The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-10
JuDson and HIS HOBBY
BY HOPE AINSLEE.

SSSINSICSSCCGS<
Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa.
paper Syndicate)
The boys who had been teasing
Judson could see that they had gone
too far; that he was sensitive: that
the matter was vital to him. They
had not realized until now that the
man was SO much in earnest. They
never had known a man who woult
make a hobby Of fire fighting. Now
that they stopped to ponder over II
they realized that it was Frank Jud.
son who had first proposed the or.
ganization of this auxiliary fire depart
ment, and that 1t had been he who
had kept up interest in its existence
all the way along.
Tactfully the subject was diverted
from Judson and his penchant for
ringing the fire bell every time the
general village alarm was given. And
though Judson had little to say, he
seemed to have overlooked the teas
ing.
Within fortnight, however. the
residents of the quiet suburban sec.
ton heard the fire departments bell
clang! clang! clang! out upon the
cold, crisp air Of the winter night.
Out of the various houses dashed
men to answer the alarm, all mutter
ing epithets about the man who saw
1t to call out the company on the
slightest provocation.
A pair Of automobile lights cast
their bright reflection around the
curving road leading to the firehouse
and a machine. driven by a girl
wrapped in great fur coat, pulled up
beside the apparatus which had been
hauled from the firehouse.
Father is not well enough to an
swer the call, SO I came in his place."
began Helen Thompson. do you
want to tie the cart on behind?"
Get in. Mr.. Judson." said Helen
when the boys had fastened the ap-
paratus to the back of the car.
Frank Judson got in beside the
girl and others occupied the ton
neau. while the remaining members
of the company started out on foot.
When the little contingent from
the auxiliary fire department
reached the scene OF the fire. the
blaze had been extinguished by the
regular fire fighters.
But we get the credit for being
game and ON the Job. said Martin,
who had squeezed himself into the
car"
"Yes-thanks to Judson here, we
keep a good reputation for answering
calls" said another.
IT'S thanks to Miss Helen-this
time" replied Judson, forgetting, for
the moment to take notice OF the fact
that he was being chaffed.
shall we return?" asked the girl,
clapping her hands together to keep
the circulation in them.
And the little party returned
through the dark, cold, dreary streets
with the changing bell Of the ap-
paratus behind them. Judson tried to
keep the cold wind from Helen and
asked her again and again II she were
not cold, but the girl kept up her
grit till her own home was in sight.
There was little more conversation
between the two, but when Judson
helped Helen from the car and picked
up the heavy fur robes to carry into
the house for her he hoped Helen's
father would ask him to sit and visit
= v,tS NJ hnt ~ tISn
night.
Doctor Thompson met his daughter
with a smile. Helen, you're better
than a son. ] verify believe. You're
always to be depended on. Come in,
Judson. Warm up a minute by our
hickory log"
ITS Miss Helen who is to be
warmed up, doctor. I'm afraid it's
been pretty cold for her." said Jud.
son.
Il didn't want her to go out, but
she would do it," said Doctor Thomp-
son proudly.
I'D like to find another girl who
would" JudsOn added, looking into
the girls eyes. 1t was the first
really interested look he had ever
taken into them. and what he saw
there made him realize that he had
missed much of the good in the world.
When he left the girl and her
father he asked II he might come In
often to see them, which was more
or less Of a surprise to the girl, for
she had known him for five years,
and he had never made II a point to
drop into her home.
She was even wondering, on the
following night. when, II ever. Frank
Judson would come, when she heard
his voice in the hall. He was telling
her father that he had been worrying
for fear she had taken cold.
Indeed, haven't" Helen assured
him as she gave him her hand.
Il should never forgive myself II
you had Frank replied. Never"
And ] know something else you
never would have done, too, Mr. Frank
Judson," Helen said, laughing and
two dimples the young
man had never seen before. you
never would have taken the trouble
to come TO see me II l hadn't hap
pened to appeal to you through your
hobby-the fire department. Now,
would you?"
Frank Judson flushed as he had
flushed that day when the boys rad
leased him. What does It matter!
II have come and I intend to keep
On coming-if ] may, Helenr