The Washington herald., 1921-09-25

Jimmy, his helmet gone, his hair singed
OF, his face xn unrecognizable mass OF
blisters and SCOT, showed a bundle into
Mats arm-a bundle from which
came q faint movement, an even
fainter wall
graftin'! There amt nothin' to graft after
them fellers get through. But we gets the
blame Of it just the samen'
"Shl Easy, lad! advised Matt, with
q shake of his head.
There's more truth than a little in what
he's sayin','' declared Whalen.
"Well, some ones gettin' away with the
stuff said Matt. But you want to re-
member they can't always lay it on the
protectives; remember how the last investi-
CATION came out, don't you?'
Denny Whalen shrugged his shoulders.
II should worry! 'Taint none of u.s."
said he. LET 'em investigate to the limit
Its rotten business, all the same"
growled Matt. Look at the way it puts
suspicion on every man that was there
There's the dirty part of it!'
Below stairs the Taper began to clatter.
They heard Bogan's feet come down from the
desk-top. There was a rumble which fairly
shook the building as the stall doors few
open and the five horses sped to their places
three to the engine and two to the tender.
Whalen had been counting.
Six hfty-two! Just down the street.
corner of Fleet!' said he, dashing for the
pole.
THERE was rush, a scurry. Down went
L. the men from the lounging room. Click
went the snaps on the harness.
Men were in their places in a trice. And
with shouting drivers and changing bells.
Ninety three and its tender rolled out into
the afternoon sunshine.
A thick column of smoke was belching M
far down the street. A ragged urchin, badly
out OF breath from running, came painting up
as they left the house and shouted to them
quite superfuously.
ITS the buildin' where Perosetti's gro
cery is! It's goin' from cellar to the roof %
Matt Heegan on the tender, pulling on his
fire boots and a rubber coat, took one look
at the smoke column
"Some fire thatv' he grunted to Larry
Began, who was urging the tenders team to
yet better efforts in the way of speed.
A brood of chattering onlookers broke
right and left for the pavements as they
came gathering up. A ladder truck came
whirling around the corner just below. The
staccato rattle of a gong told of a district
chiefs wagon just behind it.
The five story brick building, the street
floor of which was occupied by Perosetd's
italian grocery, was a mass of flames from
the third floor up.
Out of the doorway swarmed the tenants
who occupied the tiny fats above the gro
cery. There was a great humping Of sorry
furniture dragged down the stairs; a wiring
ing Of empty hands by those who had been
unable to save any part of their household
effects.
Here's a mess!" grunted Matt Heegan,
coupling hose with the deftness of years of
practice.
The district chiefs wagon dashed up, and
the portly chief scrambled over the wheel.
''In with you, boy! Hold her where
she is" he yelled, as he ran to the box
to send in the second alarm.
With helmets reversed and the collars
Of their rubber coats turned up, Ninety
three's men went surging in with the lines
of live hose.
Give it to her now! Soak It 20 roared
Matt as he opened the nozzle Of the hose
hn was helping 'o carry They we're stun, :
bling through the smoke q: the top Of the