This announcement served like a dash of cold water to the boys. They
had been quite enthusiastic over Cole's plan, but Bert's words made
them realize that it was one thing to say what they would do, and
another to accomplish it.

"I--I guess we'll have to give it up," said John Boll. "It would be
lots of fun for us boys to have a department, but I'm afraid we
can't."

"It wouldn't be altogether fun," said Bert, "as we'd have to work hard
to put out fires. But I don't know that we'll have to give up the
plan. I wanted to talk to you fellows, and see how you felt about it.
Perhaps we can raise the money."

"How?" asked Vincent.

"Well, we could give some sort of an entertainment, get up a ball
game, and charge admission, and we boys can make some cash doing odd
jobs, and put that in the treasury."

"I believe the folks in this town are too mean to come to a show or a
ball game, even if it was to help buy an engine, and a second-hand one
at that," declared John.

"We'll give 'em the chance," replied Bert. "But, fellows, what do you
think of the plan?"

"What plan is it?" asked a new voice, and the boys looked up to see
Tom Donnell.