CHAPTER III.
A RESULT OF A FIRE
At the corner Jack met Deb, whose anxiety had caused her to follow himclose to the Gray mansion.
"My! how long you've been!" she exclaimed, and then with a keen glanceinto his face: "Did he---- Did he----"
"He said he couldn't do a thing, that it was all in the agent's hands,"burst out Jack, "He is meaner than mean. He will let that man put usout even when he owes us more than the amount of the rent. Well, it maybe law, but it isn't justice and he shall not do it!"
And the young machinist shut his teeth in grim determination.
"If you can't get the money from the bank, I suppose you can't go intobusiness for yourself," said Deb, when they reached home.
"That's true enough. Before the shut-down I might have borrowed money,but now I guess all our friends need every cent they have."
"Can't we raise some?" Deb's eyes wandered around the apartment. Jackgave a dry little laugh.
"Not on this stuff," he replied. "But we're not reduced to that yet."He walked over to where the model he was working on stood. "Wish thiswas finished. I believe I can make a neat sum out of this invention."
"How long will it take to complete it?"
"Can't tell. It depends on one's ideas. But I'm going out."
"Where?"
"To look for work."
In a moment Jack had descended to the sidewalk. He found the streetsswarming with people, and as he had before thought, with a thousand menidle, what chance was there of getting work? Finding that every placein Corney was full he determined to try Redrock, another manufacturingtown, situated on the Camel Falls river, several miles below the presentplace. The road between the two places followed the river bank. As Jacktrudged along close to the water, he heard a sudden cry for help.
Looking ahead he saw that one of the rear wheels of a wagon had comeoff, and the driver, horses and vehicle were all in danger of beingdumped into the stream. It was but a moment's work for the youngmachinist to rush up, and by catching the horses' heads, to turn them insuch a way that the turnout righted itself in the center of the road.
"Thank you, young man!" exclaimed the aged farmer, who was driving, ashe sprang to the ground. "That was a narrow escape, and no mistake."
"Your wagon is pretty well damaged," observed Jack as he examined theshattered axle.
"Well, troubles never come singly." replied Farmer Farrell, for suchwas his name. "This morning something got into the patent rake so itwouldn't work; then the grindstone got cranky, and now this. But thanksto Providence, I'm safe. I reckon I'll have to go back for the otherrig, though. Going my way?"
"Yes, sir. I'm bound for Redrock to look for work."
As the two walked along, Jack related what had happened in Corney.
"Well, I declare! I'm lucky any way," declared Farmer Farrell, "I gotmy money out of the bank a month ago. It's too bad, though, for you.What did you say you were?"
"I'm a machinist," replied Jack, and then suddenly: "Perhaps I can fixup your patent rake and your grindstone. I'll do a good job and won'tovercharge you."
To this Farmer Farrell, who was taken by Jack's appearance, agreed, anda few minutes later led the way up a lane to a well-stocked farm.
Down in the barn the young machinist found the things that neededrepairing. He looked everything over carefully.
"I'll bring my tools to-morrow and fix them up," he said. "If I getwork in Redrock I'll do the work early in the morning or after I quit."
"And the cost?"
"About five or six dollars."
"Cheap enough. Go ahead."
"I will. I'll be on hand early in the morning and do a good job,"replied Jack.
The young machinist met with no success at Redrock, and returned in anhour to Corney. Deb was pleased to hear that some work, at least, hadbeen procured.
"It will pay the rent anyway," said Jack, "and that's something.Perhaps, too, it may get me some more jobs like it."
"That's so," replied Deb, her face brightening.
In the evening Jack worked on his model. But he went to bed at teno'clock, so as to be up early the next morning.
"Jack! Jack! Wake up!"
It was Deb's voice from the next room that aroused him in the middle ofthe night.
"There is a big fire over on the hill," she continued, "just look out ofthe window."
But Jack was already up.
"You're right!" he replied. "It's a whopper, too!" he continued, as theflames shot skyward, making all as bright as day. "I'll have to go," headded.
"Must you?"
"Certainly, it's my duty to serve."
For Jack was a duly enlisted member of the Corney Volunteer FireDepartment.
He hurried into his clothing as rapidly as possible, and jumped down thestairs three at a time.
"Don't get hurt!" called Deb after him.
The engine house was but a few blocks away. When Jack arrived there, hefound that the machine had been dragged out into the street but nofurther.
"Why don't you catch hold?" he called to a crowd of men who stood on thesidewalk.
"It's old Gray's house!" exclaimed one man, "and it can burn to theground for all I care."
"He don't help us; now let him help himself," put in another.
"Oh, pshaw! It won't do any good to act that way!" said Jack. "Come,catch hold like men."
Jack was naturally a leader, and when he grasped the rope three otheryoung fellows followed, and in a moment the engine was on its way.
"It's too bad it's Mr. Gray's house," thought the machinist. "It willmake him harder-hearted than ever."
He gave no thought as to how the conflagration had originated, and didhis best to get the engine to the spot.
But, as has been stated, the place was up hill, and by the time they hadmade their way along the unpaved road, the fire had gained such headwaythat it was useless to pour water on the burning building, and allattention was directed to saving the adjoining property.
The heat was intense, and Jack, who was often at the nozzle of the hose,suffered greatly from this and the smoke.
In an hour the fire was declared under control, and a little later theorder came to take up the hose and go home.
Jack worked with a will. He had done his duty, and now he was anxiousto return, tell Deb all about it, and get to bed again.
While helping to wind the hose upon its carriage, he was suddenlyapproached by Mr. Gray, accompanied by a stranger.
"There he is!" were Mr. Gray's first words, addressed to the stranger.
The man laid his hand upon Jack's shoulder.
"I want you," he said, quietly.
"What for?" asked Jack.
"I arrest you for setting fire to Mr. Gray's house," was the startlingreply.
"Arrest me!" exclaimed the young machinist. "What do you mean? I neverset fire to any one's house."
"Oh, yes, you did," put in the manufacturer. "Only you didn't expect tobe caught."
"It's false, I----"
"It's true. You shall suffer heavily for this night's work," went onMr. Gray, bitterly. "We'll see if the law allows tenants who won't paytheir rents to set their landlords' houses on fire! Watch him Parker,don't let him escape you!"
"Mr. Gray, I never----" began Jack.
"Come along," broke in the officer, roughly. "You can do your talking inthe morning."
And without further words Jack was marched off to the Corney jail.