favor: | ‘ite member for the position. S| eeu and |} ae him one. He met ye awhile ag0, and asked me if T was] no other man can insult me > with impunity. Now, am 1 oe * leave or not?” EE fey “No, sir, I honor a man who» takes care of his manhood, Shee said Mr. Bidwell. F : “Then I'll leave,” said young Widmer. “You can get the amount due you for services in the office | there,” dryly returned the merchant. “I cannot allow you or any other man to dictate to me whom I. shall employ.” -The young man went into the office and -got his pay, after which he came out and proceeded to put-on his Sone and hat. ° As he passed Walter he said: be Ks, 5 xis: “Tl see you again about this.” “ft hope you will, but don’t forget that oe have apologized to me for the insult you gave.” And Walter spoke Ioud enough for all the clerks to hear, The affair created quite a sensation, and in a few days a re- porter got hold of it and put it in his: paper. The Widmers were a very aristocratic family, and had yery. great, influence in Mill Dale. They began to use that influence - io injure the good name of the young fireman, characterizing him as a young bully, who delighted in nothing so much as ~ using his brute strength on those who were above him socially, Walier bore it all very, patiently, and pursued the even tenor of his way. Some time after the fracas in the store Walter was return- fing home when he overtook Mr. aaa the chief of the fire department. 4 “Walter,” said the chief, “I a going to resign my place ‘as chief,” pS “The deuce you are?” “Yes, I am going to take.the superintendency of the new mill that goes into operation ‘next month.” “Oh, have you secured that position?” “Yes, with the understanding that I resign from the” fire department. They claim that a fire is liable to draw me away from the mill at any time’ and keep me out nearly a whole 6 day. ” rem “Yes, so it would: Well, I am glad you hive gone up tgs er. It will be better pay, and will enable you to Bet rich: ina. few years.” j “Tt is a better position all round,” petarned the chief. «But | what I wanted to see you about is this: I want the position iy “What! Me be chief of the fire department?” Walter axe claimed in utter amazement. ys “Yes. There is no restriction as to age. You are as com = petent for the position as anyone I aon a 5 f SR Se ae \ rey feces eh CHAPTER XX. i at alse oe THE. BOY FIREMAN IS. MADE CHIEF, ep ae ee A few days later Chief Wyckoff resigned his position, and ih another election was. ordered to be held in ten: etal for fhe When all the engine companies had put up their ee members of Hook and Ladder No. 1 met and put up es name of Walter Bayne, : : ase When the votes were ponies out, Walter had ‘three too one and was elected by a handsome anf over all three OF his tet eked him tor an explanation or an apology, and he| opponents combined.
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24 . oe A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. some-looking lady alighied. Mrs, Bayne met her at the ‘door | great fite-bell rang out through the town, and the next mo-— and invited her into the house. ment he was dashing down the stairs of the hotel a half dozen © ~“f am Mrs. Bosworth,” said the visitor, “and I have come to|steps at a time. pay my respects to the parents of the young hero who saved It was the first fire anh had occurred since his election as my life.” chief of the fire department, Mrs, Bayne’s heart was touched. She threw open her arms He dashed through the streets to the pes which was down and clasped the lady to her heart, whilst tears of joy coursed|in the third district in a machine shop. down her cheeks, : This was the first time he ever ran to a fire without first ig “Come and see his father,” said the proud mother, leading} running to his company quarters to 0 with the truck. the way into the room where Will Bayne lay on his bed. But now he had the whole department to look after, and De “This is Mrs. Bosworth, Will,” she said. made direct for the Seene of conflagration. Before Mrs. Bosworth left the cottage it was understood He reached there just as Hook and Ladder No. 1, rolled that Will Bayne was to be'sent to one of the great institutions |up to the spot. : y } in New York at her expense, and kept there till he was either “There’s nothing for the hook and ladder to do, boys,” he cured or pronounced incurable. sang out to them. Then, turning to the engine company on As for little Nellie, she was to have the best education that | his right, he said: ‘ tet 4 money could procure for her, and an income was settled upon Deen Cation aval ted as'fast as you can, and look oak for a her, the principal of which was to be given her when she that, building over there on the right.” should become of age. The hook and ladder boys joined in with the aieiue -com= — When Walter came home to dinner and heard what the rich | yanies and did heroic work in keeping the flames confined te’ lady had done, he was so overjoyed that he could not eat.| ine machine shop. Ne St: His happiness’ satisfied his appetite. “| Onee it looked as though the adjoining house would catch Time wore on and the new mill was finished. Ex-Fire| fire, and but for the watchfulness of the young chief it, too, Chief Wyckoff entered upon his duties as superintendent, and! would have gone down in ashes. i Walter Bayne took charge of the fire department of the city But Walter was here and there and everywhere on ae look- if of Mill Dale. ‘Dolph Widmer and two cousins of his resigned | out for threatened points. ee: from the fire company to which they belonged, saying they| guddenly it looked as though a frame cottage in the rear of would not serve under the boy fireman) the machine shop would catch on fire, and Walter’ Ordercdeerte” Walter laughed and said they wéip acting more like boys | of the hosemen to turn a stream of water on the side of the than ever he did, and the people thought so, too. house. , At last the time came for Will Bayne to be sent to New York, and two good men were sent along with him to take fi care of him. Nellie was’sent to school, and the cottage was enlarged, and refurnished at the expense of Mrs. Bosworth. _ “By the way,” said Mrs. Bosworth, one day to our hero, “Yam thinking about building a ict here, ead I want you to take charge of it for me.” } *But I don’t know anything about the mill business,” he said. “But you can ee You are of ‘that‘age when it’s easy 4G learn anything. I am going to settle down in Mill Dale, and I want you to take charge of all- the property I shall buy here. It will pay you more than any other business rou can engage in, ” Twice the ‘root caught fire, and each time did he order’ the remen to pour a stream of water upon it. Had he not kept two streams constantly running on the machine shop the fire would have been so hot that a dozen streams could not have saved the cottage. Steadily and inch by inch he fought the fire till at last ‘is had it under control so that it did not get beyond the machine shop itself, thought that structure proved a total loss. ~ Oe Waiter had proved himself capable of the position given him and fayorable comment of his As of phe fire departmen <4 was heard on all sides, ; : Time rolled on, and Mrs. Bosworth, as to, her wend pur chased a vast amount of property in the thriving little city, “T shall never refuse t and gave Walter the management of it, ; vk Mrs. Bosworth,” he woo nine wees cee He had to give up his position of clerk with the house ts) ‘such deep obligations that were you to tell me to ju mp off Bidwell & Jones, and open an office where he could. attend io the top of this hotel I believe I would do it.” tie Business: of thie Bosworth estate, '- *“T shall hold you to that pledge—that you will never’ refuse, THO Years aftet) receiving the tapary aus: spine wins me anything I may ask of you,” she said, “if you: mean what came back home completely