The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-01-02
CAPITAL AND SURPLUS $I5O.OOO.

And to-day with Skinny was differ
ent A sense Of calamity had been
with him since morning. intangible,
undefinable.
"Somethin's going to happen. old
boy" he had murmured to Hector
when he went to his big horses stall
In the morning.
Hector had smiled at the back of
Skinny's head while he poured out
the oats. but had vouchsafed no an-
swer. He was hungry for the oats
and paved inpatiently at the floor.
"Somethin's sure goin' to happen,"
he said later and Hector had turned
and whinned to him while he pol
ished the buckles and joints Of his
horses harness.
II feel just the way Johnny Burns
did the day before that piano factory
fell on him. Gee, / hope | aln't
goin' to lose my nerve-or my
horse" thought Skinny.
The alarm had come as welcome
relief from this gloomy foreboding.
Once on the seat Skinny was him
self again-almost, but as he
threaded his way down the long
street he found himself going over
In memory the days since he and
Ecctor had gone into the depart
IN ,t.
1hcn had come the other incidents
c. their life together-the big apart
ment house fire when, with all the
windows splitting fire and smoke,
Skinny had crawled slowly up TIE
front of the building with his scaling
ladder and brought down the OLD
woman and her two little grand.
-aughters. The next day the papers
famed with accounts of his hero!sm.
Skinny was made the driver of the
engine after that-the promotion he
had always secretly longed for.
How he and Hector could work to-
gether No one else could manage
the fiery animal SO we'll and skill
fully. There was the bond of friend
ship-of love between them. They
understood each other.
Hector 1t was after the long run
TO the car-barn fire last winter when
the snow was deep in the side streets
and the water frozen In glaciers
over the pavements and walls that
seemed to know instinctively the
peril of the tottering vail and COM
municated his fears to Skinny.
The pulsating, throbbing engine
had been dragged away only mo-
ment before the street was filled
with a 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 engine from Its course
and barely clear of big sightseeing
automobile filled with white-faced,
frightened tourists. Skinny had
grinned at them as he passed. but
he knew only too well that 1t was
Hector alone that had saved a half
dozen lives, including probably his
own.
Do you wonder that he loved his
fine big horse. Through all the best
part of bis life they had gone to-
gether-friends, sharing dangers,
comforts and pleasures.
Out of his dream came Skinny with
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 madman, his foot
jammed on the brake.
Whoa, Hector, you devil! whoa!"
he cried hoarsely.
The great horse gaped with 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 !
to his knees, Plunger went under the
merciiess wheels, and the engine |
came to a stop. 1t was all over |
as quick as kiss-Plunger lay |
quivering with broken back; Boiler |
was stone dead, his skull crushed In !
like an apple by Hectors terrible |
hoof; Hector himself, painting and
sweating, stood bravely quiet with !
his knees shaved to the bone. And |
the tiny girl who q moment before
had been smiling and happy. was
safe on the sidewalk, her small face
hidden in her frock, sobbing she
scarce knew why, k '