Part 1 (1/2)

The Young Firemen of Lakeville

by Frank V Webster

CHAPTER I

A MIDNIGHT ALARM

”Fire! Fire! Turn out, everybody! Fire! Fire!”

This cry, coht, awoke the inhabitants of the peaceful little New England village of Lakeville

”Fire! Fire!”

Heads were thrust out of hastily-raised s Men and wolanced around to detect the reddening in the sky that would indicate where the blaze was Ti suspiciously, to learn if it was their own honited

”Fire! Fire! Sti! Fire! Fire!”

Aas he ran At soh to pound with his fist, awakening the dwellers who had not heard his call, for he was Rodney Stickler, the town constable and watchman, whose duty it was to sound the fire alarade, in the event of a blaze

”Hurry up!” Constable Stickler shouted, as he ran fro with his fist on the doors of the residences where the one! Fire!

Fire!”

Men jumped from bed, pulled on shi+rts, trousers, and shoes or boots, and thus scantily attired, rushed forth to do battle with the flae street, a lad, hearing the ot up and hurried to theHe could make out the short, stocky for about Then, off to the left, he could see a dull glow in the sky There was, also, the s

”What is it, Herbert?” asked a woman's voice from another room

”Fire,the alarm”

”Whose place is it? I hope it isn't around here Oh! fire is a dreadful thing! Where is it, Herbert?” And Mrs Dare put on a dressing-gown and came into her son's room

”I think he said it was Mr Stimson's barn, mother I can see a blaze over in that direction”

”Mr Stimson's barn? He has a fine lot of cattle in it Oh, I hope they save the poor creatures!”

Herbert, or, as he was usually called by his chuan to sort the for his trousers

”What are you doing, Herbert?” asked histo dress”

”What for?”