Part 21 (1/2)

”That'll do you,” put in Vincent, pulling Cole back to his seat for the seventh time

”Let's vote on it!” called a man ”I'm in favor of the boys every tiht matters to a head There was considerable more discussion, but, with the exception of two or three, everyone was in favor of Mr Berguments that appealed to the majority

A vote was taken, and was al the boys in charge, with Herbert Dare as chief As there were to be two engines, Vincent Tee of the second apparatus

Other officers were na the boys, and, as there were to be two companies, located in different parts of the town, places were made for all the lads who cared to join

It was decided to keep the old hand engine for use in eencies, and, as there would be no need of any one operating the new engines, since they worked autoe corps, to save goods at a fire, while one or two boys were at the cheman went into financial details with the officials of Lakeville It was decided to have a simple alarm system, with boxes located at the e bell, which would be erected on a steel tower

It took some time to put these improvements into shape, but in about three weeks they were finished, and the two cheines had arrived from the factory

”Say! They're beauties!” exclaimed Cole, happily, as he and the other boys went down to the freight depot to see them ”I wonder if they can throw a strea about your force puood pu his invention

”Wait until you see these,” said Mr Bergines

Each chee copper tank on four wheels It had a long hose, on a reel, and a rope to pull the ine

But the principle of the new engines was entirely different They shot a chemical stream at the fire, instead of one of merely water, and carbonous acid, or, as it is coenerated Fire will not burn where this gas exists, so that a s strea heavier than air, for copper tank was placed water, in which was dissolved some bicarbonate of soda, the sortin one end of the big cylinder, was some sulphuric acid, or oil of vitriol The two liquids were prevented froeine was to be hurried to the place The hose would be unreeled, and then a lever and valve wheel would be turned, breaking the glass receptacle in which the sulphuric acid was held This allowed the acid to as was at once foras was under such pressure that it forced the coh the hose for a considerable distance It could be played on the fire, the gas would be generated, and the blaze would be extinguished in much less tie done

”Those are certainly fine engines,” declared Bert ”I guess we'll have to have some practice with them before we'll kno to run theht to have a parade,” suggested Vincent ”Let's take 'eot”

”A good idea,” declared Mr Bergman ”And, while we're about it, why not have a picnic”

”A picnic?” repeated Bert

”Yes Why not? Every village fire department has a picnic once a year

I don't see why Lakeville can't It will stir the people up, and get rid of souess the boys would like it all right,” replied Bert

”Then we'll have it over in Tillements, and let you boys knohen it's to be Noe'd better get the engines into quarters”

It had been decided to keep one engine in Cole's barn, and another in the baseh apart to give good protection in case of fire The alarm system had been installed soood shape to take care of a blaze Several ade made application to join the new departer and some of his cronies, however, still held out

As the boys dragged the new cheh the town, quite a crowd calittered with brass and copper, highly polished, and s don't look as if they could put out a fire,” said an old resident, as used to seeing the bucket brigade or a hand engine at work ”Why, there ain't no pump, nor yet any pails”