The bee., 1912-12-06
A TRAMP FIRE-FIGHTERi
BY IDA ALExANDER.

been fighting fire with the other fire.
fighters. Why he had done so he
hardly knew ';'s ;Se pay .was MOI
large and the risk was. He had been
almost cornered again and again. At
times. escape had seemed impossible,
but he had raced his 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 II 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. I amt goin' back"
The resolution had come suddenly
He had fully intended to return after
snatching an hour or SO Of we'll
earned rest. w
II was in the early forenoon that
he had laid down. 1t seemed hours
before his tired eyes closed. and but
a moment before he was rudely awak-
ened. Men were 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 half
awake. II don't give a"
The faces of the men were black
ened and bleeding.
Lo n
We'll, didn't find EN-" said the
tramp.
God, find them!" said the other.
reverently. 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 go. The
man half turned, but paused. "Bilr
once more, will ye come? It's hittin'
now for 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'n
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-fighter,
untiring, unafraid
All day they fought, each with the
courage and the strength of ten. 1t
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 to
tell EN-" he said And then, as no
one spoke, "I'll go"
1t was trackless way through the
forest and thick underbrush, but Bill
raced on, hurried by the roaring of
the fire, handicapped by his weari-
ness, harried by the fear that he might
not be in time.
The people of the village were
awake, clustered around in groups,
watching the light that hung like a
menace in the sky. There we're no
men among them. The men were
away, battling with the danger that
threatened their homes. So 1t fell to
Bill to prepare and urge forward the
hurried flight 1t was he who remem-
bered everything-meat and drink.
warmsclothes for the wide-eyed chill
dren. He harnessed and made ready.
Throw out everything. If you amt
maxim a good getaway" he eau
toned. then gave the word, and the
heavily laden teams moved of
H"Youl You! You Amt comin'?"
the women shrilled back to him.
After bit. You're loaded enough.
I'll be along fore long i5saAgH
Already the flames were sending
forth their spying sparks. Presently
the enemy would throw caution to the
winds. and advance upon him.
"Any other place could "a burned
and been darned fore I'd "a done it.
But this! couldn't never forget that
/ little shaver as wanted to gi' me his
pie-+ali of It. i Jest had to DO it.Te
| And Bill, fre-hghter and, tramp. set
tied comfortably back, with his eyes
on the \ approaching Are, and, the
strange smile still shadowing his
mouth with a beauty that would have
made his mother glad. 2' ~ s''p 81
1 /.