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HAPPY
DAYS.
' ’ 15
“You have done a. noble act, Young sir,
said old liir. Reed. “and I hope we will
see more of ou."
.Ben thanked him, but the words of Kath-
leen were sweeter still to his ears.
“We must see more or You-Jet least,
must.” said she, in a soft voice. which
reached only Ben’s ears.
The sergeant took down the necessary
names, and then started out toward the sta-
tion with the disgruntled prisoners.
“Say, young man. what business are you
- in‘.P'.‘ he asked Den. “I'd like to know
where you cultivated that nerve of Yours-
it's the best kind I've seen in a. good
Wh‘ e " -
“Oh, I'm onlya fireman in the New York
Fire Department.” said Ben modestly.
The sergeant laughed. Ben was going
down the steps and turning. toward the ele-
vated, while the police were going in the
opposite direction toward the station house.
“I might have known it,” sat the ser-
geant. “That’s the only factory in town
where they take raw material and smelt it
into heroes Still. I’ve known a few cases
on the police department-but you've got
us beaten to it on the aver e. '
‘Good-night.” said Ben, shaking hands
with the kindly ofiicer as his men started
awa. “I'll see you in police court and
testify against those villains." - '
“We'll see you when we get out,” cried
one of the thugs.
“I'll hunt you down to death if it‘s my
dying act!” cried the other. “I'll get even,
me lad! ” cried another.
The sergeant turned toward them with a
laugh. .
“Don't count your chickens before they're
hatched," said he “ 1‘. you fellows
such long terms that you‘ll be too weak of
old age when you get out of the peniten-
tiary to harm a grasshoper.” .
Then he waved a merry good-night to
happy Ben Brown. For t e youth saw
that his hopes were not altogether hope-
less. ’
CHAPTER XX.
V’ A man IN 3 riznnrzs. " V;
Ben returned from his “evening oil" with
‘ The insults which the
memory a little
‘knowledge that he had restrained himself
under provocation, and by that very means
had repaid his traducer doubly.
.That night was a. quiet one. and’ he
' dreamed rosy dreams of a. certain dark-
haired girl, with lustrous eyes. and so
hands. The reader does not need to he told
4, her name.
“But there-what's the good of it!" ex-
claimed Ben to himself, impatiently, next
morning. as he settled down to the hard.
unromantlc humdrum work of the engine-
I:
ouse. V
For there is always enough to do around
a. fire company to keep the men busy and
toiling almost every installi-
“I‘m in no position to ask 9. girl like that
lucky fellow.
mother to support, while she has been used
to luxury all her life: I have no right 10
dream such dreams!" . .'
Yet, even with the work of the house,
scrubbing away) at the nozzles and brass-
work, cleaning up the hose, and all the rest
of the necessary drudgery, Ben Brown did
dream his dreams despite his own resolu-
The day passed with stupid monotony.
Not a single call came in for the district.
and the boys almost longed for some ex-
cltement.
“Well, it looks as if this was going to be
a goose egg score,” said the lieutenant to
Ben, as he sat at the desk checking over
the report of the day.
It was about ten o'clock. and all was
t.
qulelles. I guess this is one of the off night!
with Old Man Fire," said Ben.‘ With R
laugh, as he glanced over a paper. He was
sitting at the side.of the platform-
f Suddenly the insgerl clansed Out "9
N ,' al
arm. -
Kicking back the chair, and tossing aside
his paper, Ben leaped for his place on the
tender. '
V H vgre going!" exclaimed tbe‘lieutbene&t.
it as he legpfgi 1501:‘ 3: 0wn'po5x.uon’ y 9
” dr'iXYl)e;C'ol0tI)t? 3:51: the whistle of the en-
gine, and out on the street dashed the
horses, with their heavy ion U:
Turning toward distant Broadway. 69
steeds were urged forward with mad spec ;
‘ Ben had not heard where the fire was ht;
rated. but saw from his position. at the s e
of Bill, who drove the tender team. that
they headed for the theatrical districts.
“What is it?" asked Ben-
"Don’t know, but I think it's one of the
big show houses!" replied Hill. with teeth
set as he strained and tugged 111 Skim"!
‘ ‘guidance of the plunging. spirited -'-'r3Y5- ,,
“ e , Sunrise! Run it.- SiarboY!
shouted Ben, and the horses leaped forwdard
with increasing Shred. as if they un 91"-
siood every word. =
‘Great team,” said Ben.
