The She Boss

here was a dull pain somewhere within him, but when his thinking apparatus bega

eous displeasure. The thought that this might be a common occurrence did not enter his head. He was distressed now; he found, only wit

at was the matter with him, and that he hated the stranger for his clothes-that he hated everybody because this

, $20, no more; Pants, $5,

e at night. Should he or should he not? His rusty old clothes were torturing him. Twenty-eight dollars! And perhaps only four or five more for extras-a tie, collars, suspenders, a

aw, erect, forceful, jaunty, and well-dressed, with a black cigar gripped in his teeth, t

thirty-eight dollars, but rich in the self-est

e hall, and went down on the street. He bought three five-cent cigars and lighted one. He gripped it in

ly ten-thirty, and he had breakfasted at nine. To enter boldly and begin a conversation with Lucy-which he h

him that there was a difference. His coat, for instance, seemed a bit angular-there seemed to be corners he had not noticed in the st

aurant. Now it was impossible to take another step without coming a

is forehead as he lifted his foot. He would return to the lodging house, change his clothes, and see her when he ate at noon. He would

e rushed close to the curbs. Up a side street a new jangle of bells broke out.

he curb and looked after the firemen; the women stood near the buildings, under the awnings, shading their eyes and standing on tiptoes. Quickly the sidew

et! Across the street

curb grew frantic, yelling and pointing

passed down the street came back. Flames and smoke were bursting from th

both sides, but he paid no attention. The rapid op

suddenly came a shrill f

p-door, it seemed, and darted from sight. But the fire and every new phase of it had lost al

cstatically informing some one

black smoke, the intermittent red gleam of blaze, and the crackling streams of water. Her tongue was wagg

as filled with men and women. Its horn was honking perpetually. Besides the fire apparatus, n

e-the director! I never thought of it-right here at my very door, too! If I only could see him, Minnie. What a chance for the fire scene

d automobile, it seemed. There seemed even less likelihood now o

m-"won't you-- Why, hello!" she broke off. "I didn't know it was you. Oh, you will, I know! You're bi

an. For her he felt he would have cheerfully entered a beehive should s

'll I

. Then Mr. Speed rushes up and takes a letter from Mr. Blair's pocket and runs out of the picture. And listen: Mr. Blair and Miss Worthington still lie there. Tell him there's no makeup. And tell hi

ned. Had the g

can't explain now-wait. I'll tell you l

illing thought that he was serving her-Hiram's big figure began pushin

hwise of the street. The crowd was now confined to the sidewalk. Hiram crawled under the rope. A policeman shouted at him and started

tting up a peculiar-shaped camera directly opposite the entrance of the burning building. Another, a he

thing to do with Hiram in carrying out his miss

u Mr. K

Worthington, run for the ladder. Hurry up, girlie!

d, she said, and then he faints and falls. They lay there, and another fella-I forget that name-takes a letter from Mr. Blair's pocket and runs

ollins? 'Bout ten feet, I guess. After this. Now, out of the way, please. All ready, there!

and a low whirring noise blended softly with the roar of the rushing water. Hir

e had done his duty, and he

it? Did yo

was straining toward him as h

m no

at did

isk it.' He said a lot more,

with a beaming smile. "D'ye hear, Mi

ing the spectacle. She indifferently replied, "Yea," and crane

once ign

l mean something to me." She was looking straight at Hiram. Now she

ed and bobb

nfusion a little longer

get back in," sh

o heed, and Lucy fa

t it, didn't I? Well, I w

bed his h

e jeweler's window at

r eleven! Say, listen: I'm going off watch at

'am-I'll

d-by. Much obli

nnie, and scampered thr

e streams of water-that