The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-10-22
PEDRO'S LAST RUN.
by FRANK. H. YORK.

1t was the twentieth anniversary of
Pedro's establishment at Engine House
No. /.
Long before, it had been decided by the
department that on this occasion at the
latest Pedro should be honorably retired
from the service; although Watson, his vet
eran driver, had pleaded in vain with the
chief that Pedro be left to die in the har-
ness. He argued that old Cossart, as the
Methuselah of the stall was affectionately
called, would fret and grieve himself to
death if removed from his long-accustomed
place, n that in case of fire he would
doubtless kill himself in frenzy if not per-
mitted to dash out under the harness, before
the engine.
But all entreaty had failed, and Pedro
was now in an adjoining paddock and a half
broken colt in his stall.
sPshaw, Gaffer!!" kindly replied the chief,
addressing Watson by a familiar nickname,
you're in your dotage, man, and think old
Pedro is only little less than human"
"'Uman or no" responded Watson, GIVE
not took care of him fer all these 20 years
and not found out that he's a sight more
KNOWN than most NV men; and, too, a
mighty sight more faithful.
tNSaty SCdio ago IHlS very ulOFulu /,
continued Watson, now pacing distract
edly up and down the engine-room before
the chief, who sat bewreathed in clouds of
smoke while carelessly listening to CATERS
oft-told tale, list 20 years ago this very
hour l led old Pedro into that 'er stall; and
as them great, brown eyes of his'n-big and
knowin'-looked out through that grated
door at all these fire ~fixin's, he seemed to
understand at once what it all meant-al-
though he'd never tasted bit ner felt a har-
ness.
Now every hair of his'n is white as
chalk; but then-jist comm four-he was
dapple as a leopard. Appetizer picture ne'er
was seen than him; fer no artists brush kin
put the gloss Upon the neck, ner put the
silver in the name and tail that natur put
in his'n.
Gay, cap'n! you should ha' seen him when
i got him broke! First time | druv him out
on dress parade both him an me was proud
er than all Lucifer. I'd logged myself in
bran new uniform and put him in a spankin'
silver-mounted harness and he'd the engin'
rubbed an shinin' like all gold.
"Lordy! when we turned into the street
you should ha' seen the people look. Old
men stopped short an wiped their specs;
women stuck their heads clean out O. win
ders; the clerks come out tn stores in
droves, and the boys-by jiminee!-they
blocked the very street and made a bedlum
wild their yellin'.
eyes, cap'n, that was 20 years a%go-when
I'd jist come off the sea, where afore the
mast I'd stood until my hair begun to turn
an my heart to harden; and bein' here on
land an lonesome like, an havin' neither
kith ner kin, l somehow took to Pedro an
Pedro took to me, an ever since we've been
as brothers-neither out NV tother's sight,
night er day; him with his nose poked out
that CRATE an his speakin' eyes a-lookin' at
me-; me a-nappin' on that cot, a-smoking in
that chair, er stanin' there a-tellin' him NV
things I'd merry tell a man on earth, and
him a-noddin'-'yes' an mo-
cay! ha'n't we in these 20 years made
many a run together-as wild an fierce as
fire, and many a fight as if for life?
But now you've turned him out to die
from naught to do and from pinin' fer his
stall and from longin' fer his harness an a
run wild me.
"What's that you're sayin', cap'n?-
Can't eat his oats?-His feet all sore? Well,
then, we'll feed him mixed up meal an put
a rubber packin' next his hoofs.
whats that! Gone half blind or more?
-~Bradley's mill burned down because he
couldn't make a decent run?
Don't say it, cap'n; but then, we'll some
how tighten up his load, and I'll be eyes fer
him.
won't do at all, you say?-Well, cap'n,
I suppose that l kin STAN it if l must fer
the few years that left to me; but PedroIl
never live a month if he's turned out fer
good.
Every time within these weeks that we've
been practicin' with that colt you've lately
got, he's gone stark mad with jealousy; and
wouldn't eat ner drink fer full long days to-
gether-ner no more could l..
"He knows the ticks you're up to, cap'n,
and I've not told him, either. Jist hear him
neighin' an a-pawin' out there now
Clang! Clang! Clang! went the alarm.
BOX No. o." shouted the chief. But his
further orders were lost in the crash and
clatter of flying boards and bars, as Pedro
broke from the paddock and with human
demonstrating and kicking in the wild
est ~rage-rushed the raw colt through his
stall, flying past the engine and into the
very street. Then Pedro coolly but quickly
took his old place under the harness; mean
while plaintively ~neighing and with glow
ing eyes searching for Watson.
Here, while a pool of fresh, warm blood
was forming at his feet, he waited impa-
tiently for a full, long minute before Wat
son-who had been knocked insensible upon
the floor, rose and with accustomed haste
whispering something in Pedro's listening
ear, and touching his cheek to Pedro's
thrust-out nose-clasped together the names,
snapped in the lines, and mounted the seat
of the driver.
go! Pedro, go!" said Watson. "Once
more, old Cossart, We'll make a run an a
good'n!"
Down, down the street they flew like the
wind. However, both horse and driver were
Keeling, and just as they reached the scene
of action and had made the usual turn,
Pedro fell with a thnd as if a bullet had
crashed through his brain.
Instantly Watson leaped from his seat;
and, kneeling upon the ground close to
Pedro's head, bowed low over the glazing
eyes of his only friend and companion. Here
he moaned, in tones of sorrow most pitiful:
"Cossart, brave Cossart, you've made your
last run, but a good'n!"
Long and alone, silent and still, the fire
men left Watson bowed in his grief; but
e..I, +ba A,mas bovinU hann avtinuuiShed