Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-19

ropcatirg patiently, there amt any knock,
In in it. There amt any politics in it.
There amt anything In ii but just what I'm
teliin' yuh. The chief says he wants young
blood in the department. He's squeezed out
all the Old fellcrs out of the ranks. an now
he's goin' higher up. If yuh won't get out
without raisin' a kick yuh'n have to stand
examinin' by the medical board. An yuh
know how that's worked
why don't he retire Brodrick?' Meaghan
asked, plaintiveiy.
Tighe did not answer I'm sorry he
went on. I'm sorry. but It's likes not to
be my next call We're all of US gettin'
stiff. | guess. They say yuh can't learn an
OF dog any new stunts"
Capt. Meaghan's anger had passed with
his first indignant protests that he was being
put out OF the department for private or
political reasons. He relapsed now into
silent apathy and resignation; and he stood
In the center of his room to gaze at his
swivel chair and his desk of papers-the
empty throne and office of his power-with
q mute pathos of fixed eye and wrinkled
forehead.
Tighe continued: We all got to come to
It sometime. An It amt as bad as lots of
Jobs l know, where a mans chucked out on
the streets without a cent. YuhN have yer
half pay to live easy on, anyways"
Capt. Meaghan sat down by the window,
II his desk were already occupied by the
right Of his successor Live" he said. Il
know how I'm goin to live. But whatm
gon' to do? Where's my work."
We'll, If l was you" Tighe said, I'D
guess Id worked long enough"
Meaghan did not reply. He sank forward
TO rest his forearms on his knees and let his
heavy hands hang down limp between them.
Tighe watched him in silence. There was
nothing more that he could say. and yet he
did not know how to get out of the room
without saying something. He was looking
wi q ed
from an awkward exit by the janglng of
the jigger with the first strokes of the alarm
of fire. and he flung out of the room in a
noisy haste that made an excuse of urgency
out OF an excess of hustle.
Capt. Meaghan rose like an aUtOmatOm to
the bell, and reached down his cap from
hook In the corner. He put ii on; and he
seemed to grope and feel around the room
with his eyes, in a bewildered and wander
ing gaze. as he did so. Then he turned 60
go out in a blind stumble; and he closed the
door behind him, either absent-mindedly or
IN the way woman will gently shut her
self out OF a room of happy memories when
She leaves it to the past
The truck was waiting for him impatient
ly. He nodded to the driver and swung
himself up to his place on the turntabe as
the horses sprang forward obliquely from
the poles, with Straining launches, and the
great machine rolled out on noseless axles.
Lieut.. Gallagher the only who
noticed that the captain put on his helmet
wrong side before; and Gallagher noticed it
because he had heard the rumOr of changes
IN the battalion. and knew that Meaghan
was in danger. The men on the side step
were either sleepily putting on their coats
while they chung to the ladders, or were
borrowing and lending the chewing tobacco
with which they were accustomed to for
tify themselves against the thirst and ex-
element of a fire. There some chatting
among those on the other side of the truck
and the lieutenant glared at them through
the rungs of the ladders, understanding
from the captains manner that Tighes in
tervew had brought ''th OF man" his re-
tirement; for Meaghan, instead of leaning
out from the turntable to watch the street
ahead and call unnecessary directions to the
driver, was holding on with both hands, his
face to the ladders. and swaying dzzily
with the lurching of the truck.
When they swung around street corner
into the black belch of steamers Gallagher
had TO say, Here we are, sir, before Mea-
CHAN raised his eyes. Even then lie did not
seem to waken. He did not get down until
the truck had stopped; and ne stood in the
gutter, fumblng with his helmet-as If he
noticed for the first time that il sat I'M
easily awry on his head-until Gallagher
having righted il for him. said, Chiefs over
there, sir" and pointed out the boss"
where he stood beside his carriage
MeaEhIn shambled across the street to re-
port the arrival Of his company, with a dis
ptritcd NO. o, chief"
The head of the department without turn
ing 10 him, replied. impatiently: Get in,
then. Get in. They don't seem to be able
TO ind the cursed fire"
Meaghan looked up DULY at the five
Stored warehouse that showed a dark bulk
of brick in the feeble light of the street
LAMPS He saw smoke leaking out around
the iron shutters of the second and third
stories. as If from the joints of dampered
box stove. He saw flremen ladder tops
WORKING to force an entrance through these
shutters with crcWbars and jimmies
second-story window had been opened, and
faced hose hung down empty from 1t to
snow that the blaze had not been found
AND two engine crews, having coupled butts
10 hydrants and stretched their lines of
hose, were waiting like soldiers In a night
attack for the oruer TO advance.
For one blank moment Meaghan stood at
gaze. Then he pushed back his helmet from
MS .orehead; his face set IN thoughtful
scowl; he spat az his feet; he looked I'D
again. frownng. And suddenly he pulled
down the peak OF his helmet to his eyes
with the manner Of a mind resolve, and
bounded forward in run across the paw
Ing stones to his command
Ground foor!' he shouted. Break in
the doors! Three of the company leaped
at the truck and dragged out the battering-
rama knohbed bar of iron, fitted with
handles for two men. That's no good" he
bawled angrily at them. Get yer twenty
footer!'
Six of them dragged down the heavy lad
der, caught It at both ends and the middle
and ran at fun tilt with 1t against the ware
house doors. Hit on the lock-" he yelled.
Lieut.. Gallagher suggested mildly:
Smokes all up above SIR
Meaghan brushed him aside as the impact
OF the half-dozen men, behind the steel
shod weight of wood. struck the doors a
blow that burst them open with a crash of
spiintered planking and the sharp report of
snapped metal.
Get in. now" Meaghan cried Get In!
Never mind yer lights. Yuh can't open yer
eyes IN there. Get yer axes" Gallagher
dropped his lantern and ran to them.
Smoke had begun to thicken in the door
way. They stopped to drag out their lad
Ger, oh, h-H!' Meaghan yelled. Get in,
will yuh2 Find the fire! Find the freI'
Three OF them. armed from the truck dis
appeared after Gallagher into the smoke
Meashsn sent three others to support them
and hurried out into the road to see the
front OF the building; and now, as he looked
up from the smoke OF the doorway to the
smoke of the windows and down again. he
Jerked his head backward and forward
abruptly and spasmodically, with an old
mans exaggerated alertness In the set of
his chin. He ran back to the door TRY
the elevator shaft" he shouted in
The cry that replied 10 him sounded from
ABOVE him. as II the men were cropping their
way up the stairs; and this was not what
he had intended that they should do. He
YubnG0 no gtr