cured, thanks to the: abet you say.” the generous widow. : “I do mean it, * he ‘ead: “Whatever you may ask of me 1 She made him superintendent of the isear er in 4 will do, because I am sure that you will never ask of me any- Dale, and little Nellie was sent to a first-class: boardin Sl ool, thing that is not right. ei | where she would be sure of having all the attention Pal @ “Certainly not; but don’t forget what: you have sald. va that the richest girls of the land received. . ; x ““T won't forget it, » ; Walter was now on the highway to. prosperity, and t ice, “Have you heard from your father lately?” she ei aa when he tried to resign the position of chief of the fire d rt- "Yea, ma’am. Mother had a letter from him: this morning, ment, the brave firemen. re-elected fea and insisted on his saying that he believed he was improving.” fa remaining their head. ibstesk. “Does he have hopes of ever being able to walk again?” A ps are the voungest fire chict we ‘have any knowle e “Oh, Sa ‘He has never 18st that hope.” we at \ the. Savniest woman in the ‘world, “Bxcept my mother,” said Walter, “Yes,. maybe she would be happier than i “but I am ‘sure I) “would be a very happy individual.” hes: _ Clang! Clang! : u ase me, eal exclaim a wi Mill Dale. As we drop off the young men’ mu ; places, and we want. a nope for mee to strive bs
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A FIREMAN AT SIXTEEN. 25 member, and he never failed to meet with ee boys on their snatched a pair of blankets off of it, weread pe on the floor ' regular evenings once a week. CHAPTER XXI. THE WIDOW’'S REQUEST, “Was still a fireman at twenty-one, and considered a veteran, : On his twenty-fitst birthday he resigned the position of . Chief of the fire department, and re-entered the ranks of Hook | and Ladder No. 1 as a private, | All the firemen protested. ' “No,” he said, firmly, “1 won’t take it again. There are ‘other young men among the firemen of Mill Dale who deserve ‘promotion by reason of gallant service. Give them a show. ‘Let them see that valor is sure to be rewarded. There are a ‘ ) dozen or more youths who have saved lives from the flames. | Elect one of them chief and thus encourage the boys.” , “That is the most sensible advice I’ve heard for years,” ” said | the mayor, ‘ ‘and I hope the firemen of Mill Dale will follow it Yn both letter and spirit.” \ Quick to respond to the suggestion of the ex-chief, the mem- bers of 7™OUe and Ladder No. 1 nominated Gus Trainor, a | you's "Ott uinéteen, who wise saved four lives at fires, for the | dosition, Fe He. was a son of Mr. Trainor, the mill superintendent, who Was once a bitter enemy of Walter’s, _ Two other young men, who were yet under twenty-one years ‘Up as candidates, and a general rivalry ensued. : Gus was elected, and a hearty support was given him after he took the office. $ Only 9, few weeks after he returned to the ranks as a pri- ate Walter was called up out of bed by the’ ringing of the uge fire-bell. _ He was quick to respond, and reached the hook and ladder | house just as the truck was. leaving. " ' The boys gave him a cheer of welcome as he seized hold the rope and darted off with them. 19 main hotel of the city was on fire, and the guests, sud- denly awakened from sound slumbers, were running here and hare, plinded by smoke which filled the carttagre) in vain en- eavors to get out of danger. “Walter, Bayne ‘was horrified when he reached the spot and und the big hotel wrapt in flames, and’ remembered that Mrs. 8B vosworth’ s suit of rooms were on the second floor, Ing building and darted up the flight of stairs to her apart ‘Tents, ; He could have reached the door blindfolded, and even he ight as well have been blindfolded, for he was forced by. the smoke to shut his eyes tightly. He reached the door, and found it locked, hrowing himself against it’ with all his weight, “a ak pen, and found the widow but half dressed, and so thor. ughly frightened that she did nbt know what to do. . ,; Walter!” she ‘ried. “Save me! Keep cool, then, and hurry on a dress, *, Be returned. “T Saye you or die with you.” he hastily threw on a wrapper, ate turing fori, said:, ia meedy now. ee F Time rolled on, and the youth who was a fireman at sixteen | of age, and who had saved lives at conflagrations, were put . His first thought was of her, and he dashed into the burn- | Save me from the — SD apeeg hs opened as nS es Asie Sig and said: “Lie down on those, and let me roll you up in them.” She did so, and he-rolled her over and over till the length of. two blankets were wrapped around her. Then he took her up in his arms and dashed through the corridors now black with smoke and passed down the stairs and out to the street with her, Tet When he reached the street with her the blankets were on fire in three places, and the hosemen dashed a stream of water over her, | Mrs. Bosworth was taken to a private house near by,. where she was unrolled from the blankets, half dead from suffoca- tion. All her wardrobe was lost in the fire,.but she had been wise enough to have it insured fer two-thirds its value, Nearly every member of old Hook and Ladder No. 1 saved~ one or more lives, and the next day the papers teemed) with accounts of deeds of daring among the brave fellows. The new chief of the fire’ department worked like a beaver and showed. that he was competent in every respect to hold the position to which he had been elected, A few days after the fire Mrs. Bosworth sent for Walter and said: “Tam going to build a fire-proof hotel on the site of the old- one, if the owners of the lot will sell at: a reasonable ‘figure. I am tired of being burnt ont so often. See the owners at once and let me know if they will sell.” i Two hours later Walter reported to her that she ros have the lot at a certain figure. : She immediately wrote a check for the amount and pare ee to” him, saying: “Secure it at once and set workmen to clearing away the debris. Then get the best architects.to draw plans for a first- class, fire-proof hotel with 250 rooms. Probably you won't. have to risk your life the third time to Ips mine if I get into a fire-proof house like that,” “You can rest asstired that I do not consider it a task to risk my life to save yours,” he replied. “You have done enough for me and mine to warrant me in»elaying’ down my life for’ you whenever the necessity for doing so shall conte, : “I don’t want such a necessity to come, Walter,” she re- plied. “It’s the very thing I am trying to provide against. I. want you. to live for me. You understand?” d “Ah! I shall be a happy man in living to serve you,” he said. “What do we not owe to your generosity?” “Not half as- much as I owe to you,” said she. “The wealth of the world cannot, pay for a life,” ; yee “Walter, go and seeds the site of the hotel and then come 7 back to me,” she said, interrupting him. ; He went away to attend to the business, for he was now her . sole business agent, and never yuee to be prompt in even the most minute matter, ; ‘He called on her the next day with, the title deeds to. the land, and then she gaye “orders, for an architect to eae vee to be submitted, In a week’s time a plan had: been adored, and work com- te ‘menced, ara The people of Mill Dale were astonished at. the = apialen with ae which the work progressed, In six month’s time the big hotel was ‘annhed furnished
