Chapter I: Introduction: My Dear Boys and Girls
“Larry Barlow’s Ambition” relates the trials and adventures of a young country lad, who loves to run to fires, and whose ambition is to become a regular fireman in some large city, and to do something which will materially assist the usefulness of this all-important service.
Larry lives with his sister in a small village, and during his odd time conceives the idea of a patent extension ladder which, if successful, will be of great use in fighting fires in tall buildings. Full of pluck and determination he goes to New York, and because of his bravery at a fire manages to get into the regularly-paid fire department, after passing the necessary examinations.
From that time on our hero finds his occupation one full of peril and excitement. But he does his duty manfully, and works his way upward step by step. He befriends a girl whom he rescues at the burning of a hotel, and then does his share toward solving the mystery concerning the young lady’s heritage.
My main object in writing this tale was to give to the girls and boys some idea of fire departments as they exist in our large cities, especially in New York. We often see firemen at work, but as we watch their heroic and intelligent labors we give small thought to the manner in which they are schooled to do these things—for it is to a regular school of instructions that a New York fireman must go before he is allowed to “run with the machine,” as it is called.
Affectionately your friend,
ARTHUR M. WINFIELD.
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER I.
Something About Larry 9
CHAPTER II.
The Extension Ladder 17
CHAPTER III.
“Save My Mary” 25
CHAPTER IV.
A Daring Leap for Life 33
CHAPTER V.
Larry Makes a Friend 40
CHAPTER VI.
Off for New York City 48
CHAPTER VII.
The Strangers Again 57
CHAPTER VIII.
Something of a Mystery 65
CHAPTER IX.
Like a Rat in a Trap 74
CHAPTER X.
Larry Joins the New York Fire Department 81
CHAPTER XI.
Sad News for Mary Vern 88
CHAPTER XII.
What Became of Larry 96
CHAPTER XIII.
A Run for Liberty 104
CHAPTER XIV.
Mary Vern’s Guardian 111
CHAPTER XV.
A Full-Fledged Fireman at Last 119
CHAPTER XVI.
Face to Face with an Enemy 129
CHAPTER XVII.
A War of Words 136
CHAPTER XVIII.
Martin Pollox Makes a Move 144
CHAPTER XIX.
The Great Oil Dock Fire 153
CHAPTER XX.
The Man Larry Saved 160
CHAPTER XXI.
An Unexpected Meeting 166
CHAPTER XXII.
Lank Possy Vows Vengeance 173
CHAPTER XXIII.
What Happened to Caleb Backstay 181
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Tenement House Plot 189
CHAPTER XXV.
Out of a Fire Trap 197
CHAPTER XXVI.
What Mary Vern Had to Tell 204
CHAPTER XXVII.
Face to Face with a Lion 211
CHAPTER XXVIII.
The Decoy Letter 218
CHAPTER XXIX.
The Capture in the Boat House 227
CHAPTER XXX.
Pete Johnson’s Revelation 234
CHAPTER XXXI.
In which Larry Acts Quickly 242
CHAPTER XXXII.
An Unexpected Return—Conclusion 250
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE.
“The Tines of the Fork Entered the Lion’s Throat and
He Uttered a Roar of Rage” _Frontispiece_
“Larry Caught the Unconscious Girl to His Breast, and
Made the Fearful Leap Toward the Net Stretched
Far Below” 39
“With a Groan He Turned Over in Our Hero’s Arms
and Became Unconscious” 161
“He Leaped the Distance and Came Down on the Next
Roof in Safety” 200
=LARRY BARLOW’S AMBITION.=
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Larry Barlow's ambitionChapter I: Introduction: My Dear Boys and Girls
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