The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-02-27
A TRAMP F!RE-FIGHTERI
BY IDA ALEXANDER

For a week now the tramp had
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 fight" he said. half
aloud Later on they'll run me out
from the shade of the very trees I
help to save. l amt goin' back"
The resolution had come suddenly
He had fully intended to return after
snatching an hour or so Of we'll
earned relS.
1t was In the early forenoon that
he had laid down. 1t 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 half
awake. 81 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
cutie 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 81 amt goin'
to get up"
The others stood ready to go. The
man half turned, but paused. "Bill'
once more, will we come? It's hittin'
now for place where there's little
children-little children, mind We, with
out any idee what danger means"
Bill raised his lank figure till he
stood an inch above the others '1ll
come" he said
Backward now they turned with the
Lob ofn np WI n not
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. 1t
was night before they acknowledged
that their efforts had been without
avail.
Blu threw down his ak, and pointed
his lean finger. Some one ought to
tel EN-" he said. And then, as nc
one spoke, "I'll CO."
/. 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 g
menace in the sky There were nc
men among them. The men were
away, battling with the danger that
threatened their homes. So it fell tt
| Bill to prepare and urge forward the
| hurried fight. 1t was he who remem
bered everything-meat and drink
| warm clothes for the wide-eyed chill
Throw out everything, II you ain,
maxim a good getaway" he eau
| toned, then gave the word, and thu
heavily laden teams moved off.
you! You! You amt comin'?'
the women shrilled back to him.
After bit. You're loaded enough
I'll be along fore long"
| Already the flames were sending
forth their spying sparks. Present.!
the enemy would throw caution to thu
winds, and advance upon him.
ANY other place could a. burnet
and been darned fore I'd "a done II
| But this! I couldn't never forget tina
little shaver as wanted to 81 me hi
| pie-all Of it. l jest had to do It,"
And Bill, fire-fighter and tramp. SET
tied comfortably back, with his eye
on the approaching fire, and tn
strange smile still shadowing hi
mouth with a beauty that would hav
made his mother glad.