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"a if he did not ask her to be his wife, she would ask him to be They put up the sign to-day.” od to dissuade her from doing that, but. she laughed at me. | 26 3 A FIREMAN AT: SIXTEEN. ! — “You are honoring me too much. People will talk about it,| “Oh, no!. I am going to live there, too—after we are mar- you know.” ied.” é i “And what will they say?” “Married! ” “They will say that I, as your business agent, had it done,{| “Yes, mother.. I am going to marry the wey Bos- and that you, because I traded on your gratitude, yielded to’'| worth.” the idea.” His parents were dumfounded at the news, and then ek She looked nin in the face and said: rejoiced and congratulated him, “Walter Bayne, you once said that I could not ask of you} “Don’t say a word about it yet awhile,” he said, “efor we: anything you would refuse, did you not?” are going to wait till her poe comes round in Decem- i “Ves, ma’am,” he replied, “and I repeat it again.” ber.” “Then I am going to ask you fo make me your wife. Will It was a big secret for them to’ keep, but éfes kept it. you refuse me that request?” : ‘In the meantime Walter remained a member of Hook and “No,” said Walter, almost out’ of breath with joy. “I have| Ladder No. 1, and his popularity was, suck ‘that wien the ‘wished it a thousand times, but hadn’t the courage to pro-| firemen nominated him as their candidate for mayor of Mill pose.” Dale he was elected over the candidates of both the old peli ide cal parties. fata Everybody was his friend, sind when sie was sworn in as mayor the firemen paraded the streets, and the mill hands all, ~ took a holiday. : Soon. after his inauguration as mayor the engagement be- tween himself and the rich widow was made public. for pan : It created a stir in the highest circles of the city, and great prepar ations for the event were made. ; They were to be married in church, and thes caesar Hook and Ladder No, 1 begged that they be allowed tu f the truck a chariot of roses and pull them to and from: th church whilst seated upon it, nae The widow granted the request, and with four-and-twenty oH little bridesmaids surr ounding the bridal coach, the bray firemen dragged them to the church door, escorted by re: Loe ‘2 other firemen in the city in full uniform, Every shop in the city was closed, and the operatives ba out to do honor to: the gallant fireman and his bride. ‘They ; | were cheered from the beginning te the end of the Tine. of. Se its procession, — eee When the ceremony was over at the church, ‘the nee couple were escorted back to the hotel amid the ringing bells, the cheers of the firemen mae the waving of eae chiefs all along the route. The firemen sat down to a sumptuous feast in: the. 4 dining-room of the hotel, where they ate and drank the health’ : and happiness of the couple, 5 , Thus ends the story of the daning young fir eman, wis Dewan battling with flames at the age of sixteen years, and hits ee : attests the truth. of the saying, that OaaES sani ae eve Bake reward those aa DASHEAE them. fe CHAPTER XXII. CONCLUSION. When Walter Bayne returned home that evening he was so happy and light-hearted that he felt as if he were walking on air. He looked back five years to the time when he was @ penniless youth of sixteen, with an invalid father, a. mother and little sister to take care of. He thought of the many perils through which he passed and the lives he had saved, and then Bier os at his present sur- roundings. His father, ag mapeienacad of the eigeie mill in the city, _ was making money fast, and his mother was happy, and moy- . ing in the very best circles of society, To cap all that, he was now ‘engaged to the richest woman in the State, and as her husband would be looked up to as the richest man in Mill Dale. She was’ the only individual who _ was the exelusive owner of a big mill and was now the owner of the finest hotel in'the place, besides whole blocks of other houses, | No wonder. he felt like one in a drear as he wended his way home that evening. But his happiness was not of ‘a mercen- | ary character, for he had grown to love the beautiful widow with the deepest devotion of his heart. — ‘ True, she was about eight yéars older than he, but neither of them thought anything of that. As for the widow, she had lovetl him from the day she gave him charge of her estate, and had long promised herself that. THE ‘END. her husband, and at last, when leap year dame, she did so, fully satisfied that he AG her, but was afraid to propose to her. Read ee ONE: HUNDRED fe ABOVE “Mother,” Es said that evening as they sat in. their little ig parlor, “what do you think the name of the new hotel is? CHURCH STEEPLD?. th Allyn Drape), Ww i wl “I am sure I don’t know,” she replied. “What ig it?” “They call it the Walter Bayne House.” “Goodness sakes alive!” exclaimed the. ‘proud mother. “When will that. womat's: gratitude. stop?” “ . “That’s what I have: often asked. myself,” at he remarked, “T. . wo She is going to dive: there, 5 90; and ‘eal bee Mrs. Walter |. ;
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-habiting ‘that part of Alaska, have been removed. | PLUCK AND LUOK. Pluck and — NEW YORK, MAY 138, 1908. Terms to Subscribers. Single Copies,........... -os5 Cents One Copy Three, Months SORE Sf One Copy Six Months,. . $125 One Cony One SK PAt sss vines nadia daw aet res sepa eos ueceeee 2.50 Postage Free. How To Srenp Monry, At our risk send P. O. Money Order, Check, or iia ma atest mittances in any other way are at your risk. e accept. Postage Stamps the same as cash. When sending silver wrap ‘the coin in a ° separate piece of paper to avoid cutting the envelope. Write your name and address plainly. Address letters to Frank Tousey, Publisher, a4 Union Sq., New York. THINGS OF INTEREST. The chipmunk is not usually considered much of a songbird, _ but according to Ernest Thompson Seton he is quite a success In Manitoba the chipmunk .comes above]. in a vocal role. . ground about the first or second week of April, says Mr. Seton Tie Gnreveas,. Mounted on some log or root, it reiterates a loud, chirpy “Chuck-chuck-chuck,” to the spring salute. They are active from this time’ of the year on, and their sunny morning | chorus is not by any means confined to that original outburst. ‘On April 29, 1905, at Cos Cob, I heard a chipmunk in full -song. He kept it up for eleven minutes without ceasing, and uttered 130 chirps to the minute. He got no reply, he worked very hard and seemed tired toward: thé last. * On 3 May 28, 1905, at Cos Cob, I heard a chipmunk singing. He kept it up for three minutes, uttering three ee to the sec- Quite a sensation has been caused in Austriah fashionable : society by a “freak” dinner given at the Bristol Hotel, Vienna. The hostess was an American woman of great wealth. In the : center of the dining-table, which was eighteen feet in diam- eter and draped with damask to the floor, swam in a huge; : basin. all manner of fish, and even. small crocodiles, or crea- > tures resembling them. A female figure on a bronze pedes- tal ‘poured from a ewer a perpetual stream into the basin. ips Roses ‘in, full bloom were placed around the table, and from ie each of them hung snakes, made of Parma violets, writhing over the cloth. The jaws and eyes of the reptiles were blaz- ing with ruby electric lights. Hidden among the banks of which surrounded the fruit. dishes were tiny wooden cages containing trained Hartz canaries, which kept up an eager a contest of song. The evening finished with a Tombola, and i the winners received a erystal glass decked with Rua trons ai colts of the Smithsonian Institution who. have been spend- ing several weeks in the nor th are reported. to have made important anthropological discoveries in a series of cayes not far from Sitka, from which upward of twenty per-. fectly - preserved mummies of the tribes originally in- } eaves” are situated about eleven miles from the “territorial | pital, and appear to have been devoted almost exclusively urposes ot sepulture. It is estimated that they contain me hundreds of mummies and thousands of skulls, together though é The | would be in favor of the company, wouldn’t it?’ sg pereeOn, “that: the whistle wa various ute: sils and implements conternorancons vist! ; ‘ , a? the dead. The caves were accidentally located about three years ago by Andrew Pihl of Sitka; who brought one of the ‘|mummies to that place and