Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-10-09

all In the confused roar of the appa-
| ratus as it Numbered past, but to the
ears of Silver there were many sounds
blended into one. There were the
rhythmical beat of hOofs. the low un-
dertone of the wheels grinding the
pavement, the high note Of the forged
steel lock opener as it hammered the
footboard, the mellow dingdong OF
the bell, the creak Of the forty and
fifty foot extensions. the rattle Of the
iron shOd hooks, the rat-tat-tat Of the
scaling ladders on the bridge and the
muftled drumming Of the leather bel
NETS as they jumped in the basket.
With the increasing speed all these
sounds rose in pitch until, when the
team was at full swing, they became
one vibrant theme-thrilling, inspiring.
nxultant-the action song Of the truck.
OF course 1t all ended when, with
heaving fanks and snOrting nostrils,
you stopped before a building where
thin curls of smoke escaped from up
per windows. Generally you found
purring beside hydrant a shiny steam
er which hud beaten the truck by per-
haps a dozen seconds. Then you
watched your men snatch the great
ladders from the truck, heave them up
against the walls and bring down pale
faced, staring eyed men and women.
You saw them tear open iron shutters,
batter down doors, smash windows
and do other things to make a path
for the writhing, white bodied, yellow
nosed snakes that uncoiled from the
engine and were carried wriggling IN
where the flames Tapped along base
board and floor beams. You saw the
little ripples of smoke swell into huge,
cream edged pillows that tumbled out
and up SO far above that you lost sight
Of them.
Sometimes there came dull explo-
sions, when smoke and fame belched
out about you. Sometimes stones and
bricks and cornices fell near you. But
you were not to finch or stir until
Lannigan, who watched all these hap
penings with critical and unwinking
eyes. gave the word.
And after it was all over, when the
red and yellow flames had ceased to
dance in the empty window spaces,
when only the white steam smoke roll
ed up through the yawning roof holes,
the ladders were reshipped, you left
the purrlng engines to drown out the
last hidden spark and you went pranc-
ing back to your house, where the lone
some desk man waited patiently for
your return.
No Looping rush was the hoI,eward
trip. The need for haste had passed.
Now came the parade. You might toss
your head, arch your neck and use all
your fancy steps; Lannigan didn't care
In fact, he rather liked to have you
show of q Bit The men on the truck,
smutty of face and hands, joked across
the ladders. The strain was over. II
was a time Of relaxing, for behind was
duty well done.
Then came the nice accuracy OF
swinging a sixty foot truck In q hfty
foot street and Of backing through
fourteen foot door wheels which span
ned thirteen feet from hub rim to hub
rim.
After unlocking there was the rub
bling and the extra feeding OF oats
that always follows long run. How
good it was to be bedded down after
this lung stretching, leg limbeIIng
work.
Such was the life which Old Silver
was leading when there arrived disas-
ter. 1t came In the shape Of milk
leg. Perhaps 1t was caused by over
feeding, but more likely 1t resulted
from much standing in stall during O
fortnight when the runs had been few
and short.
1t behaved much as milk legs usual
ly 90. While there was no great pain.
the leg was unhandsoine to LOOK upon,
and 1t gave to Old Silver a clumsiness
he had never known before.
Industriously did Lannigan apply
such simple remedies as he had at
hand. Yet the swelling increased until
from pastern to hook was neither shape
nor grace. Worst of all, In getting on
his feet one morning Silver barked the
skin with rap from his toe calks.
Then it did look bad. OF course this
had to happen just before the veteri-
nary Inspectors monthly visit.
"Old Silver, chi" said he. "Well. I've
been looking for him to give out. That's
O bad leg there, very bad leg. Send
him up to the hospital In the morning
and Ill have another gray down here.
It's time you had a new horse In bis
piace."
Lannigan stepped forward to protest.
] It was only q milk leg. He had cured