The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-08
The Euening Story
JudSOn's Hobby.

Its all very well to belong to a
volunteer fire company remarked
Walter Williams with some heat, t'but
L object to being called out for every
blaze that starts within ten miles of
our district"
$50 say we all of u.s." chanted Ed
Martin, cheerfully.
You're a nut, Judson-you're plum
dotty on the subject of fire fighting
and chasing all over the world haul
ing a hook and ladder" Williams con-
tinued, addressing a big, quiet looking
fellow who stood in the group. Il
suppose you sleep in your helmet"
Judson laughed. NO" he an
swered, but 1 place it on a chair by
my bed every night together with my
oilskin coat
nightie, L suppose" chaffed Ed Mar
Not quite-here it is Frank Jud-
son answered, throwing back his coat
and displaying a firemans badge
pinned to his waistcoat. II always
wear it,
Nobody homer sang Martin. tap
ping his forehead. Nobody home in
JudSon's mutt"
That's all right fellows" began
Judson, his face flushing he spoke.
But when l do a thing L do it right.
Which of you would prepare a series
of papers on fire fighting to read at
the meetings? Which of you would
devote your holidays to drilling your
home company? Which of you would
turn out at all hours every time to
ring that bell as 1 do? Tell me- he
said.
The boys who had been teasing
Judson could see that they had gone
too far; that he was sensitive; that
1.-The matter was vital to him. They
Fhad not realized until now that the
man was so much in earnest. They
never had known of a man who would
make a hobby of fire fighting. Now
that they stopped to ponder over it
they realized that 1t was Frank JUDD
son who had first proposed the organ
iZing of this auxiliary fire department.
and that it had been he who had kept
up interest in it's 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 during
the remainder of the meeting, he
seemed to have overlooked the teasing.
Within a fortnight, however. the
residents of the quiet suburban section
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
fit 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 wrap
ped in great fur coat, pulled up be-
side the apparatus which had been
hauled from the firehouse.
Father is not well enough to
swer the call, so 1 came in his place"
began Helen Thompson. DO you want
to tie the cart on behind?'
by love, it's too cold for you to
drive that car down to the creek road
tonight Helen
"Oh, I'm warm enough said the
girl I'm all right
You're game, anyway said Ed
Martin, who had come running up
You're right
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 tonneau, while
the remaining members of the COM
pany started out on foot.
AS the girl drove her fathers big
car down the precarious roads lead
ing to the creek section, where the
fire was said to be, the man at her
side wondered why, in all the years
never appealed to him before. What
a splendid girl she was How coura-
geous of her to come out on a bitter
night to drive the car and tow the
another side of Helen Thompson.
When the little contingent from
the auxiliary fire department reached
the scene of the fire, the blaze had
been extinguished by the regular vii
lage fire fighters.
But we get the credit for being
game and on the job, y said Martin,
who had queezed himself into the
car.
''Yes-thanks to Judson, here, we
keep n 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 appar-
atus behind them. Judson tried to
keep the cold wind from Helen and
asked her again and again if she were
not cold. but the girl kept up her grit
till her own home was in sight
! I'll go into the garage with you,
said Judson when the fire cart had
been detached and every one had left
the automobile but himself.
/ Il wish you would; I'm so cold" ad-
mitted Helen.
There was little more conversation