exhibited it, at the same time communicating news of his find to scientists in Washington, The remains uncovered are said to support the theory of a Japanese origin of the Alaskan tribe. — : How many of the fair wearers of sealskin know how this fur is prepared? In the skin of a dog or cat it will be noticed that at the roots of the longer, coarser hair there aré fine, short hairs, called “under fur.” In most animals these hairs are so few that they are usually overlooked. Not so with sealskin. The skin after going through various processes to cleanse it of grease, ete., is stretched flat with the flesh side ‘uppermost. A flat knife is then passed over it, thinning the skin considerably. In doing this it loosens the roots of the | longer hairs, which’ are more deeply embedded than those of the under fur, The rough hairs are thus got rid of without injury to the softer fur. Next the pelt passes through opera-" tions which soften and preserve it. Then comes the dyeing, ‘by which the uniform tint so generally admired is obtained. And now the fur is ready for making up, , OUR COMIC COLUMN. “Professor,” said a senior, trying to pe pathetic at parting, “I am indebted to you for all I know.” “Pray don’t mention such a trifle,” was the reply. “IVs a pretty safe bet that old Kraftman is beginning to make his pile now.” “How do you know?” “Oh, he’s begin- ning to go around now growling about how much hanulee a man is when he’s DOK. 4 The routine of the Criminal Court proceedings had been marked by .only one unusual incident, and that was the alac- rity with which a certain hard character was sentenced for sixty days to the wofkhouse. “Judge,” observed the district- attorney at the close of ihe dreary session, “you seemed to rel- ish the privilege of sending that man to the workhouse. Did his case impress you?” “Now, look here,” whispered the judge, as he beckoned the) attorney aside, “that man is a worthless fellow, Always ‘drunk and never contributes a cent to the ‘support of his wife, who is a most deserving woman. I feel sorry for her, and whenever he is in prison she comes to ~~ our home and assists my wife in the kitchen. And, ” chuckled ‘the judge, as he tapped the attorney’s shoulder cheerfully, “she gen know how to bake apple pie. im ; “T was ‘ ecihbah pet a railway company in the West,” says a prominent New York lawyer, “in whose employ a section |hand had been killed by an express train. His widow, of course, sued for damages. The principal witness swore posi- tively that the locomotive whistle had not sounded until after oy rr the entire train: had passed. over his departed friend, : ‘You admit that the whistle blew?’ I sternly demanded of the wit-- ness. , ‘Oh, yes, it blew.’ ‘Now, I added impressively, Ry 1 that ‘whistle sounded in time to give Morgan warning the “fact Ge suppose 0,’ said the witness. ‘Very well. Now, for what earthly pur- “pose would the engineer hlow his whistle ‘after the man had been struck? sq. presume,” replied the witness, with great | de- is or the Hext man on the
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28 PLUCK AND LUCK. JACK’S LESSON By KIT CLYDE, “I wish I were dead!” exclaimed Jack Porter, in an irritable tone. “Why so?” asked a cheery voice beside him. . “Because I don’t see any use in living if I’ve got to dig in the mines all my days. Some people seem to have all the good times in this world, and others nothing but hard work. There’s Ruff Hare, a lazy, stupid fellow at school, going off to travel, with plenty of money to spend, and all the airs of a grand gentleman, just because his father had the luck to buy a bit of land with a rich vein of coal in it; while here am I toiling and moiling in the dirt from morning till night, when I might be something or somebody if I had a chance——” “And were selfish enough to leave your mother and sister take care of themselves. Well, now, suppose like me you were blind, and had not seen the sun for twenty years, and could “earn only enough to keep soul and body together by slate- picking in the Breaker?” “1 couldn’t endure such a life; and I don't see how you can always be so cheerful and contented,” replied Porter, look- ing at his companion half pitifully, half contemptuously, as i one lacking the fine nature to feel privations as he did. “JY hear the birds sing and feel the warm sunshine this bright May morning. I’m not as bad off as poor Jake Fossett, a helpless cripple, ‘on His back, with no end of pains and aches,” replied the blind man, in the same cheerful voice. Here the two parted to go to their separate tasks; but Porter went to work with his heart full of discontent. There were several men digging in the vein of goal beside bos 38s og : aaa _ After an hour or two had passed, they all, noticed a rumbling and cracking which they thought came from the roof, and fearing that it would fall, they began examining it to see if any. portion appeared disturbed. But the noise soon became so violent that they ran into the heading. i ‘They had “scarcely reached. it when the floor of the vein heaved up, opened, and a volume of gas rushed out, filling the’ whole place. Porter darted into a paaeinee leading Gait ol from the ' breast. . ; j : Se The other men ran. forward, the gas ignited, ea a terrible explosion shook .the mine. Porter being behind the explosion, which always takes an - outward course, was stunned only and slightly injured by. being dashed against the coal. ‘When le recovered from: the shock, he was in ‘total dark- ness, but on relighting his lamp he discovered that a dense wall of rock and coal had been thrown down and effectually ' barred. his escape to the shaft. ~ Still, he felt quite sure he could find another passage ‘out, and turning up the tunnel, he walked on fora long distance, over shattered wood-work and through. narrow stopes, hoping: att ‘every turn to see light ahead. Reape FEY rah eS (=) unspeakable horr or, the tunnel he had been following $f lea him to a large cell, from which there was no. advance. | fe He turned and began painfully to retrace his steps, thinking he! might possibly have overlooked: some other passage, but. no other passage ‘was. to be found, and the fearful conviction as forced ‘upon him that he was” buried alive. utter despair he threw himself down, praying that Heaven in mercy would let the end come soon: And unconsciousness did come, but it’ was the quiet sleep that exhausted nature demanded. k But the waking came, and the reality of his position burst upon him with renewed horror. He found his pick was still at his side, and he resolved to grope his way back to the scene of explosion and work at the wall till he died or escaped; anything was better than inaction. As he turned to the wall and was feeling for the tunnel, in creeping round a projecting rock he saw a faint gleam of light that seemed at. first like a glow-worm. rig He put his finger over the spot, and felt cold air coming against it. i Instantly, yet cautiously, he struck the spot with his. pick, and after a few blows more light was admitted. Hope now uerved him, and scarcely stopping to take breath, he struck at the rock till the opening was so large he could pass ‘through his hand and feel the warm sunshine upon 154 if With a shout of joy he began to pick the earth again, but his — random blows brought down more coal than he meant should: : come. be He saw that all danger was not yet over, and that he eats use caution where he struck, or he might yet lose his chance of escape, Slowly now, sngur’ latter hour, he toiled, bracing up the open-_. ‘ing he was making as he worked, till it was large. enoug tor him to pull himself through. As his head emerged to daylight, he lookea eagerly’ about him to see where he was. ; Ree ash tec To his surprise, he found himself searcely haltway up a deep hole, where ‘the mine had caved in. ie He remembered the spot, and wondered how he ould! coeek the top, for there was nothing on the sides of the hole that he | could cling to to draw himself out of it. j } ia Yet, td, feel the warm sunghine, see the green. trees, and hear ; the birds, was a pleasure in itself he had not expectedte” enjoy again, and some one would surely pass the hice ere long. After what seemed very weary watching, he heard : a on whistling in response to the song of on wie and a pictignt aloud for help. ; , qi name geet “What's the matter here?” shouted some one, cand look up, Porter saw his blind friend. “Don’t come too close to this cave-in!” he eed toc him; “but go tell some men to bring a rope and haul ; I ve. been buried alive in the mines, ai have dug ieee atin so far, and now want help.” 4 Nai if it ain't Jack Porter! i We » thought you lows that were ‘working bs ‘that vein. “Any one elk you?” an a a gat : jumped behind the fall, and I supaeee en th- ue a mat after all. Have you found out vet that there's aig & hi living for?” any don't ae you'll hear m me (cr)
