The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-01-02

Cling! clingl" said the fire-bell
with her silver voice. Cling! cling
cling, There's fire not far away
and the roof of the building is fall
ing in,--and the smoke is pouring
out OF the windows! and itll be all
UP with the women and children II
you don't hurry up! Cling cling!
cling! cling!
Hector strobe out of his stall with
a loud snort; Il towering giant of
black horse, with fire In his eyes. and
fire in his nostrils, and fire under
his hoofs as he stepped. Tossing
his head contemptously. 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 were har-
messed ready to go. before label
could have burned off gasolene can.
No. 10 was Kissing spitefully, and
Skinny. the driver. was settling him
self comfortably upon the box.
Hector however. had been paving
the ground.
"Get up, Hec," said Skinny; "do
you think this is funeral?"
Hector tossed his giant head again.
and pulled the engine and the other
horses playfully out upon the street.
"All together now" said Skinny
persuasively, as he shook out tie
long reins.
And with that they were on and
away. with q wild clatter and ring
ing. up the long, crowded. startled
thoroughfare.
Back of skinny the men who few
minutes before had been peacefully
pulling at their corn-cob pipes and
swapping stories with their friends,
the boys of the neighborhood. were
clinging with desperation to the poles
of the roaring engine and hose-cart
as they rushed down the crowded
street. rocking around sharp corners
and winding an intricate path to the
scene OF their duty.
II wonder what's the matter with
Skinny to-day" said Bill Hoffman as
he 1ammed his helmet tighter on his
head. " He's driving wide every
where-acts 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 II there was
q baby under the wheels all the time.
Then again he's clippin' them Ele-
waited pillars by fractions of an
inch"
Feet braced against the foot
board, sinewy hands straining 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 re-
sponsibility that rests upon the man
who is guiding a brazen comet |
through city streets with eager spec
tators-this was Skinny.
Looks like soldier charging the |
enemy" said one man half to him
self.
you're right. sir, he is soldier |
but with those fellows death is all !
IN the days work" and his neighbor |
turned again as the battalion chief !
whirled changing by in his buggy |
In the wake of the dying engine.
But with Skinny on the drivers
seat 1t was differsnt to-day. To the |
outsider Skinny was the same intre'
pid keen-eyeGf driver who loves to !,
show his d sffng and skill and dcvo- /,
tiohto dutss Even his comrades at the
FIRE house, had noticed no marked /
differe,c4 for he had always been an
errati a1ad and made few intimate
frieDi&
HECTOR was the only ono to whom /
he had given all his heart and all
hissccnfidences.
ssYer safe 10 ye tell yer secrets to i
asAhorge," he often said. and then
lie had half laughed.
fBut the men knew that Hector was
more to Skinny than a child would
be to some men. and they respected
him for Il even II they 5oked with |