. “You bet-best in the force.“ said Bill,
proudly. and indeed they did run wonder-
‘..........,-.
fully. But the New York fire horses are the
best of their kind, and are especially train-
ed and educated for their work. The tire-
men love them ,
Now in and out between the Broadway
1’ cars ran the engines, and tooling whistles
called a halt on every conveyance on the
great thoroughfare.
The tenders, clarlglng their automatic
glongs, whirled mid skidded along behind
t em ‘
It took daring horsemanshlp to guide
those heavy vehicles so safely, so speedily
through the'immense traffic. But Bill and
his fellow drivers were drilled to perfection
in this terrible ordeal, and it was a matter
of everyday work with them. .
Pas: glittering restaurants, and gayly lit
hotels, with thousands of gaping, wonder-
struck. curious spectators the string of fire
machines ran. For this was a serious call.
which was bringing out the reserves from
the distant houses.
“It's a theater. sure enough. My hunch
was right!" exclaimed Ben Brown, as he
stared ahead at the scrambled, mixed-up
crowd of engines and trucks and tenders
before a great smoking building. .
The engine of their company brought up
with a jolt, and a swing of the horses from
Bill's reins saved the tender from 2. dan-
gerous bump. ,
urry, men!" shouted a voice near
em. .
Ben turned. and beheld a big. heavy chap
dismounting from a. pulling red automobile
of racing pattern.
“There's the chief of the whole depart-
ment, Bill,” said Ben, and the newcomer
rushed forward in the direction of the
burning building. ‘
“ o on,-there are enough engines
there. We want every spare man to pre-
vent to. panic-there‘s a crowded house in
that theater, and thousands‘of lives are at
take!"
beating hearts the fire laddies
sprang after their‘chief, and soon were
pouring into the hallways of the office part
of the theater building.
The people were surging out quietly
enough, though. 0 t was certain that
there would be no panic inside the burning
e co.
The chief looked at the crowd as it calm-
ly left the‘ structure, and turned to the
E .
m 11.
“You lads may start back with your com-
panies now, and wa for the regular work.
We have a number of men inside the build-
ing, and they can handle the crowd. We
must protect the other buildings nowl”
CTOW , .
lie could scarcely believe his eyes.
It was Kathleen Reed.
Ben leaped toward her. lie called her
name. and the turned around. h
was hatless, having left her bonnet behind
in therush of the quick exit.
“Why are you alone?” cried lien. as the
girl faced him, with whitening cheeks.
“I am with mother and fatbc 1'” she said.
Then she turned about. but zer parents
were nowhere to be seen. The girl gasped
with alarm. .
“Oh. Mr. Brown.” she cried in terror.
“They must be inside the building. Can’:
you save them?" ,
Ben glanced around. lie had received or-
ders from his chief to return to the com-
pany, and he knew that disobedience meant
disgrace in the strlctldiscipline of the de-
'partmenL -
“You hesitate! Surely, you will for me.
won't you?" cried the ‘ “You are not
afraid, I know.”
Ben hesitated still more. He was in a
quandary. ,
CHAPTER XXI.
s::v's roswszv norr.
l “Well, I'll see-step into this doorway."
cried Ben Brown, and he shoved the girl.
not ungently, into the shelter by the side
of the lobby.
The chief was standing before the theater
directing the crowd and giving orders right
and left to the firemen.
“Chief-I beg your pardon. sir, but may
I go into the theater after the mother of a
friend of mine?“ "
The chief glanced at him.
“They'll all get out-so you stay mlt
here with the lines where you belong.”
said the chief shortly.
nodded and walked away with
blanched face. lie knew that it would all-
pear to Kathleen that be was afraid, and
giving some‘sort of excuse. But the gal-.
iant lad remembered his duty, and he re-
solved to do .
He did not see that the chief was walking
in toward the entrance. close be h m.
‘Kathleen. I can't :0 ill-1"‘? been 9'59"
ed to other work. by my chief. and I don’t
be ."
da’;‘%emgiir!l5’: eryes dilated with surprise. Shc
forgot herself-her strained nen es made
her beside herself. and she said some WW”
which she regretted for man? d-1)‘S<
But nervous strain will make the best of
us do and say things which are absolutely
. foreign to our natures.