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THE ORDEAL Soon after the gold-fever broke out I went to California. ess labor, I opened a kind of grocery and provision store. The murdered young man was as decently buried as sur- rounding circumstances would permit, and his companion— Iny superstitious friend—grew more moody with grief, refused I first tried my luck at digging gold myself, but soon tired {to work his “lead” any more, and proposed selling off his f that; and, believing I could make money faster and with | Tocker and tools and quitting the country altogether. On the second afternoon following the tragedy almost every | My store being the head-quarters.of that locality for whisky individual in the yvicinity—the friend of the murdered man nd provisions, I was brought into contact with nearly every }@mong the rest—assembled at rail store at my particular re- specimen of gentlemen, laborers, hieves and assassins, Of course I had a chance to study all orts of faces to my heart’s tontent. mountaineers, . gamblers, | quest. T had told them I had sobeenine to communicate concerning | the foul deed, and I thought it not unlikely I should give pai I wanted to get hold of what is termed a character—one | S0me clew to the assassin. hat would really puzzle you to tell what to think of him. Among the many such a one I at length found. When all had collected and arranged themselves, as I’ haa directed, in a semi-circle before my door, I came forward, At a casual glance there was nothing to distinguish him | !olding in my hand an egg. trom the herd. He came in quiet, unobtrusively purchased a Then I made them a short speech on the various supersti- JQuantity of flour, pork, and tea, paid for the same in gold-|tions of mankind, which I contended had their origin in dust, and went out about his business. mysterious facts; and among other things I mentioned how ihe He was quiet, had nothing to say, except about the business | 8hosts of their’ victims would often haunt the murderers, com- he came on, got what he wanted, paid for what he got, and} Pelling them to reveal their crimes, and how it had been’ _£enerally retired with some civility. * asserted! that if the guilty wretch should place his hand upon ‘One day, I scarcely know how, I touched upon the general the body of the man he had secretly slain the wound batae ae Superstitions of mankind, and to my sur prise I saw that’ he | bleed afresh. Was interested. “And now, gentlemen,” I continued, “JT hold in my hand i) His eye changed expression, and prleninties: and emitted a|as sure a test as any I have named. This simple egg, so fair strange and peculiar gleam. I now bethought me that I had |'to the view, contains the murderer’s secret. Let him. but take _hever seen one like it, and I looked in ‘at that opening and | it in. his hand and the frail shell will crumble to pieces, and _Saw-thut-the seul of that man was a dark one. A nameless fear came over me. I felt an internal shudder. show to all that it is filled with ‘the blood of his victim: The murderer of the young man we buried yesterday maybe No wonder I had not been able to-read him before; the man | among us; but only the guilty need fear the trial—the inno- “had been wearing an impenetrable mask. He was interested in superstitions; himself. t he was superstitious ‘I had aie thrown bu off his guard and read his! Soul. Fear only made him so; and in one of his iron nature fear “could only arise from the Verges aarp PRP SCee of a past } »avitked deed. ~The man was even then a criminal. _ ' One dark night I was startled from my sleep by wild, pro- niet shrieks, and cries of: “Murder! murder! Help! help!” ‘T jumped up, seized Ty revolvers, and’ darted out into the @pen air. — R The cries and screams still continued, coming from a point on the bend of the river about a hundred rods below. In a minute I was joined by five others, all well armed, and _together we ran as hard as we could to ths place from “wiiich the alarm proceeded. ‘When we arrived there at least thirty mén ° were collected in and around the tent of the dark man I have been deseribing, and he himself it was who had given the alarm. os His partner and companion had been murdered and robbed, and he himself had been slightly cut across the face and -gashed on. the left arm, and he was all excitement, lamenting his dearest friend, and yowing vengeance against the assassin. alt was,some time before we could get at the particulars, and hen we learned that both had been sleeping side by side, when an unknown robber had crawled under the light canvas, stabbed one to the heart, and taken a a, Rigo iof gold from under his head. With this he was escaping, when the present narrator compelled him to relinquish his: hold. {for his gold—his gold—his gold! e and ‘seized him, and received the wounds which had } cent will surely’ pass the ordeal unharmed.” “ee As I said. this I fixed my gaze upon my dark visitor, my suspected man. I never saw a more wretched and ‘ghastly countenance, oe) i a greater struggle in any living being to keep a oe and un- — moved exterior, iy The egg began its round. ; Meio Some took it gravely, some lightly, some dine sieht pale, and some laughed outright. But on it went and came nearer to the man for whom it was intended. . Meee -/E could see that he was trembling—that his very i ‘were getting white. - ¢ ‘é “Te is your turn Be I said, at osieth; in a cold, ‘stern tone. He made one apenas effort’ to be pte thes his ‘breath like one~ as and seized the fatal egg with trembling hands. The next moment it was wave, wane in atoms, and his hands . were wet and stained as. if with ‘human gore. A wild yell burst from the crowd. A despairing shriek came from the lips of the guilty acy and falling rather than sinking, down upon his mci he cried out “God of mercy, forgive me! I did kill him! I did kill him! Oh, Heaven, forgive me!” “and how many before him?” demanded I. “Three—three!. Oh, mercy, ‘forgive me!” spat “y There was another wild yell, or rather howl, of ieee ‘rush like wolves upon their prey—and the poor wretch was: ‘ seized, almost torn limb ee limb, ae, sareREeH sda NS away. cine were drought, and ute sure enough, was ane ' :
