The Tomahawk., 1925-09-10

Dot IL AAi66iCS oiiSy hC was
l. i Familiarity known as Shingles.
This was because, while
bootblack by profession. he spent
large share of his life on the roof Of
f1ve-story tenement house, tending
bis baby brother. On this particular
occasion, however, he rose above his
calling of bootblack and nursemaid,
and became q hero.
The region about Miggles alley Is
not precisely a hotbed Of heroism. In
deed, there Is probably not corner
Of America In which the poverty
stricken and depraved Of all nations
meet In such strength as here, where
the social sewers from the four cor
ners Of the earth seem to empty them
selves. But Shingles, looking down
upon the streets from the high plane
Of the tenement housetop, saw more
Of the color, and whirl, and bigness
Of the streets than Of their mud and
meanness. He saw the circus parade
as 1t swept cleaning by. He saw the
crowd pouring through the neighbor-
ing streets-a black river Of humanity.
Best of all, he looked almost daily
on the wonderful maneuvers Of fire
company, whose engine house, oppo-
site one entrance of the tenement
house, was Shingles favorite resort.
On those rare occasions when he was
free to ply his trade, Shingles earned
several dimes and nickels. and incl
dentally many golden opinions, from
the good-natured fire laddies, who red
ognized kindred spirit in this mite of
ten. And when chained by duty to
his post on the roof, Shingles could, If
he liked, exchange occasional salutes
with the objects of his worship as
they lounged in the street below. AS
for those moments when the alarm
gong rang, and his friends at the en-
CINE house jumped into their places
on the hose carriage or the hoOk-and-
ladder trucks, and were whirled Off to
scenes Of adventure, those were Pc
RODS Of combined pride and pain to
Shingles. The pride was for his
comrades; the pain that he, by reason
Of his ten years and absorbing occu-
patton, was cut Off from any share
In these deeds Of daring. Only In
make-believe could he climb ladders
and rescue people from burning build
ings; and, while it was easy to play
circus parade with the baby and pussy
cat in a soap-box on rollers for the
band chariot, the heroism Of the fire
laddies called for a greater exercise Of
talent.
mother, who was today engaged in
scrubbing at one of the big insurance
buildings on Broadway. left the young
ster with his charge on the roof,
screaming back strict injunctions to
the boy to keep the baby amused. TO
this task Shingles addressed himself
with an ardor born of the beautiful
day and the necessity for some occu
patton for the long hours that stretched
between now and supper time. What
would he do to amuse the baby and
incidentally himself? Why, play
fire." Of course. His engine-house ex-
perience, joined to his observations
from the roof. gave him a familiarity
with the fire laddles' modes Of opera
ton that resulted in the most stirring
realism. The baby seemed pleased,
and listened with Open-mOuthed won
der, while big brother initiated the
clatter and clangor Of the engine gong
or the hoarse shouts of the firemen,
and gazed with special delight at
Tins astonishing climb up an imagin-
airy ladder as foreman Of the rescue
corps. Indeed, he was so much
amused by this new game that he did
not vince while Shingles tied one end
Of the clothes-line around the tiny fig
ure, putting and blowing laboriously
for imaginary smoke the while. Baby
even thought 1t great fun, until brother
bore him over the edge Of the roof and
began to let him down, down-a tiny
morsel Of humanity dangling five
alley. Then fun changed to frighr,
and baby set up lusty howl. 1t was
this scream that aroused Shingles
from his realistic play to the grim
earnestness Of the situation. There
was no ladder waiting below; there
were no brave comrades-only himself,
a mite Of ten, clutching in his small
hand the very end Of the rope from
which dangled the helpless figure of
his tiny brother. Real fear gripped at
the little fellows heart. Slowly, pain
fully, he began to pull in that endless
length of line. Inch by inch he brought
that tiny, swaying figure nearer to the
housetop. Then suddenly a knot in
the rope caught in the iron railing.
Cold perspiration rolled down the little
fellows cheek. Already his strength
wss failing him. To slacken a single
foot meant to loosen his hold alto
gether. He tried to call for help, but
the shrill little voice attracted no more