“Humph! he struck my boy.”
“Then let them fight it out.”
“Yes,” shouted young Evans angrily, “come down here and show that you are no coward.”
“Very well,” said Ralph promptly. “There’s one for you!”
Ralph Fairbanks had acted in a flash on an impulse. He had leaped from the wagon, dealt young Evans one blow and sent him half-stunned 22 to the ground. Regaining the wagon he drove quickly into the street before his astonished enemies could act any further.
“Poor fellow,” said Ralph, looking at the lad in the wagon. “Now, what am I ever going to do with him?”
Ralph reflected for a moment or two. Then he started in the direction of home. He was sleepy and tired out, and he realized that the present episode might interfere with some of his plans for the day, but he was a whole-hearted, sympathetic boy and could not resist the promptings of his generous nature.
The young fireman soon reached the pretty little cottage that was his home, so recently rescued from the sordid clutches of old Gasper Farrington. He halted the team in front of the place and entered the house at once.
“Here I am, mother,” he said cheerily.
Mrs. Fairbanks greeted him with a smile of glad welcome.