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“THAPPY
DAYS e—
CHAPTER XIL
THE fine residence Of! Lawyer Bent was
one of the sights of Newtown. The owner
had spent a large fortune in beautifying
its architecture and furnishing its inter-
“The purpose of the two young firebugs
to destroy this magnificent home was cer-
tainly a diabolical one,
‘That were in earnest, however,
thrilling events Soon prov
One night, just as tarry had turned in
and was preparing to enjoy a good night’s
sleep, the fire bells str
In an instant the young fireman was out
of his and frantically. donning his
clothes, .
The nex' xt moment he was out of doors
and running like mad for the engine house.
He was the first one there.
Arthur Bent was also a member of Zero
Company, but for certain good reasons he
did not turn up. But quickly one after
another came piling in.
Harry had thrown open the doors and
run out the long lines of ro,
a-few moments “nore all t
“ boys” were on the line and dragging the
fire ‘engine after them. Down the
street they ran like ma .
‘ound corners and across vacant
squares, until many were spent of breath
and ready todrop, Then they saw the red
flames against te sky,
“
"sa re
“e Where | is it?”
“Tt's a dwelling !”
These were the first panting cries, Then
a gasp of horror escaped Hustling Harry's
ips.
Re My soul !” he cried,
residence of Lawyer B:
The effect of this upon the fire laddies
was depressing. Slowly up the hill they
toiled with the heavy engine. “
They were the first company at the fire.
Quickly the lines of hose were laid an
work was begun at the pump, The first
stream of water was thrown upon the fire,
“It’s the elegant
en
that nobody was in the house. Tle went.
quickly through the crowd inquiring for
Mr, Bent or any of the other:
But nobody had seen them.” At this mo-
ment, however, a great cry went up from
the crow
Some one had appeared in a window far
up in the third story. Ilere was a balcony
and out onto it he clambered. It was
Arthur Bent.
The young lawyer was ina completely
exhausted condition, and with difficulty
clung to his position. He had escaped
from the overwhelming smoke just in
ved just then an agonized cry went up
and a man came tottering through the
crowd. Ile was like an insane perso:
“Oh, my children !" he shrieked. CSave
them—save my children!” -
It was Lawyer Bent.
Where he had come from no one could
say just then, It was afterward learned,
however, that he and Mrs. Bent had stag-
gered from a rear door and been carried i in
nt toa neighbor's house. The
ante had all made their escape,
But Arthur and Lucy had been cut off in
their rooms by the smoke, Arthur had
managed to crawl out onto the baleony.
There he hung half conscious, full sixty
feet from the
‘oun
Harry Martin took in the situation at a] ed,
plance and aay the of his friend. His
osoni swelled,
Strong men stood a,
‘The general verdict eee to be that it
was too late to save either the youth or
his sister, There were no volunteers, - But
Ageing Ilarry sent forth a clarion cry:
Bei up the ladders !”
he cry was echoed down the bill,
“ Bring ladders |"
Stron; een eons ‘rushing « sup. . The
chict said to the young foreman:
is idle, Harry, Before you can reach
him the flames will have eat him u
shall try !” was Harry’ 5 rigid reply.
ed the ers.
longest reached the balcony, But
Bent was wholly unable_to, avail himself
of this chance to Gescond in safety.
Tongues of flam ot out through the
rounds of the ladder. The building swayed
as if the outer wall was about tot all, But
Hustling Harry did not heed
He saw only that his ‘thea was in dead-
; that death would be his certain
fate unless he got help at once. The risk
was nothing to Ilarry Martin,
p the ladder he we:
‘Tike crowd cheered and yelled.
up the young hero wen
fle did not falter.
Smoke enveloped him, hung in dense
yellow clouds about hig face, tried 0
smother him, 2 he seemed nigh
dropping from. ‘the *jadder. But he did
not,
Up,and
Now he reached the edge of the balcony.
The smoke was now so dense that he was
lost from sig’
What. teenied an age passed. The people
groaned with suspense, Was their hero
gone to his death?
