"'Send word to her that I am going away and want to see her, will you, Kid?' "'Well, yes; but Sis is funny; she's too odd for any use. I don't think she'll come.' "'Well, I'll go and see her.' "'No, Sis would think you were crazy.' "'Why? Now look here Kid, I like that sister of yours, and I want to see her.' "But the Kid just stopped, leaned against the nearest building, and laughed--laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks. The next day he brought me word that his sister had gone to Chicago to make some sketches for the firm and hoped to come to see us after she was through. I started for Chicago the day following, the Kid with me. "I had little trouble in getting the Kid on with me, as my old fireman had been promoted. I had a nice room with another plug-puller, and in a few days I was in the old jog--except for the Kid. He refused to room with my partner's fireman; and when I talked to him about saving money that way, he said he wouldn't room with any one--not even me. Then he laughed, and said he kicked so that no one could room with him. The Kid was the butt of all the firemen on account of his size, but he kept the cleanest engine, and was never left nor late, and seemed more and more attached to me--and I to him. "Things were going along slick enough when Daddy Daniels had a row with his fireman, and our general master mechanic took the matter up. Daniels' fireman claimed the run with me, as he was the oldest man, and, as they had an 'oldest man' agreement, the master mechanic ordered Smutty Kelly and the Kid changed. "I was not in the roundhouse when the Kid was ordered to change, but he went direct to the office and kicked, but to no purpose. Then he came to me. "'Jim,' said he, with tears in his eyes, 'are you satisfied with me on the 12?' "'Why, yes, Kid. Who says I'm not?' "'They've ordered me to change to the 17 with that horrible old ruffian Daniels, and Smutty Kelly to go with you.' "'They have!' says I. 'That slouch can't go out with me the first time; I'll see the old man.' "But the old man was mad by the time I got to him. "'That baby-faced boy says he won't fire for anybody but you; what have you been putting into his head?' "'Nothing; I've treated him kindly, and he likes me and the 12--that's the cleanest engine on the--' "'Tut, tut, I don't care about that; I've ordered the firemen on the 12 and 17 changed--and they are going to be changed.' "The Kid had followed me into the office, and at this point said, very respectfully: "'Excuse me, sir, but Mr. Wainright and I get along so nicely together. Daniels is a bad man; so is Kelly; and neither will get along with decent men. Why can't you--' "'There! stop right there, young man. Now, will you go on the 17 _as ordered_?' "'Yes, if Jim Wainright runs her.' "'No _ifs_ about it; will you go?' "'No, sir, I won't!' "'You are discharged, then.' "'That fires me, too,' said I. "'Not at all, not at all; this is a fireman row, Jim.'