me where that place is----"

"Certainly. It is the first warehouse this side----"

The man got no further. There was a commotion on the street, and two or
three rushed outside.

"Brady's place just below here is on fire!" shouted some one.

"Brady's place?" ejaculated the man. "By George! I wonder how that
happened?"

He seemed to forget all about Hal, and making a rush for the door,
disappeared down the street.

The youth started after him. He had eaten and paid for his meal, and he
did not wish to miss the opportunity of questioning the fellow further.

On the street all was commotion. Wagons were scattering right and left
to make way for the steam engines, hose carts and hook and ladder trucks
which came dashing up to the spot.

Hal soon found himself surrounded by a crowd. The man had disappeared,
apparently for good, and with a sigh the youth walked away, there being
no signs of a fire, so far as he could see.

The youth started to cross the street. He was directly behind an elderly
gentleman, and was about to pass the man when there came a warning cry:

"Get out of the way there! Here comes another engine!"

Hal looked up and saw that the engine, pulled by three fiery horses, was
close at hand. He started to return to the curb. As he did so the
elderly gentleman slipped and went down flat on his back.

"He'll be killed!" cried half a dozen, who saw the accident.

Hal's heart seemed to leap into his throat. The horses were not over ten
feet away. A moment more and the elderly gentleman would be crushed to
death.

The youth leaped forward, and caught the man by the arm. Then he gave a
sudden jerk backward, and both he and the gentleman went rolling into
the gutter, while the engine went thundering by.

CHAPTER II.

A BRAVE YOUTH'S REWARD.

A cheer arose from the by-standers.

"Good for the boy!"

"That's what I call a genuine hero!"

"He deserves a medal."

Paying no attention to what was said, Hal assisted the elderly gentleman
to his feet.

"Are you hurt, sir?" he asked kindly.

"I--I think not," was the labored reply. "That was a narrow escape,
young man." The last with a gasp.

"You are right, sir. How did you happen to go down?"

"The snow made a slippery spot on the ice, I believe. My wind is almost
gone."

"Wait till I brush you off," said Hal, and taking off his cap he
commenced to strike off the snow and dirt from the gentleman's clothing.

"Oh, never mind that,"