This query ran from lip to lip. Paces
blanched and hearts grew cold,
the last moment a whiff of wind litied the
withe ladder swayed. A form was seen
t was Iustling Marry !
oulders was a senseless
figure, Slowly own the Jadder the young
fireman made his way, Ile could not slide
for fear of dislodging his precious load.
But he seemed to revive when the night
air ‘struck his faci
e came. ” faster. Ready hands
seized and sustained him as he reached the
fround. Mr, Bent rushed upon him de-
tndous with joy.
9 arry, you are a hero!” he
shouted, ‘You have brought my boy
Oh, he will live; be must
back to me!
live "
hysician hastily placed his hand on
aArthne’ wrist, His verdict was awaited
with breathless interest.
“* {Te lives,” he saids “ ‘There i isnoinjury.
fe i is overcame, by smoke,
“Thank God!” said Hustling Harry.
But now the agonized father again turned
his face toward the burning
“ Now, if only my Lucy could t be “saved !”
he cried,
In an instant Harry fumed upon him,
“Ts she i in ihe housey”
es, yes |” was S the reply.
“ “Where! Which isher room? Answer
quick
“Tt is in the DPR corner of the house !”
cried Mr, Bent. ‘*Oh, save her, my boy,
and wina father’s blessing !”
(To BE CONTINUED,}
bo
FOR LISTS OF THE BEST LIBRARIES
PUBLISHED SEE (6th PACE.
eo
“
(This story commenced in No, 229.)
Hal Hart of Harvard «
College Life at Cambridge.
By R. T. EMMET,
Author of “Cheek and Chance,” “ Nobody's
Son,” “The BB. B,” © Talking
Tom,” ** Remember
Maine,'” ete, ete.
CHAPTER XIX,
WILLARD ENCOURAGES IAL—BOB
JARVIS HAS A NEW SCHEME,
“Do you. call that rowing?” asked Dick
Elwood, pi as he spoke to the trial
Kight of hich lfal Hact was stroke.
ose fellows are not doing at all bad-
ly,” answered Paul Willard, to tom the
~ | question wag addresse
lad you're satisfied,” growled Elwood.
son mn, , thinking you ‘tal differently
PAUL
sorPillard, the coach, was directing most
of his attention to the ’Varsity Eight, for,
of course, in them his interest was center:
and he took little notice of Elwood,
who stood at his elbow criticising the two
Willard turned to Elwood,
ere, Dick!” he cried. “A few
minutes ago you were Jaughing at the trial
Eight. They went off a e start with
a lead of two lengths, Tow much ahead
do you think they are now
Tard to say,
“Well, Lcan tell you, They’ve covered
nearly half the distance, and they've pret-
y well kept their original lead, which is
eat work for a half trained crew against
a lot of men who have been rowing togeth-
er for we
“The won't keep that lead much long-
er,” sai Elwood.
No one expects them to do so. It’s
wonderful that Hart’s managed todo so
wel
The stroke of the wvarsity Eight, finding
his men did not gain, called on them for
aneffort, At the same time he increased
is pace to forty ntrakes | aminute. As h
did A HO Hal quickened to
“Suddenly
down to your work, boys!" cried
Tial. “* We'll s see if we can’t w
The trial race was fast econ as ex
iting as if it been a real contest, and
everybody was watching the boats now
with. the greatest interest, cheering them
on in their gallant struggle.
fal was making the most desperate ex-
ertions, determined that he would take
this chance of showing Willard what he
coulddo, At three-quarters of a mile his
boat was still ahead, and until they were
one hundred and fifty y yards fr from home,
the ’Varsity Eight w
Then, despite Hal's encouraging cries,
his men went to pieces, Number ‘wo and
Number Four stopped rowing altogether,
quite pumped gut, and most of the others
were nearly as
Th Varsity “Bight shot past with the
erea eatest ease now, and a minuto later Paul
Willard cried: “ase al alll”
“That will do,” he shouted. “There's
no use in kiling yourselves,”
“T hop gave them a good trial, Mr.
