The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-07

were common. But recognition by
kid" Evans? And Mickey felt the
iron of the worlds injustice burn into
his soul
But the fire engines and hose carts
continued to rush to the fire. Then
the reserves from the neighboring
precinct station left the station
house on the run. Mickey knew ex-
actly to which districts the reserves
from every station on that side of the
city responded. The present fire must
be big one. or this particular force
of reserves would not respond. Then
he overheard one of the hurrying pa
trolmen say something about fourth
alarm"
"a fourth alarm!" That meant a
big blaze.
de fourth alarm, fellows. De
fourth alarm!" he called wildly to the
boys who We're hurrying from the
school house. DE bigges' fire in
years.
And momentarily forgetful of the
honors which had been showered on
his rival he dashed at full speed to-
wards the avenue.
BY this time the police had cleared
the avenue and from all the fire
houses in that section of the city en-
gines, hose carts. and big hook and
ladder trucks were hurting. When
a response is made to a fourth alarm
there is no holding back of the great
horses, no waiting to see If teams and
people are out of the way. The trucks
and engines come with a terrific rush
which means destruction to any tardy
wagon or reckless pedestrian, who does
not look out for himself. Down the
avenue Hose and Truck 4, which
carried the big expansion ladder, were
dashing as fast as their powerful gall
Looping teams could take them. The
sidewalks were crowded and in his
hurry to arrive at the big fire Mickey
darted out into the street and began
to run in the direction taken by the
fire engines.
Suddenly a shout told him of his
! danger. Hose Z, with its big greys,
was almost on him. 1t was impossi-
bic for Mickey to reach the sidewalk
| Terrified, he ran further out into the
street. And this brought him directly
in the path of the big hook and ladder
truck.
But it was the very bigness and
length of the truck that saved Mickey.
By a cunning little swerve, possible
! only to a trained driver of fire horses,
the front wheels turned a little to the
right. Mickey was safe from them.
But he could not turn back, and sec
ond later he would be struck by the
Then, before the boy realized what
was happening. one of the firemen
clinging TO the side step of the truck
reached down, grabbed Mickey by the
collar and with a powerful jerk fairly
hurled him out of harm and UP on the
body of the truck. There was no pos
sibility of stopping. And half lying.
half held by the firemen, Mickey Flynt
went to the fire, not running along the
sidewalks as common bows did hut
carried on the swaying, jouncing top
| of Truck 4. the biggest truck in the
city
When Mickey reached the school
yard the next morning his bearing
was that of conquering hero. Not only
had he enjoyed the honor of riding to
the great fire on Truck 4, but his name
had been in the papers, even in big
| type in the headlines. Mickey wonder
ed how much bliss a boy could stand
and live. In front of the school house
Charlie Hastings was proudly holding
forth to group of admirers.
And Kid Evans, the champeen,
patted me on the head and says, run
along, you'se amt hurt. and give me
| a quarter And he exhibited the
| quarter, the badge of honor, far too
precious to be lightly squandered.
But Mickey only looked with amused
scorn at his late rival, now left far
behind in the race for glory. He him
| self had reached such heights he could
be magnanimous.
Oats right" he assented. Evans"
| in patroniZing tones, always is good
| to little fellows. And it's a nice thing
| for Charlie here dat he spoke to him.
Course, though it amt in the same
class with riding to fires on the trucks,
especially on big Truck A."