The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-02


Complete in this is
come of it,
Wen see, Frank
well see some harm, Wales"
"Well, we'll, Goodall, in love or war
the best man wins"
I'm hanged If Abingdon is best
man in this case," said Frank Goodall.
"Leastways." said Harry Wales,
Emily thinks So"
The speaker, who was boss of the
Charing Cross division of the Metro
burly man, with square shoulders, a
broad forehead, keen, gray-green eyes
of penetrating power, a head of
brown hair turning gray over the tenn
pies, and a stern, impressive express
sion. Yet as he spoke there was a
wistful look In MS right. eye and
soft touch about his mouth which
seemed to hint that he felt somewhat
uncertain about the matter in Dues
ton. =. Il 4 T.
The two men confronted each other
in the fire station. Goodall was one
Of the latest recruits to the brigade
e. youth of rs, well built, and with the
spirit Of q lion. He. had rapidly be-
come a favorite with Old Harry and
all his comrades In the division; but,
tho popular with them, he would have
given all their favor for one kind
glance from Emily. the boss only
daughter, a young girl of 10. Alas,
however, for Goodall Two months
ago Emily had dashed all his hopes
by rushing into hasty marriage with
Ralph Abingdon, a brilliant man OF
toll MT; c,,1H
ly appeared on the: scene and carried
everything before him.
Il tell you, Frank said Old Wales,
II have kind Of queer feeling in me
here about this job. Emily and Alb
ingdon have taken wonderfully to
each other, and it kind of reminds
me Of the way she used to play when
Jack Broadhurst, whom T adopted. T
have often told you the story. His
father was a mate Of mine when I
first joined the brigade. At the big
fire in Tooley street poor Broadhust
lost his life. We were up in the fourth
story of a grain warehouse, and the
flames were raging thick and high
the hose to the next gable, which was
threatened by the fire. We had just
reached the point. our clothes burnt
off our backs, our faces singed, even
our brass helmets cracking with the
heat Broadhurst was in front; we
on the gable, which was beginning
to smoke.
"'Will the whistle never blow?' he
suddenly asked me. I can't hold out
much longer
1.-The boss won't forget u.s. I
answered. Hold tight, old chap
you see, we were standing on a
| {rooh nd uyIoo
fell knew it was all up with him.
you'll see to Jack, mate he
called out as he sank into the flames
that ragged belw, 'and before heaven,
Frank, I did my part by the lad. He
was a kid Of 7 years when we took
then, you know. The two children
were brought up together, and right
merry little pair they were. Then at
about his sixteenth year a change
came over the boy. His father had
always been a wild sort, and I suppose
would hold him in. He fair broke the
poor wife's heart, for she had done a
lot by him. I lectured him, I, licked
him. did all that even afather could
but no, nothing would keep him back
He disappeared one Wednesday morn.
had since. Poor Emily was awfully
down for a while; but she was young.
er then, you know, and the girl got
over it. When you began to. come
about the house, Frank, think it die
her g. heap Of good. But this mar
him which would turn any girls head
1t has even bewitched myself, and yol
know I'm not easily carried away"
How do you explain it, Wales?'
asked the younger Of the two men.
Its more, than 7 can explain
thing in Ralph Abingdon that kint
J of reminds me Of Jack Broadhurst
:: who bolted from our house ten year.
ago. Heaven knows I did my par
by the lad! We were always mates
his father and I, and If the boy wa
to come back to-day I wouldn't TURF
him from my door. There Is warn
corner in my heart for Broadhurst'
son. aye, and there always will be-
Yes, yes" said Goodall, that is al
right, boss, but it don't alter the fac
that Emily has married q man VIII
comes from no one knows where, AM
of whom no man in London know
anything"
'"Tuts, tuts, lad, you're still Jealous
Take your defeat like a man. W
} can't win all the-prizes in life. Max
the best of It," =
"Ah!" said Frank Goodall. with
sigh. IF only you knew how I felt
L dll I'LL dlOuc III lIiAo ACFC
knew father nor mother, never knev
anybody that I cared for much, unit
/ I came to your house and first say
Emily"
The two men shook hands. Eve
| the firm lips of the iron-hearted Dos
, trembled.
Cheer up, Frank" he said, eth
marriage has made a difference to m
, too, lad. She was all that had, nov
, that her mother is gone. I thought
was for the best. L would not stan
, in the way of her happiness, and yo
t must look at it that way too, Franz
She wished Abingdon, she says sh
! loves him, and we won't spoil tw
, lives, will we, lad? There's duty to
done in the world, and II fortune ha
r been rough on you in this game, ma
; be it viii put metal into you. m
/ man who has no one to care fo
= and no one to care for him, is tn
! chap I like for mate. I feel cas-
, about him in the time of danger. H
will never abandon a mate, and, b
4 Heaven! will never abandon him.
Once more the firm, strong hand
8 were c1asped together. At the sam
e moment the fire alarm rang, and til
n next instant the whole station was i
e commotion. It was the beginning {
b winter, and as the brigade dashed u
e the street the first -snow-fakes wel
r failing into the depths of the Londo
= fog. The alarm had come from
e house near Long Acre, and when tn
e engines arrived at the spot the fire ha
r burst thru the roof; the building WE
o doomed. A crowd had gathered
4 | front onH conn tho hri 10 6ra