“You are nrmm-1 liked you-but 1 MW
you now!‘ she cried, beginning to weep.
“I didn't think you would prove a coward
now-afraid of any old chief. when I ask
you to save my mother and father. who
may be trampled to the floor in there and
unconscious.
The chief overheard this little remark,
and a light broke across his face. e start-
ed to speak. and then halted to hear Ben's
reply. ‘
“I am not afraid, Miss Reed.” said our
hero steadily, though his tones betrayed his
deep feeling. t remap. an.
my duty is to obey my oillcers. if I would
disobey it would be a breach of honor-
even though my own heart were breaking! "
The girl sobhed. with her white face in
her hands. But just here the chief inter-
fered, and touched Ben on the arm.
lie said not a word, but simply nodded
his head, pointing toward the interior of
the burning theater. ‘
The people were almost all out now, and
Ben had little difficulty in threading his
way through the remainder of the throng.
Sure enough, the elder Reed and his wife
were nowhere to be seen. and Ben's heart
warned him that something was indeed
wron ‘
“I must dnd them-I must! " he cried.
Then he sprang into the darkened house,
for the electric connections had long since
been destroyed. towards the
stage he could behold the dropped asbestos
curtain, which had been lowered to pre-
vent the names shooting out over the house.
This could be seen in the pale but in-
creasing glow from a little line of flames
which were curling their way up around
the footligbts from under the stage.
“This will shoot into flame in a few min-
utes!” muttered Ben. He gazed frantically
around the darkened house. looking vainly
for the forms of the Reeds. But everyone
seemed to be out of the structure. ,
Suddenly a large flarne shot up directly
in front of the director. long since fled
from the building.
Behind him Den heard the calls of the
nrenlen as they entered the burning build-
ing with their hose lines. They had been
waiting for the audience to get safely out.
before risking a panic among the women
811 El). ‘
Now they were rcady to light the flames
in deadly earnest.
‘ pl” came a faint voice far down in
front. and Ben rushed down the aisle.
There was someone in need of assistance,
he knew. As he sped forward he‘heard a
muffled explosion from the depths of the
stage behind the curtain.
-There was a terrific flash of blinding
lights from one side of the proscenium
arch. and Ben knew instinctively that one
of the big chemical tanks of the spot light
had blowu- up
ans’
Another terrific report split the air. and a
shower of broken woodwork Jud sparks
were flung in all directions.
“Gee. but this is getting hot!" muttered
Ben, as he ducked his head just in time to
catch an enormous burning brand on the
top of his helmet. The missile fell harm-
lessly to the floor, still smoking. but the
metal protection of the helmet had saved
Ben's bead. ' ‘ .
Our hero looked up to see that the explo-
sion- of the tank had torn a big rent in the
asbestos curtain. ‘
e flames shot out from behind
the curtain through this new avenue of as-
cape. The stage part of the theater was a
veritable roaring furnace, and w h this
new opening served as a flue.
Straight over the iooilights toward Ben
the flanles leaped, drawn by the drought to-
ward the iron s. .
“ out there. pail‘ called a fireman
who saw our hero's danger. Ben heard him
and dropped to the floor behind the seats
just as the scorching breath of the fire
mduster shot over him.
A second later and he would have been
roasted in that death-dealing avalanche of
red flame.
“Help! Help!" came -a faint voice, and
Ben raised himself, as the flames quieted
for an instant. He looked toward the di-
rection of the sound for an instant.
“It must be in that-box there on the
right.” muttered Ben Brown. as he looked
through the haze of smoke. The theater
was now illurnined with the red glare of
the blood-colored names.
is saw a white face appear above the
railing of the box and then sink back, with
a cry. it was the face of Kathleen's father.
“What can the mystery be?’ wondered
and he crawled over toward the side
of the theater. ile progressed rapidly, in
realm’. and yet it seemed centuries to the
impatient fellow. For he knew that in n
few more minutes lhe light would be hope-
less, for the flames were playing imp-frog
with each other as they shot forth from
the blazing dcpths of the stage through
that hole in the curtain.
(to no coxrixrno.)
llcro is a timely circus story.
L00k! Out to-day " ' xxx AND
WIN” No. 544. Rrml “Fred l’-‘earnot us
Ring lliaster:. or. Training at Boy Acrobat.‘
Every chapter is filled with Interesting mi-
ventures and amusing scenes ‘ ' 0
J
Answers to Correspondents.
