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HAPPY DAYS
Could it be his beautiful home that was
The idea fairly made Frank sick, for the
safety of Ruth was a matter that concerned
hima great deal, jus'
ere’s the pate te asked a running
“Don’t know exactly,”. was the reply,
“but someone told me it was the Stanton
mansion up.on Linden Roa
This answer made Frank tel more ner-
yous than ever.
He turned into Main street just in time
to see the Salamander boys come rushing
out of the engine-house with the: engine,
some of the fellows putting on hats, coats
and other things as they sped alon
ramp! tramp! tramp! pattered the feet
of the double column, and as they came
abreast of Frank, he ran out and joined
7 Pe
“Murrabt
of the boy:
“Fall in ‘there! " Denny shouted to the
young fireman.
“All right, captain,” cheerily answered
the boy, as he grasped the vacant place on
the rope where he belonged.
“Your togs aré on the engine, Frank,”
Here comes Frank!” cried one
~ said one of the
boys.
“T'll fall back and get them!” he panted.
He_had to swing himself on the engine
and put on his rubber coat, boots afd hel-
\met, but a minute later he was at his
. Place on the line again, and was doing his
share at pulling the engine along,
There were..people swarming from all
“directions, and. it looked as ol everybody
in Reg dbank ‘was in the str
the boys could see the fire glowing
with oe dull, smoky hue ahead, and with
one eaccord ‘they realized that it was the
Stanton mansion.
A chill of horror darted through Frank.
His. worst’ fear was realized.
People who arrived upon the scene be-
: fore the firemen scattered right and left to
Jet, the ; Salamander boys pass on’ 710,
burning house. | .~
There was.a 1 fire-plug close. by, and ai
the engine paused before it, the well- “ried
boys sprang to their various posts, and
a very short: space of time had the engine
coupled to the hydra
While this was going 0 , the hose-car-
riage came speeding up to” the, spot, and
its crew began | letting down ‘the long
lengths of hose’as it went along straight
\ toward the burning building.
Length after length was Said out, some
of the boys making the-couplings as fast
as sce section was reeled off and dropped.
1 worked with the precision of
5
wel drilied soldiers.
Denny left the details to ‘his’ foreman and,
yelling at Frank to follow him, he ran to-
ward the burning house.
‘. All the'servants were scattered around
the ‘grounds, frightened and t6o* panic-
stricken to do anything. but shout useless
orders, .
A squad of policemen had come running
along’ with the crowd, and they now pro-
ceeded to establish a fire line, keeping the
crowd back from the danger zone, for they
-were all pressing forward to get as near to
_. the blaze as possible,”
n the“meantime Denny had reached a
spot pretty near the main entrance to the
building, with Frank at his side, and was
gazing up at the mansion to see what the
chances were of saving the hi
“Help! . Help!” came a shout ‘just then
in the voice of a man, and ag Frank shot
a glance at the building, he caught sight
of Mr, Stanton standing in the main hall
behind a sheet of fire that was cutting off
his path to the outer air.
In a cloud of smoke and whirling flames
the man was driven back out of sight the
_ next momen :
my
CHAPTER Vill.
J TRYING TO SAVE Is SWEETHEART.
“Prank had a pike in his hand as he ran
upon the broad piazza, and he pulled his
rubber’ coat up around his head as he faced
the raging torrent of spark-laden smoke
, that poured out in his face.
The heat was terrible,-and was puffing
“in fitful gusts into his lungs, giving him an
awful sensation.
He tutned his back to it, gulped in a few
. deep breaths and, having prepared himself,
e.made a rush ‘at the fiery” doorway and
wey t through. - .
. “Mr. Stanton!” shouted the boy.
» The old man had seen him suddenly leap
right {hrough that sheet of fire from the
outer world, and he’ was gazing at the boy
my the wildest astonishment as Fr: ‘ank
: ery aia you come in here?” he asked
. hearsely.
“To Sot you out, of course!” replied the
boy, as he tore off his rubber coat And hur-
ned to ‘the side of. the Dale and suffering
ma:
ee you have risked :your life for me!”
