Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-10-06
! little, barefOoted ngure came


painting up
Is got awful blowed, boss; but dun
keep behind the ingine's well as could.
And not till then did Jim recollect The
admiring little Fri, I'D he had left in the
engine house.
Before he could say anything there was
great shout from the multitude. and
looking up, Jim beheld three men stand.
ing at one of the upper windows. sur.
rounded by the raging flames and cut OIL
from all means of escape. An exclama.
ton Of horror fell from his lips as he re.
allied the peril of the unfortunate men.
They are lostl" he muttered involun.
tarily. SThe ladders have not yet ar
rived, and nothingon earth can save them
now"
With mouth and eyes wide open, and
horror expressed in every feature. Pete
gazed in CONSERVATION at the appalling
situation Of the poor wretches. Then an
inspiration seemed suddenly to seize him,
and, quick as thought, he snatched
small axe from a truck near by, and
darted off through the crowd.
For several minutes Jim continued 10
gaze pityingly upon the imperiIled men.
At last he turned sadly away, and then
he beheld Pete scrambling nimbly but
laboriously up high telegraph pole on
the Opposite side:of the street Even at
that distance the heat was intense, and
Pete had all he could do to retain his des.
perate clutch and work himself up
He reached the cross pieces, and, perch.
Ing himself securely, raised his axe in
both hands and struck furious blow,
which was followed Immediately by
scraping buzz, as the wire he had sew.
cred slid over the beams and fell to the
ground.
Then it was that Jim recognized tn
shrcwdness and utility of Pete's act, for
the other end of the wire was fastened to
the roof the burning building directly
above the window at which the imper.
llled men stood, and as soon as it was
severed it fell within their reach.
A great cry of joy went up from the
vast throng below as the men graspee
their improvised fire escape and descended
in turn; but above it rose shrill wall o,
mortal agony.
Help, bossi Helpl rs dun goin' to
falll"
The flames had burst through one OF
the windows, and were darting far across
the street and beating upon poor Pete in
his defenseless position. He could not
move nor attempt to descend. 1t was all
he was able to do to keep his hold upon
the hot beams. Realizing that his nerve.
less fingers would soon be powerless to
sustain him, he cried aloud in his an
guish to the only being in that great
crowd upon whom he could call.
As that desperate, appealing cry
reached his ears. Big Jim deserted his
beloved @No. 90" and sprang toward
Pete's lofty perch. Right and left the
big fireman elbowed his way through the
crowd, knocking gaping men hither and
thither like so many tenpins.
But he was too latel Poor Pete hung
on as long as he could, and then, with
slight quiver of the body, the scorched
and blistered fingers relaxed their hold,
and the little hero fell to the pavement.
Jim raised the limp form tenderly in
his strong arms.
Pete! Pete, my brave little fireman.
he murmured chokingly, as he pressed
his lips to the black face.
At the word fireman, coupled with
his own name by the gruff but tende:
voice whose owner had given Black PETE
the only friendship he had ever known
the boys eyes opened dreamily and
rested for moment on his big friend. A
smile of recognition flashed over his
features.
$50 dey won't take no cullud drivahs,
boss, he muttered absently. well, I's
done de best could, anyhow" And
with sigh Of satisfaction at this thought
mixed with regret though it was, his eyes
closed once more to open again where
even Black Pete would be Of some
account, and where No 20H woule
not be the realization of his highest adj
miration.
who can tell, thought the big fire.
man, as he laid his little friend in the
ambulance, @what high aspiration or
noble ambition was hidden beneath that
Insignificant little black exterior?"
Ayl Who can tell?-Gilbert Austin.