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These Books Tell You Everything! — 4 COMPLETE SET IS A REGULAR ENCYCLOPEDIA! : Hac book consists of sixty-four pages, printed on good paper, in clear type and neatly bound in an attractive, ilfustrated cover, ; Most of the books are also profusely illustrated, and all of the subjects treated upon are explained in such a simple manner that ay ee eel thoroughly understand them. Look over the list as classified and see if you want to know anything about the subjecy mentioned. : THESE BOOKS ARE FOR SALP BY ALL NEWSDEALERS OR WILL BE SHNT BY MAIL TO ANY ADDRESS FROM THIS OFFICH ON RECHIPT OF PRICE, TEN CENTS BACH, OR ANY THREE BOOKS FOR TWHNTY-FIVE CENTS. POSTAGH STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. Address FRANK TOUSERY, Publisher, 24 Union Square, N.Y. . MESMERISM. No. 81. HOW TO MHSMBRIZH,—Containing the most ap- sh methods of mesmerism; also how to cure all kinds of iseases by animal magnetism, or, magnetic healing. By Prof. Leo Hugo Koch, A. C. S., author of “How to Hypnotize,” etc. PALMISTRY. No. 82. HOW TO DO PALMISTRY.—Containing the most ap- proved.methods of reading the lines'on the hand, together with a full explanation of their meaning. Also explaining phrenology, and the key for telling character by the bumps on the head. By Leo Hugo Koch, A. C. S. Fully illustrated, ; , ' ,' AHYPNOTISM. |. ‘ No. 88. HOW-TO HYPNOTIZH.—Containing valuable and in- structive information regarding the science of hypnotism. Also explaining the most approved methods which are employed by the leading hypnotists of the world. By Leo Hugo Koch, A.C.S. SPORTING. No. 21. HOW TO HUNT AND FISH.—The most complete bunting and fishing guide ever published. It contains full in- structions about guns, hunting dogs, traps, trapping and fishix g, is hae? with descriptions of game and. fish. _ No. 26. HOW TO ROW, SAIL AND BUILD A BOAT.—fFully Hlustrated.. 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 DRIVH 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 diseases peculiar to the horse. No. 48. HOW TO BUILD AND SAIL CANOES.—A handy book for boys, Containing full directions for construéting canoes and the most bi ted manner of sailing them. Fully illustrated. By O. Stansfield Hicks. ; ‘ FORTUNE TELLING. No. 1. NAPOLEON’S ORACULUM AND DRHAM BOOK.— Containing the great oracle of human destiny ; also the true mean- ing of almost any kind of dreams, together with charms, ceremonies, and yy nS cee! of ecards. A complete book. . ’ Yo. 28. HOW TO EXPLAIN DREAMS.—LHierybody dreams, from the little child to the aged man and wotnan. This little book _ gives the explanation to all kinds of dreams, together with lucky and Mae ge oy and.“Napoleon’s Oraculum,” the book of fate. No. 28. HOW TO TELL FORTUNES.—Byeryone is desirous of knowing what his future life will bring forth, whether happiness or misery, wealth or poverty. You can tell by a glance at this little book. Buy one and be conyinced. Tell your own fortune. Tell the fortune of your friends. : --No, 76. HOW TO THLL FORTUNES BY THE HAND.— Containing rules for telling fortunes by the aid of lines of the hand, -or the secret of palmistry. Also. the secret of telling future events by aid of moles, marks, scars, etc. Illustrated. By A, Anderson. _- ATHLETIC. yee ee No. 6. HOW TO-BECOME AN ATHLETH.—Giving full in- etruction for the use of dumb bells, Indian clubs, parallel bars, horizontal bars and various other methods of developing a good, healthy muscle; containing over sixty illustrations. Hyvery boy can gin SB feed, ota healthy by following the instructions contained _in this little book ». No: 10. I e Containing over thirty illustrations of guards, blows, and the diifer- ent positions of a good boxer. Every, boy should obtain one of these useful and instructive books, as it will teach you how to box without an instructor, OES No. 25. HOW, TO BECOME A GYMNAST.—Containing full instructions for all kinds of gymnastic sports and athletic exercises. Bmbracing thirty-five illustrations. By Professor W. Macdonald. A-handy and useful book, | ie é Pie: a ee _. No. 34. HOW TO FENCH.—Containing full instruction for fencing and the us¢ of the broadsword; also instruction in archery. Described with twenty-one practical illustrations, giving the best positions in fensing. A complete book. - TRICKS WITH CARDS. | 1 No. $1. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH CARDS.—Containing explanations of the general principles of sleight-of-hand applicable to card tricks; of card tricks with ordinary cards, and not requiring ss Reteneor end: of tricks inyolving Bice iec Band ‘or the use of i affine A Aes px prepared cards. ‘By Profes ‘ce HOW TO BOX.—The art of self-defense made easy. | B r. Illustrated. 4: No. 72. HOW TO DO SIXTY TRICKS WITH CARDS,—Bm- bracing all of the latest and most deceptive card tricks, with il- lustrations, By A. Anderson. ; ul No. 77. HOW TO DO FORTY TRICKS WITH CARDS— Containing deceptive Card Tricks as performed by leading conjurora and magicians. Arranged for home amusement. Fully illustrated. MAGIC. oy No, 2. HOW TO DO TRICKS.—The great book of magic and — card tricks, containing full instruction on al the leading card tricks of the day, also the most popular magical illusions as eats : our leading’ magicians; every boy should obtain a copy of this as it will both amuse and instruct. . — i No, 22. HOW TO DO SECOND SIGHT.—Heller’s second sight explained by his former assistant, Mred Hunt, Jr, Hxplaining how — the secret diflogues were carried on between the magician and the “ boy on the stage; also giving all the codes and signals. The only — authentic explanation of second sight. ‘ ” g No. 48. HOW TO BECOME A MAGICIAN.—Containing the — grandest assortment of magical illusions ever placed before the — public. Also tricks with ecards, incantations, ete. : ‘ as No. 68. HOW TO DO CHEMICAL TRICKS.—Containing over — one hundred highly amusing and instructive tricks with chemicals, — By A. Anderson. Handsomely illustrated. cae ‘Sil No. 69. HOW TO DO SLEIGHT OF HAND.—Contaiming-over — fifty of the latest and best tricks\used by magicians. Also contain- — his te secret of second sight. Fully illustrated. By A. Anderson, — _No. 70. HOW TO MAKE MAGIC TOYS.—C -Containing full — directions for making Magic Toys and devices of many kinds. By — A; Anderson. Fully illustrated. me Asi) No. 73. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH. NUMBERS.—Showing 5 many curious. tricks with figures and the magic of numbers. By A. — Anderson, , Fully illustrated. Te : No. 75. HOW TO BECOME A all, giving examples in electricity, hydraulics, magneria oe ae ook published,’ LET
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: THE STAGE. ; No. +i. @HH BOYS OF NEW YORE BND MEN'S JOKH -BOOK.—C@ittaining a great variety of the latest jokes used by the Most famous end men. No amateur minstrels is complete without this wonderful little book. : No. 42. THE BOYS OF NEW YORE STUMP SPHAKER— Containing a varied assortment of stump speeches, Negro, Dutch nd frish. Also end men’s jokes. Just the thing for home amuse- ent and amateur shows, No. 45. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK MINSTREL GUIDE ND JOKH BOOK.—Something new and very instructive, Every doy should obtain this book, as it contains full instructions for or- | anizing an amateur minstrel troupe, |. No. 65. MULDOON’S JOKES.—This is one of the most original joke books ever published, and it is brimful of wit and humor. It ontains a large collection of songs, jokes, conundrums, ete, of Terrence Muldoon, the great wit, humorist, and practical joker of She day. “Every wk ifort can enjoy a good substantial joke should obtain a copy immediately. 3 No. 79. HOW TO BHCOMB AN ACTOR.—Containing com- plete instructions how to make up for various characters on the stage; together with the duties of the Stage Manager, Prompter, Scenic Artist and Property Man. By a prominent Stage Manager. No. 80. GUS WILLIAMS’ JOKH BOOK.—Containing the lat- @st jokes, anecdotcs and finny stories of this world-renowned and eyer popular German comedian. Sixty-four pages; handsome ‘Colored cover containing & half-tone photo of the author. 4 HOUSEKEEPING. “full instructions for constructing a window garden either in town or country, and the most approyed methods for raising beautiful ores at home. The most’ complete book of the kind ever pub- lished. ; » No. 30. HOW TO COOK.—One of the most instructive books on cooking ever published. It contains recipes for cooking meats, ‘fish, game, and oysters; also pies, puddings, cakes and all kinds of ‘Pastry, and a grand collection of recipes by one of our most popular soolks, Noy 37, HOW-TO. KEEP HOUSH.