The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-07-23

few minutes ahead OF schedule TIME. III
was more than mortal man could bear
ut least such 4 man as Hapgood.
Jim car pushed its way with varying
speed up the long grade which ended at
the divide, beyond which was five mile
descent to the river bank and the town
which stood upon it. The glow OF the
furnaces seemed brighter than usual to-
night against the blue black armament,
but not until he reached the summit did
he realize that there was an unwonted
tongue of fame reaching out from the
clustering buildings
"A fire by jingo!'
In an instant his troubles were blotted
out He forgot he was Jim Hapgood, the
motorman. aud remembered only that he
was the captain of Excelsior Hose and
that he was needed where that tongue Of
fame licked the black horizon.
Ffinging open the door, he uttered 4
roar which brough, the sleeping conductor
to his feet.
Hi, Hank said Hapgood. There ;
a fire in the town. Looks like biz one.
| N goiu' to run fer it. -
What do you mean, jim?
Mean? That m goin to let out ey
cry notch an send this old car on the run
of its life. Thought I'd let you know,
50 : You eoud jump off if you are afeared. -
Il am afraid, Jim, said the conduc-
tor. his face paling at the thought, but
my place Is on the ear. Don be rash,
jim
Ne, IN not be rash, said 'tDeyil
jim. with I smile He slammed the
door, let 20 the handle Of the brake and
turned the lever as far as il would 90 The
bulky car sprang forward and downward
like a catapult.
That ride Henry Beemis says he can
never forget The great twenty ton car
ncked ike a rocking horse, Its four
wheels we're never on the track at once.
Aud al the while the speed was accelerat
inr. for jim Hapgood had no thonght Of
usiu. brake. aud the grade was steadily
downward His thoughts were far ahead,
in the pillar e flame now growing porten
tously large and near, wherein he saw his
duty
rhe bearded giant stood in the seant
protection uf his yestibuled front mod
ern Thor framed ia ice. His eyes glowed
With the Joy Of the soldier riding 10 the
eharge lie Thought not of himself nor
of the poor scared conductor behind him.
1t q wonder my hair didn' turn
white. said Recmis afterward But
what could / dos He'd a Killed me if
/ had in,erfered just hung on to the
straps an SOFT o prayed
But there j. special providence Tor
brave men. The ear, which seemed IN
the air most OF the time, did not leave
thc rail. As the madthing whirled into
the outskirts Of the town jim set his heel
10 the gong aud for the next halt mile ex-
ccu,ed devils chorus which awoke many
sleeprrs along the way who had no, been
reused before by the duh toling of the
church bells
As he u,ared the terminal Jim strained
ewes caught sieht Of the IRE in an opening
between other buildings. Il was a large
white frame structure on little emlnence.
one II. of which was blazing dereely
jim uttered a strangled cry
Il was the house of Harker. the super
intcndent
The car was slackeuing speed aud was
running moderately when Jim caught the
sound Of bell he loved the bell Of Ex-
selsiur Hose, which was coming down a
crls, street as fast a> a handful Of men aud
boy, could pull it,
Jlm flung open the door and Jumped
from his ear, leaving it to run with lessen
jug speed ca To a siding and into line OF
ear, standing there. He smiled when he
heard the crash bat moment later was
climbing up behind his cart and getting
into his fireman togs. which hung where
he could ge, At them handily,
There had been only the most desultory
attempt to check the flames, for, while
willing hands were plenty, they needed 4
Leader They did not want ior one long
jim Hapguod took command as naturally
A. ii be had beeu born 10 the purple OF a
hre chief /, existence, aud in less time than
il takes 70 write II he had several lines Of
hose connected with the hydrants.
The wing in which the IRE started was
doomed. but there was good chance, with
well directed efforts, Of saving the rest.
Ia a short time jim had half a hundred
stau, fellows bombardiug the blazing pile
with streams
Bu, where WAS Harker all this time
He was not the sort of man to keep in the
back ground jim eyes scanned the faces
Of the workers aud those of the crowd back
Of them. Nowhere did he see the boss
whom he loved 50 little or the faces Of Mrs
Harker and the two little girls
Blake. said jim Hapgood, "a couple
of axes, quick Come this way with me,
4 moment later they were beating down
the front door Of the building, 1t fell in
with a crash. \ dense volume of black
smoke rolled out Of the doorway. Il was
followed by licking tongues Of flame
Put stream here roared jim
through his trumpet Then he disap-
reared into the hideouS crater. y few
moments later he appeared at an upper
window bearing in his arms the dead or
nn,onscious forms of two children He
laid them across the still, beckoned to the
ladder men aud once more disappeared in
the belching smoke Again he was seen
at the window. this time with the white
draped form OF the mother. He waved
his hand 10 the crowd below, who answered
with a cheer.
Don 20 back, capnr cried Blake
You can live in that hell. ' But Jim
Hapsood had disappeared again.
Ii seemed as if he were COMO for good
this time, and firemen were beginning to
volunteer for a search party when he rose
up from the floor across which he had been
creeping, dragging the body of the super
intendent behind him.
= :, .. X
Two days later at noon jim Hapgood
slouched into the office of the c. and 5.
X Railroad company. lie carried hi.
cap in his hand and looked downcast ant
frightened. Jim moral courage was
minus quantity.
Harker, pale and hollow eyed, sat a
his desk fin0erino a penholder. Their,