“That's part.of my buSiness as a fire-
man. Were! Wrap this coat around your
heat and plunge right through that sheet
f fire. It won’t: hurt you, It js your only
salvation, sir.” :
“No! T can’t oot" You
“You must! -If you refuse again, I'll
knock you senseless, and drag you out!”
exclaimed the boy, resolutely, “Why should
you remain? re you lacking the courage
to do what I did to get in?”
“No, it isn’t that,” answered the gov-
ernor, slowly, “It is because my daughter
is lying senseless upstairs somewhere in
danger of her life, I want to go in search
of her and try to get her o
“Your daughter is here "ye et?” gasped
Frank in horror,
“Yes. She is upstairs, I-—I——
But that was as far as he got, for the
heat and smoke he breathed, and the awful
nervous strain he was under, caused him
to collapse, and he began to totter, and fell
to the floor senseless.
Frank was in a panic for an instant, but
he rapidly recovered his coolness and, seiz-
ing the man, he wrapped the coat around
his head.
There was an expensive imported rug
on the floor, and be snatched it up and
enveloped himself
Then he boldly picked up the senseless
figure from the floor and, staggering under
the man’s weight, he headed for the door.
He went through the curtain of fire with
his burden, and reached the piazza in plain
view of the multitude, who set up a wild
cheer for the boy hi of the flames who
had risked his life. ‘to. save that of the
man.
Several of the firemen rushed forward
and relieved the boy of his burden, and
he got rid of the burning rug and put on
his. coat again.
“I am going back for his daughter,
is still in the house!” replied Frank.
Spat! went a stream of water from. the
hose which had just got into play, and it
struck the open doorway, and steam began
to hiss.
The nozzleman had seen Frank rushing
toward the entrance,. and he was deter-
mined:to do all he was able to make the
boy’s progress safer.
To see in the hall was now-almost im-
possible, but he ‘groped his way along and,
following the wall, he presently reached
the staircase. .
t was-on fire at the side, but he ran
ip to the hall above and, coughing and
choking, he found a window and opened
it.
She
hi Gulping in the fresh air, he revived a
ttl
“If I only knew where she was?” he mut-
tered, as he ran down the smoky hall with
his hands on the wall.
7 “Help! Help! "came a faint ery just
en,
On a few steps further he felt a door.
The sound seemed to come from behind
it, and he pushed it open and stepped into
a smoke-filled bedroom.
“Ruth! Ruth!” he shouted wildly.
But he received no rep!
Just then, however,:a tremendous sheet
of fire darted up outside of the front win-
dows and threw a crimson glare into the
room,
By its light he saw the figure of the girl
lying stretched upon the floor near one
of the windows,
“Great heavens!" burst from his lips.
“Is she dea
Over to her side he rushed and, | falling
down upon his knees, he lifted her head
and glared down into her pallid face.
She was breathing gaspingly.
“Fainted!” he commented, and his heart
gave a great throb of joy.
e dashed open one of tine windows and,
lifting her up to the opening, he held her
there until she got some of the heat and
smoke out of her lungs and showed signs
of recuperating.
"When she came to realize her surround-
ings, she gazed at him in, the greatest
amazement and, flinging her arms around
his neck, burst into tears.
He snatched a blanket from the bed and
furs it over
“Come!” he muttered. “we haye no
time ‘to lose. We must try to get down the
stairs before the fire cuts off our’ escape.”
They hastened to the door, but when they
reached the hall a cry of intense horror
escaped the girl, and he recoiled, shudger-
phe stairs are all in flames!” she gasped
tremblingly.
An awful gust ‘of fire’ and sparks now
shot up almost in their faces from the
stair-well and drove them back into the
room.
- “Get back near the open window, Ruth!”
ordered the young fireman, as he closed
the hall door to shut off the draught.
have got to by the front way. Look
cut forthe little jets of fire springing up
through the floor, By thunder, we can't
stay here Jong Ww with that raging furnace be-
neath this " ‘
She sped "neross the room, and he yelled
out the window:
“Hey, Ned! dley, Ned!