Willard, Re said Hal,
as his boat drew w up
near the’ launch,
“ My men collapsed, un-
fortunat ely.’
“You ce Ttainly did give them a ood
trial, Hart,” answered the coach. “
may get ‘back to the boathouse now,
Dick,” he said, turning to Elwood. “That
fellow Hart is a bit of a wonder.. After
that severe spurt he seems almost as fresh
as when he started. If there’ 8 a vacancy
in ‘he Eight I shall put hin m in.”
Dick’s eyes blazed with passion. It en-
raged him very much to hear Hal praised,
and he determined to prevent him from
gaining that coveted position, a place in
the University
At the boathouse Tral was congratulated
by iM friends, and Jack Kennedy praised
him warmly,
“You'll be in the boat yet, Hal,” said
Jack, quietly, “Willard as good as said
sO. i think Elwood will die with rage
when he sees that, Hello! there's that in-
teresting yout! arvis, sneakin
around, waiting for Elwood, By jingo I
like to get behind them for half an hour
and listen to their talk, Tt would certain-
ly be interestin;
If Jack could ‘have heard it he would
undoubtedly have thought so, They had
met at a place pregiously agreed upon,
and as they walked slowly back to El-
wood's room they talked freely. Dick was
ina very bad temper, an arvis would
not have submitted to his insults except
for the fact that it suited him to do so.
arvis could not afford to quarrel with E
rood, for he was living upon the latter's
ne
See here,” said Jarvis, speaking hotly,
for he was fast getting as ma Dick,
I will have to part, Dick, if you
go on, talking this way. i'm not your
ave.”
“Pretty much like it,” laughed Elevoog,
*You'r 7
ay on,”
better get some one else to do your dirty
work. Good-day, I'm
nd Jarvis started ‘ol guicky i in the op-
posite direction to that in which Elwood's
rooms lay. wood rushed after Bim an
placed his nand upon his shoul.
Old f ” said Elwood, speaking in
a kid tone yang ado, ting an aporogetic
manner, “you must forgiv .
I'm hopping mad, andI tell 5 you it's enough
to make me, Willard says he's going to
put Hart ‘n the "Varsity Light.”
La
Jarvis forgot his own grievances when
he heard this astounding piece of news,
and turned and faced Elwood at once,
“Ah! Ww, you see, I had reason to be
out of temper:
you
“Oh, yes,
sure of What yor
. Willard | old me so himself.”
“You didn’t cut much of a figure at the
Wilson's 's masked ball last night, Dick,”
sai
“e What's. that got to do with the matter
we're discussing. Stick to the subject.”
«TN v. you how it bears upon it. If
Iial Mart ete a place in the boat he’ I be
almost a god in Alice Wilson's eyes,”
“r know that, worse luck.”
ow “are you off for money, Dick?”
asked Bob, abruptly.
“T suppose you want some,” sneered El-
wood. “A pretty use you made of what I
gave
“You spoiled Grersthin at the ball.
But, say, what's the good for you and me
to be fighting all the time Becti is, I must
have a few hund dred dolla:
un
“That's what I said.”
hay by don't you ask me for everything
I You are sure you couldn't. do with
less “than afew hundred dollars?” asked
Elwood, mockingly,
e@ sure, Tiles I have it by noon
to- morrow, Boston won't know me any
longer.”
Then I'm afraid Boston will have to
You forgive me, don't
I suppose I must, Are you
he | put up with the loss of her distinguished
citize
et shall have value for your money,
te
“In what way?”
“If you will give me the money, say four
hundred dollars, I promise you to work a
ame that will make you solid with Alice
vilson, real solid, I tell you.”
“Tf you ould do t! at I'd give you a
thousand, dollars 1» etied Elwood, excited:
ly. ‘Only you’ve promised me so often,
I'm beginning to doubt your ability to act
up to your contract,”
1. | do}
you like,
d
“This time there won't be any mistake,
Dick, I give you my word. Now, listen;
to-morrow Alice and her cousin Kate are
going | 0 drive into Boston—to-morrow
mo
“ viet of it?”
ouehey will be driven by a friend of
ONT bo ”
“Phil Oliver, He's working fora livery
stable now, and it’s from him I got my in-
formation.
