Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-09-26
JIMMIE DIDN'T SHY AT
FIREFIGHTIFG, BUT HE
WAS GIRL SHY-THAT
IS, UNTIL HE MET ONE
WITH FLAMING RED HAIR

IS, UNTIL HE MET ONE
WITH FLAMING RED HAIR
~Y LANES HAD cut the pier in two
i making wall Of angry fire be
tween the land side and ths
- river But there was standpfps
at the pier head, and 400 feel
OF three-inch hose had been put ashore
from the fireboat Spuyten Duyvt1. Al
the nozzle end Jimmie Laurie crouched
the toes OF his rubber boots wedgec
deep in the gutter drain at the edge
Of the roof.
His place was getting unbearably
hot; but still he stuck, refusing 70
move. A gr1ldge fight. thigg For Jimmie
Laurie knew one hate. Through the
years since he was q boy of nine he
had cherished that hate. He hated
fire. He had cause to hate It.
A flame stabbed toward him. He
ducked so his helmet formed a shield.
Reluctantly he backed away, cursing
the fire as he retreated, gripping the
gun in both his hands.
Then, without warning, the hose
went dead. Jimmie looked back toward
the standpipe, but Joe Levander was
not there. He heard shout from the
dock below. There was Joe now, waving
to him, pointing excitedly at the wall.
Jaw. keep your pants on. Where's
that water?"
A rending sound, an ominous crack
ling. Jimmie Laurie, glancing down,
saw Joe Levander start to run. A part
OF the wall was bullying outward. jim
mic felt his own perch giving That
section where the roof had crashed
was pulling the rest OF the wall down
with it.
He threw the useless nozzle clear
and dropped his helmet. He chung to
the gutter. The wall sagged farther
IL was falling. He rode the top until It
had dropped to the point where It was
nearly fiat. Then, standing erect, he
planted his feet on the outer edge
and quickly leaped He diVed as far as
he was able, hitting the water at an
angle. The force of the blow almost
knocked him out
For half minute he stroked IN
darkness. Then Jimmie blinked. The
Spuyten Duyvil's light had found him.
A luminous beam surrounded his head.
A rope spun toward him.
He stood on deck.
Good Lordl" Lieutenant Wrenn
came striding, you hurt there, Jim
mie?"
I'm all right"
boy, thought it was goodby Jim
mie."
"Pahl No so-and-so fire gets me-"
The lieutenant, chuckling, shook his /
head. He'd never known anyone quite I
ike Jimmie. Medium TALL with sturdy
not plump nor slim, he was
Till a kid. Just 23-yet Jimmie Laurie
bore himself like hardy veteran. His
Eyes were gray and cool and fearless.
Fearless, that is. facing fire.
E4yxf Of fyissI 9Ng1frn44f rg,ssv1eY T4x,rrp.{o
md he was craven, uuaking coward
Toe Levander's shouts from the pier
read, calling on them to come and get
Tim, made the lieutenant think of that.
FOR Joe, who never took a chance in
Inc of duty, shone with the ladies'
The evening after the pier had
urned--a master alarm which sent
ato the Hudson to do It battle-Joe
,evander called up the stairs:
20 Mr.. LAUREL Come down TO the
arlor"
why the he'll should ~"
20 MIR. LAUREL How could you use
lch shocking language?"
Jimmie, about to loose some more,
as interrupted by the lieutenant He !
escended promptly, and then his
ranger there. She was pretty, all
gnt, and cool and confident. 9
mfr. Laurie" began Levander, as y
Tough the lieutenant hadn't been I
resent, this is Miss P,aynter of the s
ally News. Miss Paynter's come all n
lie way from uptown just to interview r
II hero"
you go to" Jimmie started to b
y. you go to the Bronx" he fin L
he'd lamely.
20 shucks, have got tor" Levander Il
,uted. and the pretty reporter looked
There followed minutes of utter tor a
re. It was bad enough being inter Il
ewed by such q coolly attractive crea- n
re, but to have his firemates listen il
8 in, grinning at him, made the Or j.
al doubly tough. Lieut.. Wrenn might
I'VE helped by staying. but he had a.
nbled back to his office, loath to b
itch him suffer %
The signal alarm began to tap. JIM al
e lost track Of Miss Paynter'S ques- al
N, concentrating with fervent hope ti
ON the nervous beat of the bell. She
IS smiling at him, reproachfully snil- W
3, for he had seemed to forget her ri
essence. or
7 beg your pardon. That there bell. 8 a.
thought it was maybe one Of our
U.s." ca
I asked you about YOUR mother" M M
prompted. Wasn't she proud when
2 heard how her son had stuck to 70
post in the face of death2" IN
Who, map" Jimmie grinned "She al
led me damned mean idiot for -,
ting myself get trapped like that" ~ ~
She did Dear me. But what did ~ -.
II girl friend have to say? III bet ~
. didn't call you an idiot"
lis face flushed red. Joe and the
lers started guffawing. The pretty
lorteress was smiling, and Jimmie's
ling Of panic grew
Aw-" he began. Then, fully rout-
he said, Excuse me" and fled up
hrs.
he roars Of laughter brought the
tenant ambling back again to the
adroom. He chuckled, hearing why -,
lmie had fled. But then the lines ~
his face grew solemn. 40
You don't want TO feel offended, "a
s. Jinmie's just Jimmie, and he aw
Z help 1t. When he was a kid over =
the east side there was one Of these ln
ement fires and seven people were bt
ned To death One w9s .TfFnv17fa,s Lal