The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-12-31
-A TRAMP FIRE-FIGHTER.
BY IDA ALEXANDER.

For a week row the tramp had
been lighting FIRE with the other fire
fighters Why Be had done So he
hardly knew. The pay was not
large and the risk was. He had been
almost cornered again and again AZ
times, escape had seemed impossible.
but he had raced hts way TO safety,
while his blistered feet and smoke
clogged lungs protested. But he had
always wont out. Now he had dis
tanced the fire once again, and lay
stretched In the shade, genuinely
weary, sincerely sick Of It All
Let the owners fight, he said. half
aloud Later on they'll run me out
from the shade Of the very trees
help to save ! amt goin back
The resolution had come suddenly.
He mad fully intended to return after
snatching an hour or so Of we'll
earned rest
1t was in the early forenoon that
he had laid down. It seemed hours
before his tired eyes closed. and but
moment before he was rudely awak-
ened Men we're pulling at him;
men we're shouting in his ear. The
words at last penetrated drowsily
into. his mind
get up, Bill Get up for Gods sake.
It's comm this way"
He sat up at last, sulkily and hall
awake. n don't give a."
The faces OF the men were hack
ened and bleeding.
Jenks an Bert's lost" said one.
Well, didn't find en-" said the
tramp.
God hnd theml" said the other,
reyerently. They've burned to
death
He heard the news callously There
had been so many that the shock was
quite gone from the tale 1t was only
when enacted before the eye, in all
It's grewsome details, that it had pow
er even partially to shock
He settled back again. Il amt goin'
to get up"
The others stood ready to 60 The
man half turned but paused. "Bill'
once more, will ye come? It's hittin'
now for a place where there's little
children-little children, mind ye, with.
out any idee what danger means"
Bill raised his lank figure till he
stood an inch above the others. 'I'll
come he said
Backward now they turned with the
quick step of men who knew that
time meant life All trace Of listless
ness had vanished from Bills face and
figure. He was the alert fire-fghter
untiring. unafraid
All day they fought, each with the
courage and the strength OF ten II
4 was night before they acknowledged
that their efforts had been without
avail.
Bill threw down his ak, and pointed
his lean finger. Some one ought t
tell EN- he said And then, as ne
one spoke, 'I'l 81"
It was trackless way through tn,
forest and thick underbrush, but Bill
raced on, hurried BY the roaring o
the fire, handicapped by his weari
ness, harried by the fear that he nigh
not be in time.
The people Of the village wer'
awake clustered around in groups
watching the light that hung like
menace m the sky. There we're n,
men among them. The men wer
away, battling with the danger tha
threatened their homes SO it fell t,
Bill to prepare and urge forward tn
hurried fight. 1t was he who remem
bered everything meat and drink
warm clothes for the wide-syed Chi
dren. He harvested and made ready
Throw out everything. II you ain
maxim good getaway" he car
toned. then gave tie word, and tn
heavily laden teams moved on.
"yohl You'll You amt comin'i
the womer shrliied back to him.
Aster a bit You're loaded enough
III be along fore long
Already the flames we're sendin
forth their spying sparks. Present.
thls enemy would throw caution to tn
winds. and advance upon him
"Any other place could al burne
End been darned fore I'd "a done i
But this | couldn't never forget tina
little shaver as wanted to 81 me hi
ple--all of 1t. I jest had 10 do it."
And BIZ, fire-hghter and tramp, So
tied comfortably back. with his eye
on the approaching fire, and tn
strange smile still shadowng hi
mouth with beauty that would hay
made his mother glad