—It contains information for everybody, boys, girls, men and women; it will teach you how to make almost anything around the house, such as parlor ornaments, _brackets, cements, Aeolian harps, and bird lime for catching birds. ELECTRICAL. . ‘8cription of the wonderful uses of electricity and electro magnetism ; ; penthor with full instructions for making Electric Toys, Batteries, Se By George Trebel, A. M., M. D. Containing over fifty il- ustrations. pra ee No 64 HOW TO MAKE ELECTRICAL MACHINES.—Con- taining full directions for making electrical machines, induction Coils, dynamos, and many novel toys to be worked by electricity. iz, AOR. Bennett. Fully illustrated, ne : “No. 67. HOW TO DO ELECTRICAL TRIOCKS.—Containing a large collection of instructive and highly amusing @lectrical tricks, ogether with illustrations. By A, Anderson. ' instructions, by a practical professor (delighting multi- he rules and full directions for playing Huchre, Orib- Forty-Five, Rounce, Pedro nizzleg and conundrums, with key to same. A ully illustrated. By A. Anderson. ag! ETIQUETTE. secret, and onc that every young man desires to know -DECLAMATION. y 7. AOW TO RHECITE AND BOOK, as alte = RNee alles readings. RICE 10 No. 16. HOW TO KEEP *. WINDOW GARDEN.—Containing | _ No. 46. HOW TO MAKH:AND USB ELECTRICITY.—A de- No. 38. HOW TO BECOME YOUR OWN Sancho, Draw Poker, | Fours. and many other popular games of cards.’ TO DO PUZZLES.—Containing over three hun- |. 800K OF ETIQUETTH—It OF RECITATIONS. ular selections in use, comprising Dutch nkee and Irish dialect pieces, together ad PAlis splas te Say ly Seah i No. 31. HOW TO BECOME A SPEHAKER.—Containing four teen illustrations, giving the different positions requisite to become a good speaker, reader and elocutionist. containing gems from all the popular authors of prose and poetry. arranged ip the most simple and concise manner possible. o. 49. HOW 'TO DHBATH.—Giving rales for conducting. de- bates, outlines for debates, questions for discussion, and the best sources for procuring information on the questions given. SOCIETY. ; : ‘No. 3. HOW TO FLIRT.—The arts and wiles of flirtation are fully.explained by this little book. Besides the various methods of . tains a full Jist of the language and sentiment of flowers, which is interesting to everybody, both old and young. You cannot be happy. No. 4. HOW TO DANCH is the title of a new and handsome little book just issued by Frank Tousey. It contains full instrue- hee to dress, and full directions for calling off in all popular square ances, - x 5. HOW TO MAKH LOVH.—A complete guide to love, courtship and marriage, giving sensible advice, rules and etiquette to be obseryed, with many. curious and interesting things not gen- No, 17. HOW TO DRESS.—Containing full instruction in art of dressing and appearing well at home and abroad, giving No. 18. HOW TO BECOME BHAUTIFUL.—One of the brightest and most valuable little books over given to the world. female. The secret is simple, and almost costless. Read this book and be convinced how to,become beautiful. No, 7, HOW TO KHEP BIRDS.—Handsomely illustrated and containing full instructions for the management and training of the No. 39. HOW TO RAISE DOGS, PO RABBITS.—A useful and instructive book. Handsomely illuge: No. 40. HOW TO MAKE AND SHT TRAPS.—Including hints Also how to cure skins. Copiously illustrated. By J. Harrington Keene, Batis valuable book, giving instructions in collecting, preparing, mounting and preserving birds, animals and insects plete information as to the manner and method of raising, are taming, breeding, and managing all kinds of pets; also giving full illustrations, making it the most complete book of the kind ever published. ; : te MISCELLANEOUS. .. ‘ structive book, giving a complete treatise on chemistry; handkerchief, fan, glove, parasol, window and hat flirtation, it con- without one. tions in the art of dancing, etiquette in the ball-room and at parties, No. 5. erally known . selections of colors, material, and how to have them made up. the Everybody. wishes to know how to become beautiful, both male and BIRDS AND ANIMALS. . t canary, mockingbird, Roe okr ge Brod e ae ND : trated. By Ira Drofraw. on how to cateh moles, weasels, otter, rats, squirrels and birds, No. 50. HOW TO STUFF BIRDS. AND ANIMALS.—A No. 54, HOW 'TO KEEP AND MANAGE PMTS.—Giving com- instructions for making cages, ete. -Fully explained by twenty-eight No. 8. HOW TO BECOME A SCIENTIST.—A useful and the ‘periments in acoustics, mechani¢s, mathematics, on 4 ee a ‘rections for making fireworks, colored fires, and gas balloons. This. book tb led, ‘abook wae SOE ae etn MAKE CANDY A. complete hand-book for No. 14. HOW ing a! f dy, ice-cream, syrups, essences, etc, ete. ming al OW TO BHGOME AN AUTHOR -Contaiaing full information regarding choice of subjects, the use of words and the manner of preparing and submitting manuscript.. Also containing valuable information as to the neatness, legibility and general com- peieoy of manuscript, essential to a successful author. By Prince iland, it : t DOCTOR.—A won- derful book, containing usefal and practical information in the. _ treatment of ordinary diseases and ailments common to every — family. Abounding in useful and effective recipes for general com- also how to make Photographic Magic wane see ee We ‘Captain W. I We
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g = we- Latest Issues oe SO EHE LIBERTY BOYS OF ’76” CoNnTAINING REVOLUTIONARY STORIES Cotorep Covers. * 32 Pars Prics 5 Crnts 876 The Liberty Boys’ Secret; or, The Girl Spy of Brooklyn. { 381 The Liberty Boys’ Gold Chest; or, The Old Tory’s Secret. 377 The Liberty Boys in the Swamp; or, Fighting Along the | 382 The Liberty Boys Helping Harden; or, Spy Against Spy. _ Santee. j 388 The Liberty Boys at Cherry Valley; or, Sais with | %e _ 878 The Liberty Boys’ Compact; or, Bound by an Oath. Brant. ‘879 The Liberty Boys’ Hollow Square; or, ei off the | 384 The Liberty Boys on Picket Duty; or, Tees the Worst Hessians. of Dangers. ’ 880 The Liberty Boys’ Countersign; or, Hot Work at the | 385 The Liberty Boys and the Queen’s Rangers; or, Raiding. : Forts. © the Raiders, it { Oup anp Youne Kine Brapy, Dernorivas “SECRET SERVICE” a _ ConorEp Covers. (32° Pagss, PRICE 5 ‘Cee 5 479 The Bradys After the Policy King; or, The Plot Against 483 ‘The Bradys’ Lost Link; or, The Case that Was. Never - Captain Kane, Finished, j w 480 The Bradys and the Dynamite Gang; or, Ten Hours of] 4g4 The Bradys and the “Prince of Pittsburg”; or, A Meee Deadly Peril. f of the Blast Furnace. 481 The Bradys and the’ Fan Tan Queen; or, Lost in the| 495 The Bradys and the Silver Seal; of, The streiseuk of Al Heart of Chinatown. - Clews. eee ae wi 1 ; 482 The Bradys in the White Light Su tik or, Tracking | 486 The Bradys Tracking “Joe the Ferret”; on, The Worst’; / the Broadway Sharpers. Crook in the World. Gee Nesey: Pat ele ESR ete Shr Sb Se LE Cs Ea ee ie ¢ : ; \ ah “WILD WEST WEEKLY’ A Macazine Contarnine Stories, Skercues, Ero., or Western Lire figs ia a ie Cororep Coyzrs. 2), © 82 Baers, >; Price 5 Cents 282 Young Wild Wesi’s Cavalry ‘Charge; or, The Shot that, 287 Young Wild West's Ripping Round-Up; or, ; Saved Arietta’s Life, ‘ Prairie Peril. 283 Young Wild West's Three Days’ Hunt, or, The Raiders | 155 young wild West's Toughest Trail; or, ‘Baffled By | of Red Ravine, — 1 dits, 84 Yo Wild West and “Silver Stream”; or, The Whit a ‘ ans . ne 289 Young Wild West at “Porbidden ’ Pass,” and How 4 Ar Girl Captive of the Sioux. etta Paid the Toll. i “285. Young Wild West and the Disputed Claim; or, Arietta’s | 290 young Wild West and the Indian” beste or, Golden Shower, — Charge of the “Red” Brigade. 286 Young Wild West and the Greaser Guide: or, The Trap 291 Young Wild West and the Masked pena be that Failed to Work. oiyh Ready Rope, ° { For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address onr eceipt of price, 5 cents per copy, in. money or postage stamps FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24 Union sarhegitee said IF You. WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS ot our ales and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this office direct. Cut ants an in the following Order Blank and send it to us with the price of the weeklies you want and his will send them to you — retugn mail, POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. - 3 Peete eee ec deen ee tees ecueecesnenseeseeneregucecesccensseeusasaaseusuensneuecessesensweusns 4 ia F FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24. Union Square, New York. ies to oe i. ee cneevas pay an coe Duar Srr—Enclosed find. .....cents for which please send me: Ig Nea : Se opie of ; WORK AND WIN, Nos.. ee ae ree PLUCK “ASD. LUCK, Lerma ea N f
