The Washington herald., 1914-03-15
diker yells Duffy. T might squash

We had big laugh, and when Duffy
finally got over his scare and lit hi;
pipe he chuckled, and l felt that ! had
made start in getting him away from
his trouble.
After one pipe it was time to beat ii,
SO we shouted good-by TO Mamie, who
trouble with the supplies department
was nursing the infant, and STARTED for
quarters.
When we got to the engine house
Duffy says, ''Thank you, Captain" and
goes upstairs to the dormitory. / was
talking to the lieutenant about some
when Mrs. Doherty, who tides up for
the men. come hurrying downstairs out
of breath and whispers to me that she
thinks Duffy is sick. l ran up to the
dormitory and found him lying on his
bed, face down. The big muscles on
his shoulders seemed to be quivering a
little.
What's the matter?" ] asked.
For a half minute he struggled with
himself and his shoulder muscles bunch
ed tight and hard.
Nothing" he said.
I was worried bnt went away. WAS
thst big Jim Jeffries of a man cryingT
wondered.
NO." l said TO myself; "be had too
much turkey; it's indigestion"
l did all that captain could do for
a fireman in trouble, but | didn't make
any headway with Duffy. | tried to
get him to eat with US the Christmas
following his Thanksgiving visit, but he
made an excuse and I couldn't bully
him into accepting the invitation.
Springtime and summer come again
and all of US working hard and study
ing for promotion. Duffy refused to
take any examinations for promotion
although the board of merit had tabbed
him with medal after two heroic
rescues. He was satisfied with his
three white horses and the big steamer
and he was always busy keeping them
glossy and bright. When there wasn't
a hair left to comb or an inch of brass
or nickel to polish he would sit in his
corner and smoke
There were changes in the company
death and promotion-and one day my
battalion chief notified me he was send
ing me good man to fill the last place
made vacant by the usual course of
events in the department
Hes a ten-thousand-do beauty"
the chief informed me.
Il give laugh to him right now," I
told the chief. This aint any company
for pretty people. What we want is
monkey like Finnegan or a Ajax like
Duffy"
You'll chan1e your mind" said the
chief. Hes handsome, but there isn't
anything can beat him at fire"
rs he Irish?"
NO; his name is Graham and he
come from out West. He's been in the
department two years and is married
and sober. If you get to guying him
look out for his right He's got the
punch, although he is a quiet fellow.
I'll send him around tomorrow after
noon so he can begin on the night
trick"
l was waiting at the door for him the
next afternoon about 5 O'Clock, when
up Chambers street from the Sixth
avenue e. there comes at a fast walk
as handsome and trim a lad as / ever
saw in uniform. He looked like one
of those silky guys you see in the pic
lures about the Four Hundred doings,
but from the stride of him | knew him
to be a man and no mouse. He was
six foot and built so evenly that il did
my eyes good to take him in all over
His cheek bones were high, his nose
straight, and he had jaw with a pur-
pose, believe me. His eyes were gray
under straight brows and as he come
up to me and touched his cap he looked
at me full on the level.
THE first battalion chief sent NE to
report, sir" he said.
Report for what" asked him,
sharp, just to rag him bit.
For duty, Captain"
oh, is that so?" asked him.
Whats your name?"
Graham
What's the rest of your nane?"
John"
That fine, handsome sace OF his sort
of broke into ripples for he knew l was
stringing him along.
Johnny GEaham is my name in
quarters, Captain" he said.
Not the famous Johnny Graham
that saved the Zinnsmeipder family in
the Chrystie street fire a year agosr 1
asked him.
His reply was a grin, not a poor,
sickly little grin like the one Duffy
gives, but broad, real grin that would
start anybody smiling in spite of them
selves.
IL finished MY probation period a