Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-20

been eaten he would bow his head to show
his gratitude.
1t all came back to Skinny as on occasions
lifetime's memories will be packed into
one brief moment. Skinny was driving to a
fire but subconsciously he was living again
his fireman's career with Hector.
When Hector had been transferr- to lie
uptown section and had shifted his good
bye into Skinny's fearful face there had
seemed not much left in Skinny's life until
some one a man higher up - had been
made to see that it would be benefit to
the service to have the two reunited. And
reunited they were at last in a West Side
house.
Then had come the other incidents of their
life together-the big apartment house fire
when, with all the windows splitting fire and
smoke, Skinny had crawled slowly up the
front of the building with his scaling ladder
and brought down the old woman and her
two little granddaughter. The next day
the papers famed with accounts of her
heroism
Skinny was made driver of the engine af-
ter that-the promotion he had always Sc
cretly longed for. How he and Hector could
work together! No one else could manage
the fiery horse well and sklfully. There
was the bond of friendship-of love-be-
tween them. They understood each other.
Hector ii was after the long run to the
car-barn fire last winter when the snow
deep in the side streets and the water
frozen in glaciers over the pavements and
walls, that seemed to know instinctively the
Gated his fears to Skinny.
The pulsating, throbbing engine had been
dragged away only a moment before the
street was filled with ruin of fallen and
smoking brick.
Hector again responding to the firm but
delicate guidance of his friend, had by his
enormous strength alone swerved the en-
CINE from its course and barely clear of a
big sightseeing automobile filled with
white-faced, frightened tourists. Skinny
had grinned at them as he passed. but he
knew only too well that it was Hector alone
that had saved a half dozen lives, includ-
ing probably his own.
Do you wonder that he loved his fine big
horse! Through all the best part of his
life they had gone together-friends, shar-
ing dangers, comforts and pleasures.
Out of his dream came Skinny with a
shock Round the last corner at the foot
of the hill they dashed at reckless speed.
The blue-coated policeman sprang out from
the curb and shouted down the avenue to
clear the way.
The whole street shrank out of the way,
except one little baby girl with dazed eyes,
Skinny stood up to the reins like a mad
man. his foot jammed on the brake.
Whoa, Hector, you devil! whoa!' he
cried hoarsely.
The great horse gaped with the pain of
the bit and tried to hold back on his
launches Plunger staggered on his left,
but he held him up for several yards; then
Boiler stumbled and fell with a crash.
Hector was brought TO his knees, Plunger
went under the merciless wheels and the
engine came to stop. 1t was all over as
quick as a kiss-Plunger lay quivering
with a broken back; Boiler was stone dead,
his skull crushed in like an apple by
Hector's terrible hoof; Hector himself,
painting and sweating, stood bravely quiet
with his knees shaved to the bone. And the
tiny girl who moment before had been
smiling and happy, was-safe on the side
walk her small face hidden in her frock,
sobbing she scarce knew why.
Then Hector took the engine up the hill
alone. His veins stood out so painfully be-
meath the strain, however-the sweat pour