The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-01-02
A TRAMP FIRE.FIGHTER
By IDA ALEXANDER,


been fighting fire with the other fire.
fighters. Why he had done so he
hardly knew. The pay was not
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 It all.
Let the owners flsht." 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 had fully intended to return after
snatching an hour or 30 OF well-
earned rest.
II was In the early forenoon that
he had laid down. It seemed hours
before his tired eyes closed, and but
a 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 half
awake. Il don't give "a"
The faces Of the men were black
ened and bleeding.
Jerks an Bert's lost" said one.
well, | 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
its grewsome details, that 1t 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 hlttin'
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 Bill's face and
figure. He was the alert fre-Hghter.
untiring. unafraid.
All day they fought each with the
courage and the strength Of ten. II
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, as nc
one spoke. "I'll CO."
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
menace in the sky. 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 flight 1t 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, if you amt
maxim a good getaway" he eau
toned, then gave the word, and the
heavily laden teams moved off.
You, You! You amt comin?"
he women shrilled back to him.
After bit. You're loaded enough
III be along fore long"
Already the flames were sending
orth their spying sparks. Presently
he enemy would throw caution to the
Winds, and advance upon him.
ANY other place could "a burned
md been darned fore Id "a done it
But this couldn't never forget that
title shaver as wanted to gi' me his
,ie-all of it. l jest had to do it."
And Bill. fire-fghter and tramp set
led comfortably back, with his eyes
N the approaching fire, and the
trange smile still shadowing his
mouth with a beauty that would have
made his mother glad