Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-20

and father a new pipe, an IL thev's any
| thing left, ld like to have Pete collar, an
lot Of books for me; an. If 1t amt too
| much trouble, ia like not to ache so much
| in my leg, an get strong like father'd fike,"
| he thought.
THE FIRE.
! Whon the clock struck twelve Tim got up
! and stole to the door with Pete at his heels.
| His heart stood stil and then thumped wildly
! aa he looked toward the mills, for over the
| lumber yards there was a red light that
meant fire.
| Where, thought Tim, was his father? Then,
! obcyinE a sudden impulse, he hurried softly
and quickly into his clothes and started
! toward The m!lla with pete close at his heels.
"IUu see, Pete" he said, as they went, "if
! / was to wake Mary up more'n likely she'd
| think | couldn't 90, an Pete, want to help
| my father myself If ! can, cause you Know
! youruef old fellow, 1t must be hard for
father only to have one boy an him ne ac-
| count"
Something blurred his eyes then and
stopped his talking and Pcte licked his hand
J in anxious sympathy.
1t was a hard walk for the slight little
chap on his crutchcs, but the sight of the
| lcaping flame IN the yard, and the thought
of fis father, gave him new strength, ana on
| he went until he reached the Office door,
and from the threshold he saw his father
| bound and, gagged on the floor while a man,
| with a strip OF black cloth over his face was
| the safe.
He was on his knees, pouring powder into
his hand, when Tim cried out, "Sic' him,
| Pete" and Pete sprang at him with such
force that the fellow fell forward on his face,
| where he lay. not daring to stir with Pete's
fine bass growl in his ear,
"You tend to him, Pete. and keep him
still, while unite father. But first, father,
shall | ring the bell;" for his fathers eyes
seemed to tell him so.
Thpn ps bis father nOO6pl his head he
sprang to the bell rope, aud changed the
bell in the midnight air, until he heard an
answering cry of Fire Fire." and the hur-
! rying feet of the men, as they sprap5 for the
buckets and hose.
TINS REWARD.
After a while the young boss came in
| blackened with 'mOke and there he found
little lame Tim, Chafing his father'e numbed
hands and legs, while Pete, with his upper
lip raised. in a most suggestive fashion, was
sitting on Canadian Pierre's back
Has the lumber gomez asked Tins
father, hoarsely, for the gag had cruelty
hurt his mouth.
No" said the young boss, "only little
damage, comparatively, has been done. The
fellow yonder bundered. He started the
fire at the wrong end of the yard, for the
wind, and the lumber was fresh at that end,
too"
Thank Cod" said Tins father. devoutly;
then he said ~ was making my rounds bit
he'd be up to mischief. Something all to
wonst hit me on the back of the head-sand
bag likely-an' next | knOwed | was in here,
an that boy of mine come with his dog, an
they done all the rest"
The pride in the fathers voice as he told
of his boy thrilled Tins heart with joy
Just then Mary, pale and frightened, came
running in. for she had awakened at last,
and missing Tim. and hearing the fire bells,
had followed him with great fear in her
heart. Then she had to hear it all also
80, Tim" she cried, you are Il brave
little fellow, but you should have call I'd me-
But Tim didn't feel like talking.
He called Pete away, so the men could Sc
cure Pierre, for Pete's blood was up and he
had many minds to challenge the whole
rorcc-and then he cuddled his head on the
young boss shoulder who insisted on carry
ing him home. and who asked him a few
questions on the way, and kissed him good
night as he laid him in his fathers arms
al the door with "God bless you" and a
pat for Pete before he went off into the
night
BY good right Tim ought to have beer
sick the next day. but he was not, and when
the young boss came over toward evening
to take him over to the hall for his Christ
mas he as good as new.
The mill bants were all there. and Tim,
and Pete-the latter a bundle of amiahility
were the heroes of the occasion.
There was a Santa Claus that satisfied
Tins hungry soul, and a wonderful tree,
that bore on its branches the dress for Mary,
the pipe for his father and the most gorge
and books and books for Tim, and a check
from the young boss and the mill operatives
to send Tim to a great doctor to be cured.
Made like other boys. father" said Tim
in his fathers ear.
For your sake hope So" said his father