Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-12-22

father prepared to spend the long vacation tosetne
July OF this year saw them established together in a
cottage that chung the skirts OF the bigger h0tei
bradstree found it easy to work there He :, had I'D
been too deeply in the swing Of 1t to leave the DOCK
behind and for several hours eac Gay ne te
youth of the hotel and cottages He was qute used
to being pointed transient visitors as the son
OF lanes Bradstreet, you know, who IS summer
ing here" but the young people hailed him with no
illusions to his father. Among his contemporaries
Jim needed references.
He was beginning to confess himself batiled and
sometimes he felt he almost hated the story he had
gloried in few months before He was not used
Toward the end Of August Mr. Bradstreet was
called away suddenly and Jim left for day
or two to keep bachelors hail in their three-room
".Oh. yes. he will be back very soon" the boy
ming Mrs. Gray. No, it was not sickness all Mrs
Bacon. Lonely Mrs. Green? Oh, I'm coming
first rate, and there's fishing trip that will keep
busy th, morning. see the fellows are waiting
if you will excuse me and Jim bowed himself off.
Mid-aernoon instead of noon saw the return of
the anglers From the point where they had struck
into the woods they rowed swiftly, hungrily back
Hello" cried Ned Feowcs suddenly, Il won
der what's doing over there by the hotel?'
There signs of unwoned activity about the
hotel men, women and children guests and
Several OF the women carried pitchers and pals the
men were unwindng a coil OF hose. From over the
trees that shut out view of the cottages pulled
delicate spiral of smoke
The first boat turned bend in the lake.
Jimmy" gasped the boy in the bow, twisting
his head around Its fire! Row. fellows, row!
Don't let's miss it,
Il say, it's yours, Jim shrilled excited voice
IT'S your cottage!
YES said Jim quietly. Keep her head steady
Bill" With long strokes he sent the boat ahead Of
the others, darting in swift streak toward the hotel
pier. lin had seen at glance the location OF the
fire, and there was room for but one thought in his
brain.
At the landing he sprang out and raced across
the grass and down the little stretch Of shaded
road Smoke pouring from every window of
the cottage where were his and his fathers
The crackle OF flames came to him as he ran; he
Now broadside OF fire burst through the windows
on the soutf--hs own rooms opened to the north.
Two three played futile stream OF water
on the roof others strove to bring into action two
more lines of hose.
Employees OF the hotel urged the guests back
out OF danger; they made Gordon around the cot
Keep back, please"
Nobody else allowed inside"
Cant let you throug' Mr.. limits furnace
in therefore stop that boy!"
The one idea had kept its place pre-eminent in
fathers manuscript lay in his His father 5
words, IF anything should happen to tit is my
dearest possession scared themselves his con
seriousness There was no envy now. 1t did not
occur to him now to wish ito beat the book He
swerved little from his straight course. passed
the head waiter who had forbidden him passage, and
dared into the burning cottage.
When Jim awoke to consciousness some hours
later he felt rather than saw for his eyes were
Dad, he whispered tentatively.
Yes, Jim answered his fathers voice close to
his ear Here am, my boy!'
Jim felt very tired and very uncomfortable, but
anxiety weed up within him. dad, is the-did you
find the book--al right"
The book is safe. Jm," said his father And
then suddenly his voice hurried with little catch
in it, "Jim boy, what did you think cared for that
wretched book compared with your
A feeling a He
to move the hand that lay on the coverlet 1t was
big and heavy with bandages and hard to lift, His
father understood the movement and laid his own
on the ,poulticed fingers. Jim smiled content, but
still little bewildered.
IT isn't wretched book" he contradicted, weak
ly It's bully one, the best yet and-you said
you'd like to be remembered by it."
:, You are the book I'd rather be remembered BY
Jim" said his father gently.