“Ty suppo: se you don’t want me to change
places with Oliver, do you?” asked iT: wood,
sarcastically, “fand act as cabman”
Xo, for you have to pla: nother part
in the business, Nea. theplabanal ground,
Dick, the girls’ carringe will run away.”
“But they'll be Killed!" gasped Dick,
astounded at what he heard,
“Not at alt laughed Jarvis, “‘This
running away will be v regular fake, a
sham, in fact, The horse will appear to
run away, and Oliver will seem as if he had
lost control, bat | he won't do anything of
the just as the girls are
frantic mith feat? and the people in the
streets are panic-stricken, some one will
furious steed, and be a hero.
. Dick Elwood,
you must be ‘the some one |”
CHAPTER XX,
DICK ELWoOD'S BRAVER i-IIAL TO
ESCUE,
For a time Elwood thought Jarvis was
completely crazy, and he looked at him in
“Never
was inore serious in my life; in fact, Dick,
I'm rather proud of the w ‘hole thin,
“Well, there’s no accountin; for ta stes,
old fellow. I don't think you'd look at it
in quite the same light, Bob, if you b had to
stop the runaway horse instea
* Psh d do it willingly “for a few
Mars,” "answered Bo ut, of course,
that won’t do, You must be the hero, or
it’s no foo. ”
“T may be killed 1” gasped Elwood.
“Then it will be sour, own fault, entirely
your own fault, There’s not the slightest
dan ery for Phil Oliver will have the rei ins,
and he’}] pull the porse Up assoon as you're
oO seize the le. You can see
Phil yourself and have atalk with him if
“Til do it,” said Elwood, sullenly, after
a little thou ht. “The end
worth it. Tel) Oliver that it ie fixes ue
things tight, he shall ha ave sonble the
amount you have agreed to give him,
«Why not see hin yourse, ir
‘Because it’s safer for me not to risk it.
ful row i anyone, had the slightest suspi-
cion of our plans,
“For m. rown sake I shall be careful,”
replied Bob, ‘*Don't forget the time and
place where you are to be to-morrow.”
‘**Tshall be there,
Elwood looked after Jarvis, and as he
did so the idea passed through his head
to call his chum back and tell him he
would have nothing to do with the desper-
ate scheme he had suggested, but no
sooner had this thought occurred to him
than Alice's evident liking for Hal Hart
impressed itself vividly on his mind an
rendered him furious,
“T'll to it at all cost,” he cried, savagely,
“‘ whether to myself or Alice !”
As for Phil Oliver, the poor creature he
bad bought with his dollars to do. his evil
work, he m a thought.
o far ‘beneath Dick to be
worthy of notice,
More than one of his friends noticed
ow uneasy he was during the day, and at
the lecture the following moruing he was
quite unable to keep his thoughts on the
pubject PPR, which the lecturer was talk-
saw nothing in front of him
but, a vision of a runaway horse, a terror-
stricken girl, and at the end of all—a fear-
ful catastrophe!
More than once he had to wipe his fore-
head, for cold drops stood upon it.
“Am I losing my nerve?" he muttered.
“ Looks like it! I wouldn’t have anybody
see me in this state for the world. Som
fellows would take to drink ot they felt
like Ido now, Thank goodness, I haven’t
come to that yet!”
Dick was very glad when the lecture was
over and he was free to get outin the open
air again, The air cooled him, and better
thoughts once more came to him, so that
again he thought of washing his hands of
the whole busines
Unfortunately at this instant, he hap-
ened to see Hal Hart walking along with
ack Kennedy an N Varner on their
way from the Law School, and the three ap-
peared to be so happy, that Dick's envious
nature t the better of him, and his
hatred of Hal increased.
“Why didn't Jarvis make the Wis
thing complete?" he growled,
cou. adn’ ‘t he have arranged to have had
rush out, grasp the horse’s head, stop the ,