The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-03-06
A GLORIOUS VICTORY.
lid BitS.I

Hid Bits.
 The fire companies of Lucknow held their annual contest few weeks since. lem Carver went about for some days m advance of the affair offering big odds on the " Get There's and the takers were numerous Brig Lampson, the head ot the Fire Flys," vas especially ready and eager to wager with him upon the result, and bet everything he could lay hands upon. He began with money, of course But his weeks salary, as chief clerk in Smith & Stesrs's grocery, was soon ex- hausted so were his small savings in the bank and he began to bet his dogs, his new trousers, and his progressive euchre outfit. When nothing else was left he put up halt his fAvorite mare, Lurella against lem Carvei's promise of the privi- lege of keeping steady company with his sister, Miss Kitty Carver, for the term of one month. This was certainly a curious wager but in view of the destitution they had both reached in regard to vaiu- able things to put up, what the impartial observer ought most to admire is the re- straint which caused the bet to be limited on the one hand to half of Lampson's mare, and on the other to a month of the soci.ty of lem CArver's sister.
 "You guarantee your sisters permis. sion now, Jem," insisted Brig Lampson, when they closed the agreement. "A wom an kept ste ady company with, against her will, has just the same aff .ction still flor the her fellow. She's got to be wiling, or it's no contracto
 "You're safe enough there, Brig. Kit | thA tk ifthe Get There's get left, she'll live up to the bargain. But don't you forget that Pm to have half the use of Lurelia if we send our stream over the roof of Nolaa's Block, and the Fire Flys' don't"
 All the surrounding country was pres ent to witness the contest which was to decide which of the companies could throw the highest stream. This was to be set led by determining which, if either, could in the language of the articles of agreement, "throw over the roof of No lan's block "-the highest building in town.
 The " Fire FIys" under the direction of Brig Lamspon, tried first; and Brig's heart beat high as he gave the word, and the boys fell to upon the old fashioned pumps with tremendous will. They pumped for all they were worth but the block was high and human strength has limits. The stream reached only to level with the top row of windows. Still, this was big achievement in itself, and the friends of the Fire FIys" shouted themselves hoarse with approval.
 There were cries of derision when the Get There's" trotted out their inferior machine under the orders of em Carver, for the Get There's" had been defeated wofully the year before. But there was smile of conf 1ence on Jem's face as he walked calmly to where the conductor pipe (used 10 convey rain water from the roof was fastened to the building. The elbow winch terminates such pipes seemed to come of as readily in his hands as if it had been fixed for the purpose in advance, as indeed 1t had.
 Then the people watched Jem with open eyes ana mouths as he thIusts the nozzle of the Fire Flys'," hose far up the pipe. and cred to his waiting fire laddles, N1w, boysl Give it to herl"
 Give it to her they did and before anyone knew how it happened a graceful column of water rose and arched itself above the roof of Nolan's block, and l NAOOPSA oANA tSAA Ab O oCALS6kG AAo (kCdLty curve.
 But there was nothing particularly deli cate or ere amy about Brig Lampson's feel ings; nor about the feelings of any mem Der of the Fire F.ys," and at once a great cry rose for the umpire. The um. pire was fair man, and said he could not go behind the agreement for the con- test, which certainly said that (which ever company throws its stream highest over the root of Nolan's block, shall re- ceive the prz." 1t was plain that the Fire Fys" had not only not thrown highest over the root, but that they had not reached the roof at all whereas the Get There's" had got there in splendid shape. It was true they had used con- ductor-pipe, but the fair umpire could not ind anything against the use ot a conductor-p'pe in the agreement. So he awarded the prze to the Get There's"
 Brig Lampson is net keeping company with Kitty Carver just now and Jem Carver makes point of taking out the mare "Lurella" on Sundays and holidays, when the chief of the Fire Flys" has invited certain young lady (ais next best girl, counting from K,tty) to drive