The nozzleman who was playing the hose
into the entrance looked up at him an
barely discerned the boy through the dense
smoke which was encompassing the front
of the burning hous
“That you, Frank?” he roared back. «
“Smother the fire.under one of these
8
1
windows if you can. I can’t get out again
by way of the stairs,” he retortdd.
“All right, Frank!” and the hose was
turned upon the fast crumbling piazza, phe
roof of which had gone down some tim
before.
toot! toot! came the sound of a
aistant engine whistle; followed by ‘shouts
2
“Here comes the Vigilants!”
Just then Frank saw the governor, ~
He stood on the lawn and, holding out
his arms, he shouted hoarsely:.
“Can you find my daughter
“She is safe!” replied Frank, ‘to encour-
age him,
_ The hook and ladder had arrived, fremen
were rushing to and fro under the orders
their chiefs roared through their speaking
trumpets, and the boy could hear the
crashing of axes,
He ran over to the bed and hastily began
knotfing the covering together to form a
Nfe line, and then he tied one end of it
to the massive bureau which stood next
to the win
The girl ON choking and gasping all this
while near another window, trying to see
what he was doing.
“Frank, I can’t stand this heat and
smoke much longer!” she wail
“Ruth, we have got to go “out the win-
dow.
“Anything you say, Frank.”
“You will need all your courage and
strength. Come closer!
He had. a bolster-case in his hand, and
he tied her to him and | Jet the rope of
sheets drop out the
Blinding clouds of smoke % were still pour-
ing w
“You must hold your breath as long as
you can when we start!” he admonished.
a am eins to slide down those sheets
ith ye
swith ‘they hold us?” she asked doubt?
ull
ed
“its, a risk. we must run,” he replied.
“
Com
He Sot her up on the windowsill, and the
crowd set up a warning shout, while | many
of the firemen ran toward the how
A nozzleman was playing the hose. on the
fire behind them.
Holding the girl with one hand, Frank
swung off, and the descent began when
there came a tearing sound above. The
sheets parted, and they fell. ~
(To BE CONTINUED.)
FOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOF04 | J.
We have issued a spirited gold-mining
story, out. to-day in No. 222 of “WILD
WEST WEEKLY,” which you should not
fail to read. The title is “YOUNG WILD’
WEST’S LUCKY LODE; OR, MAKING A
THOUSAND DOLLARS A MINUTE.” The
price is 5 cents a copy. * * *
40 4-0404040404040404040404040
[This story commenced in No, 639,)
TOM’S FORTUNE
OR,
~
THE BOY WO STARTED WITH ONE
‘ CENT :
By R. fT. Emel
Author of “‘Sandow’ Sandy,” “The Whit
Da to, . Ser ‘anded,” Joe ane the Jap,” “a
Born Fakir,” On Yop,” ete, ete,
CHAPTER XXI.
A STRANGE ‘GREETING.
Nettie came to the house without delay
and remained‘ all night, sending word to
the manager put her understudy in her
part patil further notice. .
“It’s a pleasure to see you in the house
a gain, which you never should have left,
child,” said the housekeeper, “but I am
sorry enough for the occasion,”
Mr. Benton was somewhat’ better “by
morning, but was asleep and did not
awaken for two or three hours.
Nettie remained with him till afternoon,
taking care of him, by which time he be-
came gradually conscious, and at last said:
“Is that you, dear?”
“Yes, but you must not “talk.”
“You have come to take care of me?”
Ad father, but Rad not. excite your-
se)
The old gentleman. was guiet after that,
and had so far mended that the physician
decided that it would be safe for Nettie
to go to the theater.
She did so, but returned after the per-
formance, and was at the old gentleman’s
bedside when he awo)
day he was better, but very weak,
and nat eied constant care and attention.
He remained so for three or four days,
and then there came a time when his life
was despaired of, and the physician would
not sa; e result migh
Nettie remained with him fay aoa night,
and astonished both the doctor and the
nurse by her devotion as well as by her
effectiveness, always doing the proper
thing at the right time, and doing it ag
well as the best trained nurse could have
done,
At last the crisis was over, and, the old
gentleman began to nd, but was kept
perfectly quiet for days, till at last he was
able to sit up and converse for a few min-
utes at a tim
“Forgive me, child,” he said to Nettie.
