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Show AOONIZINa TRIP ON HORSE CAR Obliging Conductor Told tlio rjunenger llrr Iloaie Wi llurnlng. Rack In tho days when the North Stnto street cars wero drawn to and from town by tho lazy methods ot tired horses a woman boarded a car at Lako street and, taking a scat, pro-pared pro-pared to enjoy a luxurious mental and physical rest, as sbo lived north ot Division street, nnd tho trip would bo llko Hweetncss long drawn out. Dut fnto and tho obliging conductor hnd other ends In view for tho weary pas-Bcngcr. pas-Bcngcr. When aho paid her faro tho amlablo official volunteered to break his usual sllcnco with tho consoling remark: re-mark: "Madam, your houso is on fire." "What!" screamed tho frightened woman, Jumping to her feet in alarm. "Yea, madam," explained tho conductor. conduc-tor. "I aaw tho engines out In front ns I passed tho corner." Tho woman sank back Into her seat In demoralized despair. Tho car fairly crept northward north-ward In its homeward Journey, and every turn of tho wheels brought a now trial and troublo to the frightened houso owner. Sho pictured her children chil-dren burned ns the greatest of evils added to tho loss of her furniture and clothes as the least. Sho urged tho conductor to hurry, ho in turn argued with tho driver, who threatened tho backs of tho bony horses with the reins until thoy managed to go a trifle fnstcr than a walk. Rut to tho Imprisoned victim tho car fairly crept through space. Sho counted every street as It was left behind, and two squares beforo be-foro sho could possibly reach home sho was out on tho front platform accompanied accom-panied by tho sympathetic conductor, endeavoring to discover signs of tho harrowing conflagration In front of her homo. And, nil too true, thero wero tho engines and firemen, thero was tho smoko if not the flro Issuing from tho windows, there was tho usual gathered crowd. "Oh, hurry," sho cried out to tho driver, and hurry he certainly did. The horaes fairly galloped up Stato street, and within n half block of Division Di-vision street tho harassed passenger Jumped from tho platform, unablo longer to bear the strain of waiting. She ran up the middle ot the atrcet to her own familiar block ot houses, only to find her own home sato and sound, and her own children In their healthy bodies busily helping the firemen. For it was tho next door homo ot her neighbor that was burning. |