Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-10-02

Rre on the force you must do your duty.
One afternoon as Skipper was stand
ing post like this he caught new note
that rose above the hum of the park
traffic. 1t was the quick, nervous beat
| of hoofs which rang sharply on the
hard macadam. There were screams
too. It was runaway. Skipper knew
this even before he saw the beli-iike
nostrils, the straining eyes and the
foam fiecked lips of the horse or the
scared man in the carriage behind. 1,
was q case of broken rein.
How the sight made Shippers blood
tingle! Wouldn't he just like to show
that crazy roam what real running
was? But what was Reddy going te
do? He felt him gather up the reins
he felt his knees tighten. What! Yes
It must be so. Reddy was actually go
ing to try a brush with the runaway
What fun!
Skipper pranced out into the road
way and gathered himself for the
sport. Before he. could get into full
swing, however, the roam had shot past
with snort Of challenge which could
not be misunderstood.
"Oho! You will, eh?" thought Skip
per. "Well, now, we'll see about that!'
All, a free rein-that is, almost free
snd touch of the spurs! No need for
that, Reddy. How the carriages scat
ter! Skipper caught hasty glimpses OF
smart hackneys drawn up trembling
by the roadside, Of women who tum.
bled from bicycles into the bushes and
of men who ran and shouted and
waved their hats.
"Just as though that little roam wasn't
scared enough already!" thought Skip
per.
But she did run we'll. Skipper had to
admit that. She had lead OF nifty
wards before he could strike his best
gait. Then for few moments he
could not seem to gain an inch. But
the mare was blowing herself, and
Skipper was taking 1t coolly. He was
putting the pent up energy OF weeks
into his strides. Once he saw he was
overhauling her he steadied to the
work.
Just as Skipper was about to forge
ahead Reddy did a queer thing. With
his right hand he grabbed the roar
with nose pinch grip. and with the
left he pulled in ON the reins. 1t was
a great disappointment to Skipper, fol
he had counted OH showing the roar
his heels. Skipper knew after two OF
three experiences Of this kind that this
| was the usual thing.
Those were glorious runs. though
Skipper wished they would come more
often. Sometimes there would be two
and even three in day, then a fort
night or 50 would pass without a sin
gle runaway on Shippers beat. Blu
duty is duty.
During the early morning hours
when there were few people In th'
park, Shippers education progressed
He learned to pace around In circle
lifting each forefoot with a sway o.
the body and paving movemen
which was quite rhythmical. He learn
ed to box with his nose. He learned Il
walk sedately behind Reddy and Il
pick up a glove dropped apparently b!
accident. There was always q suga
plum or q sweet cracker In the glove
which he got when Reddy stopped ant
Skipper, poking his nose over hi
shoulder, let the glove fall Into III
hands.
AS he became more accomplished h
noticed that Reddy took more pain
with his toilet. Every morning Skip
pers coat was curried and brushed
and rubbed with chamois until 1t shon
almost as II it had been varnished
His fetlocks were carefully trimmed,
ribbon braided into his forelock ant
his hoofs polished as brightly as Red
dy's boots. Then there were apple
and carrots and other dellcacies whic
Reddy brought him.
So it happened that one mornin
Skipper heard the sergeant tell Redo
that he had been detailed for the hors
show squad. Reddy had saluted an
said nothing ut the time, but whe
they were once out on post he toll
Skipper all about it.
"Sure an It's app'arin' before all tn
swells in town you'll be, me by. Pha
do We think of that, ell? An mebb
veil be gettin' blue ribbon, Skipper
me lad; an mebbe Mr.. Patrick Marti
will have roundsman's berth al
chevrons on his sleeves afore the year
out"
The horse show was all that Redd
had promised and more. The light q
most dazzled Skipper. The sounds an
the smells confused him. But he fe
Reddy on his back, heard him chirru
softly and soon felt at ease on the tai
bark.
Then there was a great crash Of nois
and Skipper. with some fifty OF III
friends on the force, began to NOV
around the circle. First 1t was fou
abreast, then by twOs, and then rus
| 10 IrOOD lTOut, Wuch, IA - AoNo '-->
they swept around as II they had bee
harnessed to beam by traces of equi
length.
After some more evolutions hal
dozen were picked out and put throug
their PAGES. Skipper was one OF thes'
; Then three Of the six were sent to 1oi
the rest Of the squad. Only skippe
and two others remained in the cente
of the ring. Men in queer clothe
wearing tall black hats, showing muc
white shirt front and carrying Ion
whips, came and looked them ovt
!. carefully.
Skipper showed these men how =
could waltz In time to the music, an
the people who banked the circle
far up as Skipper could see shoute
and clapped their hands until 1t seen
ed as IL O thunderstorm had broke
loose. At last one Of the men In Il