Evening journal., 1907-01-21


Hector strobe out Of his stall with loud snorti
towering giant of black horse with fire in his eyes,
and fire in his nostrls and FIRE under his hoofs he
stepped Tossing his head contemptuousy he took his
place of honor between the poles of the engine the
other horses falling quickly In on either side Of him,
looking like ponies in comparison with their big leader
All harnessed ready to go. before label could
have been burnt off gasolene cam No. kissing
sptefuy and Skinny, the driver, settling himself
comfortably upon the box Hector. however, had been
paving the ground
Get up. Hec" said Skinny; do you think this Is a
fmeralf"
Hector tossed his giant head again. and pulled the
engine and the other horses playfully out upon the
street
"An together now" said Skinny persuasively as he
shook out the long reins
And with that they were off and away, with wild
eiatter and ringing up the long, crowded. startled
khorougtdare.
Back of Skinny the men who few moments before
had been peacefully pulling their corn-cob pipes ana
swapping stories with their friends the boys OF the
neighborhood were clinging with desperation to the
poles of the roaring engine and hosecart they rushed
down the crowded street. rocking around sharp corners
and winding an intricate path to the of their duty
81 wonder what's the matter with Skinny to-day
aid big Bill Hoffman as he jammed his helmet tighter
bn his head Hes driving wide everywhere-aets as
though he was scared Of something"
"Oh YOU never can tell about Skinny" replied his
companion Hes the craziest kid on the works. Some
days he drives as if there baby under the wheels
al the time Then again he's cppin them Elevated
h;llars BY fractions Of an inch"
Weaving in and out through the congestion OF the
eits traffic Skinny was nevertheless driving his horses
beautifully now amming down his brakes hard to avoid
an overnpertinent trolley that had run past its
.,ooonv point; and again giving Hector and his mates
their heads as they dashed madly down an inviting
stretch of asphalt
Feet braeed against the footboard, sinewy hands
raipns with all their power against the excited horses,
head bare to the rushing wind eyes set to the 'front.'
never wavering face stern with the responsibility that
rests upon the man who is guiding brazen comet
through city streets crowded with eager spectators
this was Skinny
Looks like soldier charging the enemy" said one
man half TO himself.
you're right sir, he is a soldier but with those fell
lows death is all in the days work." and his neghbcr
turned again as the battalion chief whred changing by
in his buggy in the wake of the flying engine
But with Skinny on the drivers seat il different
to-day. To the outsider Skinny the intrepid
keen-eved driver who loves show his daring and skill
and devotion to duty. Even his comrades at the FIRE
house had noticed no marked difference for he had al
ways been an erratc lad and made few intimate friends
Hector was the only one to whom he had given all
his heart and all his condolences
rYer safe if ye tell yer TO horse" he often
said, and then he had half laughed.
But the men knew that Hector more to Skinny
than child would be some men, and they respected
him for it even if they joked with him about it
And to-day with Skinny different of
calamity had been with him since morning. intangible
lndefnable.
"somethin's going to happen, old boy" he had
INJURED 70 Hector when he went the big horses stall
in the morning.
Hector had rnaed At the back of skinnys head
While poured out the oats, but had youchsafed an
swer. He was hungry for the oats and paved impa-
sienty at the floor.
"somethin's sure gon' happen" he said later and
Hector had turned and whnned to him while he pol
ished the buckles and joints of his horses harness
81 feel just the way Johnny Burns did the day before
That piano factory fell on him. Gee, hope amt goin
% lose my nerve-or my horse" thought Skinny.
The alarm had welcome relief from this
sloomy foreboding.
Once on the seat Skinny himself again-almost,
,ut as he threaded his way down the long street he
ound himself going in memory the days since he
and Hector had gone into the department.
Away down to n they had met hrst-down in the
skyscraper section of the ciyhe recruit with lots to
carn and Hector fine, big, outstanding hve-year-old
They had taken to each other from the very start
w w