To cannpouauu.
Do not not question: on the
r -mu mu 0 tier u not e
in min; . numb-r
-e
a no greatly by wrltiu on
1: lhl :-
e sheet of III-
on-
I
1
(5
2
=.
niou square, New
"I-.‘nnol or lhrrx D
York."
NOTICE.
acre of ihrrr Due who new question:
in! column ltiould our in
uy ID! IIBQIIT
the reader! will Ink: 1 up
in lieu. they will readily nee the folly
of requesting us to put the unnwen to their queu-
onu In the nut llluc at the Duper.
D. W. IL-There is no premium on dimes
of 1842 or cent: 0! 1869.
Moms.-According to the latest stalls-
tics we can find there are about 1G2,00<)
motor cars in the United States, of which
27,000 are registered in New York City
Clmmi-: AND llowknn.-We may publish
some more stories by that author, but car-
not set nuy date for their appearance. 2.
The postage stamp nirtation can be found
in answer to "Jackson" in this colmun.
. L. A.-Write to the manager of any
theatrical stock company for an interview,
and then show him what you can do.
There is no other way that we know 0!.
unless you are personally acquainted with
some member of the company.
L. C. Y.-Your newsdealer can obtain
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y mail for three months on receipt of
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J. D. I).-Dimes of ISM with nlint leuor
“s" are valuable for the reason that only
twenty-four of this date were coined at the
San Francisco mint.
f
sale of this coin that we know of. cons:-4
quently there is no fixed value as yet. if
you have one don't sell it cheap. We can-
not publish the address of a coin dealer.
Flunrrs.-We cannot recommend any
hair lotion, but the following is said to be
excellent for promoting the growth of the
hair, etc.: To remove dandrutf and stop
falling hair, apply once 3 week a quinine
air tonic made by dissolving 1 ounce of
quinola in 1-2 pint of alcohol, adding 1-2
pint of cold water. Rub in
absorbed.
This treatment will promote the growth of
hair and tend to make it luxuriant and
glossy
W. F. Nnrr;-“Caught in the Web."
was published in Nos. 694 to 097, and
‘Qoonskin Charlie" in Nos. 733 to 736.
Between these stories there were thirty-nve
numbers issued. -
=
m
3
9
::
2
o
:1
-1
on
r:
1
E
9.
0
skin Charley” (43 numbers). it will cost
you $1.80. Sent by mail. postage frce.
Suns CnAnxl:v.-We cannot say how
you cdn learn how to charm snakes. 2. To
grow seedless fruit you must have a thor-
ough knowledge of fruit culture. You can
make in study of it by reading leading
works on this subject; or. better still. ob-
tein employment on some large fruit farm
where you can gain a practical knowledge
of the methods employed by large fnlit
growers. 3. Radium is one of the dearest
metals.
radium is worth $125,000.
Tnos. BLACK.-President 'l'nft's Cabinet
is as follows: Phiiandcr C. Knox, of Penn-
sylvania. Secretary ofstate; Franklin Mac-
Veagh. of Illinois. Secretary Of the Treas-
ury; Jacob ill. Dickinson. of Tennessee,
Secretary of War; George W. Wickershzun,
of New lork, Attorney-General; Frank
General; George von L. Meyer, of Massa-
chusetts. Secretary of the Navy; alllchard
A. Bailiuger. of Washington, Secretary of
the interior; James Wilson, of Iowa. Sec-
retary of Agriculture; Charles Nagel. of
Missouri. Secretary of Commerce and 1.5:,
bot‘.
JAcxso:v.-When o postage stamp is
pinned upside down on the left corner of
the letter it means-I love you: in the same,
UOSSWISE-Ml‘ hi’-‘rt ls Ell0“IPl"’S: straight
up and down ood-by. sweetheart. good-
by: upside down in the right hand corner
Write no more; in the center at top-Ycs.
opposite at the bottom-No: on the right
hand corner nt a right angle-Do you love
me! in the left hand corner-I hate you:
top corner on the right-I wish your friend-
boiionl corner on the left-I seek
you on a. line with the sur'--
mxmr-Accept my love; the same upside
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the same place-l long to see you: in the
middle at the right hand edge-Write im-
merlimely.
(Srrrral irt!Crs,rnruI.')I orrr to be annrrred
nut u-rrk.)
it is claimed that one ounce of I
a