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32 PAGES Contains All Sorts of Stories LATEST ISSUES: Dick Decker, the Brave Young Fireman. By Wx-Fire-Chief War- en. Buffalo Charlie, the Young Hunter. . (A True Story of the West.) By An Old Scout. The Two Boy Brokers; or, From Messenger Boys to Millionaires. By A Retired Banker, AND Beautifully Colored Covers 486 487 LUCK PRICE 5 CENTS ber ep Shot; or, The Pride of the Trappers. By An OU) Shiner, The New York Bootblack; or, The Secret of a Boy’s Lif By Allan Arnold. Whistling Walt, {A Story of the Ameri Revolution.) By Gen. Jas. A. Gordon. The Boy Maroons; or, Cast Away for Two Years, By Richard Montgomery. Fred lame, The Hero of Greystone No. 1. By Hx-Fire-Chi The Champion Spy. 54 Under the Turban; or, A Yankee Boy’s Trip to Mecca. By Warden. Allyn Draper. 491 ore be hig ake ca the Bowery; or, The Boy Slaves of Neg “ > Jen’l. LAS ork. NA yo raper. S06 bite cee Pride of the Continental Army. By Gen'l. Jas. A.| soo Harry, Dare: or, A New "York Boy in the Navy. By Capt. ‘Tho P oh ueye ilson 56 The Boy Merchant; or, The Pluck and Luck of Harry Graham. | 493 The Little Unknown; or, The Young Hero of the Reign of Terrop By H. K. Shackleford. sy Allan Arnold. = Railroad Ralph, the Boy Engineer. By Jas. C,. Merritt. The Toy Vilot of Lake Michigan. Dy Capt. Thos, H, Wilson. That Boy of Barton’s; or, The Luck of a Lad in Wall Street. By H. K. Shackleford. Lost in the Blizzard; The Snow-Bound School By Howard Austin. Driven Ashore in Lost Latitudes; or, The Strange Story of the Skeleton Island. By Capt. Thos. H. Wilson. The Boss of the Messenger Boys; or, Born to Good Luck, By Richard Montgomery. The Irish Rip Van Winkle; or, The Wild Man of the Round or, Boys. 498 499 500 Jack Quick; or, The Boy Engineer. By Jas. C. Merritt. Lost in the Great Basin; or, The Wonderful Underground Cl ty An Old Scout. From Bootblack to Senator; or, Bound to Make His Way. 4H Howard Austin. : The Seven Tigers of the Mountain; or, All for Love and Glo By Richard R, Montgomery. Slippery Steve* or, The Cunning Spy of the Revolution, ( Story of the American Revolution), By General Jas. A é Blown Out to Sea; or, Lost Among a Strange Race. Thos. H. Wilson. The Boy Volunteers; or, The Boss Fire Company of the Towk a Tower. By Allyn Draper. . . 1" sy Iix-Fire-Chief Warden. Zs 464 ae one Pole; or, the. Secret ‘of the Arctic Circle. By Berton | 501 The Swamp Doctor; or, The Man Witeh, By. Allyn, Drapes ie 465 Rupert of Roanoke: or, Mite, Bos Rangers of the American Revo- | °9 TOT Re mana or, From Engineer to President. By Jas lution. By Gen’l. James A. Gordon. ¢ ret o} 466 Castaway Castle; or, The Home of the Lost Explorers. By Allan | °°8 ba ee ee or, The Struggles of a. Brave Orphans Arnold. * 504 Kit Carson, the King of the Scouts. By An Old Seout. 407 The Boy Prospectors; or, The Trail of the Club-Foot Bear. By} 595 Lost Among the Slave Hunters: or An Dania Boy's Adve An Old Scout. re tures in Africa, By Richard R.. Montgomery. a } 468 The Wreck of the “Columbus”; or, Abandoned in the Ice. By] 506 Rattling Rube; or. The Jolly Young Scout and Spy. (A Story Howard: Austin, ; the American Revolution.) By Gen'] Jas. A, Gordon. 469 Among the Gauchos; or, A Yankee Boy in South America. By]507 The Doomed City; or, The Hidden Foe of Plummerdale. Richard R. Montgomery. i Howard Austin. 470 The Quaker Boy Spy; or, General Washington's Best Aide. A] 508 The Pride of the Bee er ak or, Burke Halliday, the Boy | Story of the American Revolution. By Gen’l.. Jas. A. Gordon. Cal Carter, the Boy Lawyer; or, ‘A Fee of One Million Dollars. By Allan Arnold, The Board of Trade Boys; or, The Young Grain Speculators of man. By IEx-Pire-Chief Warden. ee Boy Mutineers; or, Slavery or Death. Be Captr T ilson. Always Ready; or, The Best Mngineer on the Road. By C. Merritt. Chicago, By A Retired Broker. 511 B 1 a Deserter; or, Boy Rivals in Love and War. B. 4783 Haunted; or, The Curse of Gold. By H. K. Shackleford. : ranged Gordox: _ by 5 474 Spee ai rince; or, The Boy Bareback Rider. By Berton] 512 A Scout at' 16; or, A Boy’s Wild Life on the Fronti weet ertrew. Old Seout. ATS ree Rarsll, Lae panecereré Son. (A True Temperance Story.) | 513 Diamond Dave, the Waifs or, The “Search for the Great B ; y Stone. By Richard R. Montgomery. 476 The Marked Moccasin; or, Pandy Ellis’ Pard. By An Old Scout.| 514 The Little Corsiean; or, “Whe Boy of the Barricades. By too i Liberty Hose; or, The Pride of Plattsville. By Bx-Fire-Chiet Arnold. Warden f 515 Weadlight Tom, the Boy Engineer. By Jas. C. Merritt. 8 kmon aoe Sun Worshipers; or, Two New York Boys in Peru.| 516 The Sealed Despatch ; or. The Blind Boy of Moscow. Tey “Al Phe Ty ‘Richard R. Montgomery. sabe Arnold. 4 a Engineer. Steve, fhe Prince of the Rail. By Jas. C. Diernitt: af 517 one Gene Rates or, The Boys Who Fo ought tor Washingté pte Wall_Sureot. “Tamb""; » OF, The Boy Who Broke the Brokers. BY) 515’ nino, the Wouder of, the wir, A Story Ohvelrons bate, 481 © Cham or, The Leaders of Glendale Academy. By Allyn Draper.| _ Berton Bertrew. 4 4 432 se 3 Little Swamp Irox. Tale of General Marion and His Men,| 519 A Fireman at Sixteen; or, Through Wiame and Stoke, | By } Fire-Chief Warden. 20 100° Feet Aboye the Honsetops: or, The Mystery of the | Church, Steeple. By Allyn Draper. y Gen'l. Jas, A. Gordon. 483 Newstoy Nick; or, The Boy with a Hidden Million. By Howard 484 North Pole Nat: or, By Capt. H. Wilson. Thos. 485 Thirteen White Ravens; or, The Ghostly Riders of the Forest. By Allyn Draper. The Secret of the Frozen Deep. nM “¢ 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, N. yx IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS of our Weeklies and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained from this office direct... Cut out and fil in the following Order Blank and send it to us with the price of the weeklies you w ant and we will send them to you by return mail, POSTAGH STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24 Union Square, New York. ebtel soul’ a aharate '« Sy ale lila euennehe Drar Sir—Hnclosed find......cents for which please send me: ; ; «ae .c6pies of WORK*AND WIN, Nos....... hs NEN VRB WV EY. NG. ij ou ores ioe TOE «e's Plug leon nian anaeeae WEA) WBS PWR ICT Nt NOSIS os cbc odes. x oe elon o 4.0 sophas'ese Weal Meet ge fue 9 alte eet ae THE LIBERTY BOYS OF "6, PLUCK AND LUCK, Nos.... SUCRE ASR VME HONOR? 2! srs: clu) diets «24 Wie wild alseiele aiereanveMeundele olga eel tegyna yas ota: Maan tet amin Aa RAVER, AND: PORT ENB WHER LiMn Nose ocisieie ce e/shersisleve ners + le el cieges > alsa ’als) «amma elem Pen-Conhwiiand Booka N08... 3. Waoldi iss. oc0s ocleavle vale ons ole Clete eles AMR vio lien nr State. Om meee eR Mee Cem t eee ewer nee renee en eran ae eee serene ssseseeee = see em mm ewe wt eee eee reer rere reer ene e ee ee Feet eeeH ease sene neve ss “ “ seas “ “ Bs MAIO cornea amr tne aa reek einnet did Nome cilan: Mink ote wits POLOWAY (os) aioe