“You must never leave me now. was
proud and headstrong, and drove you
away, but now you must stay here al-
ways.”
“Yes, dear,” said Nettie. “I haye been
proud myself, but I have learned a lesson.”
@ reconciliation was complete, and
Tom felt as happy as if he had accom-
plished it himself.
. Benton went»off into the country
with a nurse and Erskine, Nettie continued
to act and Tom went on with his work at
the ban!
He thought of his intended investment,
and the day that Mr. Benton went away
he saw another advertisement concerning
the property, and determined to go over
and look at it.
fe crossed the river and took a train to
the little city where the property was lo-
cated, intending to ask his way when he
arrived.
* As he left the train he saw a man ia the
station who struck him as familiar, and
in another instant he recognized the fel-
Jow.as Hank the burglar, well dressed.
He did not see Tom, and the boy kept
out of his sight, for, although he knew that
it would do no good to denounce the man
at that time, he could be followed and the
poniee put upon ‘his trac
e left the station, and Tom, followed,
with the intention of seeing where he went
and then informing the police.
They were barely out at the place, how-
ever, and upon one of the main streets,
when he saw a little old woman who walk-
ed by the aid of a staff crossing the street
directly jn front of a trolley car going
at full sj
‘Forget ting. all about the ‘burglar, Tom
dashed forward, literally picked up the old
lady and reached a place of safety ‘in the
nick of tim
The wind. from the car made his jacket
fly, and actually took his hat off, so near
was he when it went p: .
He set the old vady. "down, and she im-
mediately began to abuse him for an im- »
pertingnt young scamp, and demanded to
how he dared to take such liberties.
mT beg your pardon, ma’am,”.he said,
“but you were in danger of your life.”
“What do you say?” she asked in a high
key need be saucy, boy,. The idea!
I never saw such impertinence!”
Then she went on, and Tom presently
saw her get in a carriage and drive off.
Hank had disappeared, but the boy knew
that it could not be helped, consoling him- °
self with the thought, net} he might yet
run the scoundrel
-Inquiring his way to the house he wished
to look at, he got in a street car, and after
a few questions, and going out of his. way
} once or twice, he succeeded in finding it.
It was not.in a very good neighborhood,
although Tom could see that it had once
been, from the other houses and the width
of the street lined with noble old trees.
It was a big, old-fashioned double house
with spacious grounds about it, and as
fom looked at it from the street, he mut-
Tob be sold at a sacrifice, is it? Well,
that may be, but I'll never be able to buy
it, not even with a. big mortgage on it, ¢
Dear me, I had no idea it wa e that.
I thought it was just a little old ite, with
an extra courtyard in front, that’s all, but
this is a regular mansion.
As he'stood looking at it, before ventur-
ing to go up the walk, a strange feeling
came over him, and it seemed as if he had
seen the house before, and tnt it had
something to do with his
“Somehow it looks natural.” ” he mused.
“I wonder if I could have seen it before?
I never came.over here, though, 50
don’t see how I could, It seems ridiculous
to try and buy it. I don’t suppose I could
raise a tenth of what they ask for it.”
He was about to away, leaving his
mission unaccomplished, when the feeling
that he knew the place grew stronger.in
him, and he pushed gpen the gate, made
his way up t road walk, ascended the
steps and pulled the bell, sending a clatter~
ing all through the h
An old: negro man servant came to the.
door, and Tom asked to see someone who
could tell him something about the house
and the terms upon which it was to be
e man asked him come in, and a
he entered the great hall with a wide cen:
tral staircase leading to the floors above,
there stepped out of one of fhe rooms at
one side the identical old lady whose wrath
he had incurred by picking her up in the
street.
“Bless my soul, boy,” she said, “where
have you been so long? Why, I've been
advertising for you for the
months.” .
'
last six *
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