The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1903-03-27

rescuing people anyhow. That that
was what firemen were paid for, and
that you belonged to a union and
couldn't rescue people because you
were forbidden by your rules to do
the work of other union men, which
included the Amalgamated Firesnen
and Rescuers' association, and that if
this house burned you would be COM
pelled to sit in a saloon across the
street and watch a fat fireman in a
gum coat and black helmet carry
Violet from out the devouring flames
to the safety of the street below"
"Well, that's what fat firemen are
paid for" gently interposed Kentland.
"And, went on Kitty, sit made Violet
angry. You might have pretended,
anyhow, as long as there isn't the faint
est chance of your being put to the
test. Now, there's the skating party
tonight. It's Violet that proposed to
90. Hardly any of the men care about
it. but because it's Violet's plan they
have all taken it up. Everybody is
making ready but you"
Its so cold outside" said Kentland;
"besides, couldn't skate ten feet if L
was paid a thousand dollars a foot"
Suppose you can't skate! You
could GO along anyhow. Why, the
sight of you sitting in the cold up on
the bank of the lagoon would prove
your devotion and DO you more good
than if you were actually skating and
enjoying yourself"
81 don't take well to sitting on a
snow bank in the dark" said kentland.
81 look nicer in front of CRATE, with
the ruddy freight bringing my noble
profile into strong relief against the
dim background beyond"
Kitty rose with great hauteur. "As
I said in the beginning, Mr.. kentland,
said Kitty, 81 say again: You are an
idiot. Iwash my hands of you. want
ed to help you. l don't care any more.
If | were Violet 1 don't think l would
ever look at you again Then she
marched sternly out of the room, and
Kentland heard her tell the rest of the
house party gathered at the foot OF
the stairs that he was too lazy to GO
skating.
The front door slammed and Kent
land, looking out of the window, saw
the party tramping away to the park
81 suppose / ought to CO. he said, Civ
ing another dismal glance at the CRATE
| He thought about it for awhile and
| then sadly went downstairs, put on
his overcoat and cap and the white
wooden mittens that Violet had given
him, and went out into the darkness
| A cold blast right off the lake struck
| him full in the face as he turned the
corner, and some snow leaped gleeful-
| ly down his neck.
"Wow!" said Kentland to himself
''Confound skating parties, anyhow.
please. mister" whined voice al
his side, gimme a dime; I'm freezing
| to DEATH"
Kentland looked at the tramp fol-
| awhile. Then a brilliant inspiration
| seized him. You come with me-" he
said to the tramp. He led him back tc
Mrs. Van Dolahs kitchen and gave him
two cups of hot coffee and a generous
slice of steak. Then he described tC
him a certain party of ten people who
would be skating in a crowd in Lincoln
| park. He put his overcoat on the
tramp, and the white mittens, and the
cap.
you GO up to the park" he said
sternly, land sit down near the banl
in the snow somewhere so that yol
can be plainly seen from the lagoon
Don't sit near enough SO that the
skaters can come up and talk t6
you, but not too far away so thai
they can't take notice of this coat
and this hat, and these gloves. Si1
somewhere near the electric light
but not too close. When this party
sees you and waves at you, why, yol
wave back, and when you see then
going to take their skates off yol
cut for this place as fast as yol
can. Don't try to talk to this party
or I'll have you sent to the peni
tertiary for life. And don't rul