The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1912-12-12
A TRAMP FlRE.Fl6HTEI:I''I
y IDA ALEXANDER.

"a u914S NS8AAUOkA,
Jor . week now. the tramp had
bean nghting IRE With the other IL.
lighters. Why he had done % he
hardly knew. The pay was lot
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 die.
tanced the fre once again, and lay
stretched In the shade, genuinely
weary. sincerely sick Of It all.
Let the owners Tight" he said, halt
aloud. Later on they'll run me out
from the shade Of the very trees I
help to save. amt goin' back"
The resolution had come suddenly.
He had fully intended to return after
snatching an hour or 20 Of well.
earned rest.
It 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 were pulling at him;
men were 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 halt
awake. II don't give. a" Z.
The faces Of the men were black.
ened and bleeding.
jerks an Bert's lost" said one.
We'll. I 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 20 many that the shock was
quite gone from the tale. It was only
when enacted before the eye, In all
its grewsome details, that It had DOW
or even partially to shock.
He settled back again. II amt goin'
to get up"
The others stood ready to 90. Tho
man half turned. but paused. "Bill'
once more. will ye come? It's hittin'
now for place where there's little
oaildren-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 Jfe. 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. It
was night before they acknowledged
that their efforts had been without
avail.
Bill threw down his az, and pointed
his lean finger. Some one ought to
tell EN-" he said. And then, az no
one spoke. I'll 60"
It was trackless way through tho
forest and thick underbDush, but Bill
raced on. hurried by the roaring of
the IRE. handicapped BY his wearl
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 .
menace in the sly. There were no
men among them. The men were
away. battling with the danger that
threatened their homes. SO It fell to
Bill to prepare and urge forward the
hurried fight. It was he who remem-
bered everything-meat and drink,
warm clothes for the wide.eyed chill
dren. He harnessed and made ready.
Throw out everything, IL you amt
pakin' q good getaway" he eau.
toned. then gave the word, and the
heavily laden teams moved of.
"You! You! You amt comin'?"
the women shrffled back to him.
AFTER . bit. You're loaded enough.
I'll be along fore long"
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.
1ut this! couldn't never forget that
little shaver a. wanted to 81 me his
pie-all Of It. I Jest had to do it."
And Bill, fre-hghter and tramp. set
tied comfortably back, with his eyes
on the approaching IRE. and the
strange smile still shadowing his
mouth with q beauty that would have
made His mother glad.
F-aQ- -
I,.<a., - e.. AZ.