Part 25 (2/2)
While he was speaking he was drawing on his rubber boots, for, like his cootten ready for bed Before the alar (for it sounded the box nuine was being pulled out of quarters
There were only eight boys on duty in the barn, and the task of pulling the heavy engine up the hill to the Stockton mansion was not easy But, before they were half way there, they were rabbed the rope
”Co the first to arrive froet too much of a start!”
They toiled on, and, as they rounded a and can of fire
”That's queer,” re with the signal apparatus”
”What's the matter, boys? Out for a practice drill?” asked a voice, and Herbert and his chuine, Mr Alfred Much house
”We came in response to a fire alarm,” said Bert, ”but I don't see any blaze”
”Blaze? There isn't any I don't understand it I don't want you boys around here You'd better leave”
That was rather queer, co from a man to whom they expected to be of service Bert and his chums were puzzled
”False alarm! False alarm!” suddenly yelled a voice from the bushes that lined the roadway ”I sent it in, you old et even with you! Maybe you'll say 'Thanks' next time, Mr Muchmore, e put out a real fire in your place,” and a lad, whonized as rather an undesirable character about the village, dashed fro at the trick he had played
CHAPTER XXI
THE MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE
The unexpected announce lad, of what he had done, was a surprise to both Mr Muchmore and the members of the fire depart rascals, is it?” asked the rich ainst you for this The road you are on is private property, and I shall have you arrested if you do not, at once, cease fro on it Get out of here with your noisy apparatus!”
”Mr Muchmore,” said Bert firmly, ”you areto do with this false alarret it as much as you do We came here because we believed there was a fire The box located near here was pulled”
”I shall take steps to see that it is not rung again I shall have it removed,” said the man ”Now I order you to clear out!”
”We will,” replied the young chief, ”but I want to say that noyou”
”You heard what that young rascal said That he did it to payyou boys for what you did at the other fire That was an oversight I was too excited, I suppose, but that is hardly an excuse for disturbing me in this way”
”Mr Muchmore,” exclaimed Bert, ”the boy who sent in the false alarh he ht have helped at the other fire”
”Well, it seee that I can't live here in peace and quietness, without being annoyed by a lot of boys,” retorted Much of the false alarh about this long run uphill to undertake it on a false alarht,” added Cole
”Very well, then you had better go down As for that boy who pulled the box, I shall take steps to have hi us a service,” replied Bert ”We don't want false alarms to be sent in, and if that boy--Chester Randel is his name--finds out he is liable to arrest, itto others”
”I'll see about it,” and, without thanking the boys for their pro to put out a possible fire, Much house, that stood dark and silent on the hill