Part 1 (2/2)

”I'et hurt Suppose soo!”

”I o!”

Froe street once more came the alarm

”Fire! Fire! Fire!”

Noever,it There was also the rush of feet, and Bert, peering from thea crowd ofThe glare in the sky had becoo, mother,” said the boy ”I want to aid all I can We'd like help if our house was on fire”

”Oh, Herbert! Don't suggest such dreadful things!”

Mrs Dare left her son's rooo out

”Now do be careful, Herbert,” called hisshould happen to you, I don't knohat I'd do”

”I'll be careful”

Herbert Dare was the only son of a , Mrs Roscoe Dare Her husband had died several years previous, leaving her a small income, barely sufficient to support herself and her son It may be added here that Mr Dare had been a city firee This, perhaps, accounted in a measure for the interest Herbert took in all alar fire,” thought the boy, as he broke into a run down the street He soon caught up with the crowd hastening to the blaze

”hello, Bert!” shouted a lad to hi to help put the fire out?”

”If they need me, Vincent I see you have your bucket”

”Yep,” replied Vincent Tes to the bucket brigade, but he's away from houess they'll have plenty at the barn”

”They'll need 'em, for it looks as if it was pretty well on fire”

The reflection of the blaze was now so bright that objects in the street could be plainly seen, and faces easily distinguished at a considerable distance

”There's Cole Bishop!” said Bert to his chu, evidently much out of breath, as he was quite fat

”hello, Cole!” called Bert

”hello--Bert! Goin'--to--the--fire?” came frooin' to a Sunday school picnic,” replied Vincent, as so of a joker

”Humph! Funny--ain't--you!” remarked Cole

The boys continued to speed on toward the burning barn, which was one of the buildings belonging to Anderson Stie The crowd had increased, and several score of people were on their way to the conflagration