CHAPTER XVI
MR. BERGMAN'S PLAN
Never had Lakeville been so stirred as when, a few days after thelumber yard fire, notices were posted in various parts of the town,stating that a special meeting of the Selectmen would be held to takeaction on an offer made by Mr. Bergman to equip a regular firedepartment for the place.
"So, that's what he meant!" remarked Bert, when he read the notices."Well, I wonder where we'll be, if they have a regular department?"
"Oh, I suppose the bucket brigade will be taken in, and they'll runthe whole thing," said Vincent, a little bitterly.
"If they do, we'll keep our old hand engine and run to blazes just thesame," declared Cole.
"That's what we will," added Captain Bert.
The notices announced that the meeting would be a public one, andwould be held in the town hall, over the post-office. Opportunitywould be given for all interested to state their views, the noticeadded.
"Then we'll state ours," threatened Cole. "Bert, can't you go thereand make a speech?"
"I suppose I can, if the boys want me to. But what shall I say?"
"Oh, wait until we get there and see how things look. But if they wantto turn us down, you get up and protest. We'll stand by you."
"All right," agreed Bert. "I think we ought to have something to say."
"So do I," came from Tom Donnell. "Put it good and strong, Bert."
The night of the meeting found nearly every male resident of Lakevillepresent, and there were some women and girls in the audience. In themeanwhile, the members of the volunteer department had used Mr.Bergman's donation to pay off the small balance due on their engine,and had purchased their uniforms. They were quite natty, consisting ofblue trousers and red shirts, with helmets of the same fiery color,and belts with a large brass buckle in front.
The boys marched into the hall in a body, and took seats together.
"Oh, aren't they just too cute for anything!" exclaimed Nellie Traversto her chum, Jane Alton.
"They look quite business-like," commented Jane.
"Yes, but those uniforms are dear, aren't they?"
"I don't know. I heard my brother Ned say they were quite cheap," wenton Jane, who was something of a joker.
"Oh, Jane! You know I mean they're too sweet for anything! I just wishthere'd be a fire alarm come in now, so I could see them run."
"I don't; I want to see what they're going to do at this meeting. Nedis worried for fear they'll break up the boys' department."
"That would be a shame."
"I think so, too. But, hush! Mayor Appelby is going to speak."
The mayor, who had been elected chairman of the meeting, told theobject of the gathering. He said they had assembled to hear an offerthat was to be made by their "distinguished fellow citizen, theHonorable Perrett Bergman." There were some cheers and applause atthis, and Mr. Bergman arose.
"What I have to say will not take up much of your time," he began."You all know we have had several fires lately, and that a number oflads of this village have constituted themselves a fire department. Ineed not point out what good work they have done. It speaks foritself.
"The recent blaze in my lumber yard has confirmed an impression I havehad for some time, and that is, that we should have a regulardepartment in this village. I think, with all due respect to it, thatwe have outgrown the bucket brigade!"
"That's right!" called some one from the rear of the hall.
"The bucket brigade did good work," asserted Moses Sagger.
"I know that," admitted Mr. Bergman, "but the village is growing. I donot hesitate to say that if it had not been for the boys' volunteerdepartment I would be a much poorer man to-night than I am."
"Hurrah for the boys!" exclaimed a man, and there were hearty cheers.
"In brief, my offer is this," continued Mr. Bergman. "I am willing tobuy a complete outfit for a fire department. I will furnish everythingexcept the members of it, and I will even pay for having installed anelectric alarm system, with pull boxes in various places. I will alsoequip a small fire headquarters. In view of the fact that we have nowater system, I would suggest that chemical engines be used."
"That's right," came from Mayor Appelby.
"I now, then, offer to purchase two of the best chemical engines thatcan be bought," went on Mr. Bergman. "I think we will not need horses,as the engines are light, and half a dozen persons can haul them. Withtwo of these machines, one on either side of the town, we can takecare of almost any ordinary blaze, as the houses here are not so closetogether that we will have any great conflagration. Now it remains forthe town to act on my offer. Remember, I will furnish all the moneyneeded for the engines, and to fit up a headquarters. All I ask thetown to do is to supply the members and places in which to keep theengines."
"One moment, if you please," began Bert.]
"You have heard the very generous offer of our distinguished fellowtownsman and public-spirited citizen, the Honorable Perrett Bergman,"said Mayor Appelby, pompously. "What have you to say?"
"I say take it!" exclaimed Moses Sagger, quickly. He saw a chance fora good fire department without any increase in the taxes.
"That's right! Accept the offer!" came from various parts of the hall.
"With thanks!" added a more thoughtful man.
"You seem to be of one mind," went on the mayor. "I shall now put thequestion to a vote."
"One moment, if you please," began Bert, rising to his feet. He wasrather pale, for he was not used to speaking in public.
"What is it, Herbert?" asked Mr. Appelby. "Don't you favor this?"
"I most certainly do, and so do all the boys. All we want to know is,what will become of our department?"
"Oh, we won't need you boys when we get the chemical engines," saidMr. Sagger quickly. "The members of the bucket brigade will attend tothem. You boys can give your old engine away if you want to."
"We'll do nothing of the kind!" exclaimed Bert. "We bought and paidfor that engine, when there was no prospect of Lakeville havinganything like a department. Now we have a good organization and---"
"Yes, and we can put out fires!" interrupted Cole. "My force pump---"
"Dry up!" exclaimed Vincent, pulling Cole by the coat-tails. "Let Bertdo the talking."
"That's all right. I was going to tell them about my force pump,"murmured Cole.
"They don't want to hear it. Listen."
"I think we ought at least be allowed to continue our organization,and be recognized by the town as a part of the fire department," wenton Bert. "We don't ask to run your chemical engines, but we would liketo keep our hand engine."
"No, we don't want it!" cried Mr. Sagger. "We have no use for youboys. The men can run things in this town, We'll merge the bucketbrigade into a regular department."
"That's what we will!" came from some of the older members of thatancient organization. "Then we might as well go home, boys!" exclaimedHerbert, somewhat bitterly. "They have no use for us here."
"One moment!" exclaimed Mr. Bergman, rising in his seat.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"I think some of you men are under a little misunderstanding," he wenton. "My offer to buy two chemical engines was made because of the veryefficient work the boys of this town did in putting out the fire in mylumber yard. I most certainly will not consent to thrusting the boysaside, now that we are about to have a regular department."
"Hurrah!" came from the irrepressible Cole. "My force pump---"
But his companions made him keep silent.
"I may say," went on Mr. Bergman, with a look at the boys, in theirnatty uniforms, "that my offer depends on one thing."
"What is that?" asked Mr. Appelby quickly.
"It is this: That the boys are to be in charge of the regulardepartment, just as they now are of the volunteer one!"
"Hurrah!" cried Cole again, and his chums joined in with him. "Myforce---"
"Ain't the bucket brigade going to run things?" inquired Mr.
Sagger.
"With all due respect to that organization, they are not!" replied Mr.Bergman loudly. "I will furnish the money for the engines only on thecondition that the same boys, who did such good work at the fire in myplace, continue in charge. The members of the bucket brigade may joinif they wish, but the boys are the ones I want to see in control. Theyhave proved what they can do, and I would recommend that CaptainHerbert Dare be made the chief of the new department!"
"Whoop!" shouted Cole, standing up, and waving his hat. "That's thestuff! Whoop! Hurrah!"