Evening star., 1908-01-25
TO THE RESCUE.

| The Howards lived so far in the coun-
try that their nearest neighbor was quite
| two miles away. and communication with
the town was carried on by the restless
| young Howards, who were constantly GO
| ing to and fro.
| Just now. Ernest. the youngest How
/ ard was kept a prisoner at home the
result of a fall from his bicycle and a
consequent sprained knee; and so he
| limped all about the place. feeling pretty
lonely on this special half-holiday after
noon. when all of his companions had
| gone out pleasuring. and he was left to
! amuse himself indoors with books and
games.
The sunlight outside was maddening.
OH for a spin to the foot of the hill; then
/ looking ruefuly at his bandaged knee,
/ he rem ambered his last spin and tried to
think of something else.
| He read until his eyes danced. he play
ed games until he was worn out: he eX-
plored the pantry to his hearts content :
! in short he did everything he col1d to Kill
time, which began to hang very heavy
/ on his hands.
AT length he threw himself down on
comfortable lounge, and before he knew
| 1t he was asleep.
When he awoke there was a strange
| sitting odor in the room. and Ernest
could scarcely see his band through the
| clouds of smoke.
| AS fast as his lame knee could carry
| him he got out of the room and into the
| air. There was not a soul around. every
body seemed to be taking holiday. his
mother and father were visiting friends
in the north: his big sister Ethel, who
was keeping house in their absence, n.-
gone to town. and the older boys were off
on long bicycle trip. The servants were
never there on a Saturday afternoon. and
as Ernest. thoroughly frightened. stood
watching the house he noticed little puffs
of smoke coming from the cellar and
knew that unless he gave the alarm at
once all hope of saving the old home
would be lost.
The nearest telephone was two miles
away. Fifteen minutes on wheel would
have made it. and he looked sadly at Ills
knee. Then bright thought came to him.
and he went quickly as he could to the
stable. He found Old Charlie in his STALL
and much battered buggy. and he went
to work as well as he could to get them
ready for travel. Old Charlie had once
been race horse, and something in the
keen air sent the blood coursing through
? his veins as Ernest led him outside; so
by the time he was hitched up he was as
impatient to be off In the days of his
youth. Five minutes more and horse and
buggy and boy Were speeding down the
road.
Ernest had hard time holding in Old
Charlie. He was forced to brace his well
knee against the dashboard of the buggy
and pull with all his strength to keep
from another tumble down the hill but
he reached his destination at last. and a
hurry call for the engine was sent to
town. Then a volunteer fire brigade was
organized in the country store from which
Ernest had telephoned There were se,-
eral produce wagons in front of the store.
and into these they all scrambled armed
with empty buckets furnished by the pro-
prietor.. Then they tore along the road
to the Howard place. Ernest and old
Charlie dashng madiy in front.
They were just in time. The house was
almost hidden in smoke. and occasionally
tongue of flame would dart out from
some unexpected place. The bucket bri-
gade formed a line from the house to the
well, and the work of rescue went Oh
quickly while Ernest led the now pranc-
ing and excited old race horse back to the
stable
He was feeling very tired and his weak
knee began to throb painfully. and there
was queer lump in his throat tnat
shouldn't have been there. 1t is rather
strange 10 see tire coming out of your
house and to have all your people away.
and-aad all that.~The lump grew greater
and greater. then as the smoke cleared
away and he saw the dear old home
standing firm and stanch through 1t all
| he laid his head down by the gate post
and the tears popped out of his eyes.
Just then shout broke from the work
ers.
Here comes the engine.' cried some
one as a cloud OF dust came sweeping up
the road; and, sure enough. there ii was,
| and riding neck to neck with the powerful
| horses were Ernests three big brothers
on their wheels, and not far behind. in
| another cloud of dust. came the fire chief,
driving Sister Ethel; and Ernest was
| Rugged and made much of-and-Weli. it
is nice in case of fire or some accident,
| to have your own people about you.