ummer, the instruments being silent, Jack, at
Haddowville, bethought himself of taking the relay, the main receiving
instrument, to pieces, to discover exactly how the wire connections in
the base were arranged. To think with Jack was to act. Half an hour later
his father, entering with an important message, found Jack with the
instrument in a dozen pieces.

Mr. Orr viewed the muss with consternation. Then he spoke sharply. "Jack,
if that relay is not together again, and working, in five minutes, I'll
take you out to the woodshed!" Needless to say, Jack threw himself into
the restoring of the instrument with ardor, while his father stood grimly
by. And fortunately the relay was in its place again, and clicking,
within the prescribed time.

"But don't let me ever catch you tinkering with the instruments again,"
said Jack's father warningly, as he gave Jack the message to send.
"Another time it'll be the woodshed whether you get them together or no.
Remember!"

Shortly after midnight the night following Jack suddenly found himself
sitting up in bed, wondering what had awakened him. From the street below
came the sound of running feet, simultaneously the window lighted with a
yellow glare, and with a bound and an exclamation of "Fire!" Jack was
across the room and peering out.

"Jones' coal sheds! Or the station!" he ejaculated, and in a moment was
back at the bedside, dressing as only a boy can dress for a fire. Running
to his parents' bedroom he told them of his going, and was down the
stairs and out into the street in a trice.

Dim figures of men and other boys were hurrying by in the direction of
the town fire-hall, a block distant, and on the run Jack also headed
thither. For to help pull the fire-engine or hose-cart to a fire was the
ardent hobby of every lad in town.

A half dozen members of the volunteer fire company and as many boys were
at the doors when Jack arrived, and the fire chief, already equipped with
helmet and speaking-trumpet, was fumbling at the lock.

"Where is it, Billy?" inquired Jack of a boy acquaintance.

"They say it's the station and freight shed, and Johnson's lumber yard,
and the coal sheds--the whole shooting match," said Billy, hopefully.

"Bully!" responded Jack; who, never having seen his own home in flames,
likewise regarded fires as the most thrilling sort of entertainment.

"Out of the way!" cried the chief. The big doors swung open, and with a
rush the little crowd divided