"Come on!" "Lend a hand!" "Git holt!" "Push!" "Pull!" These and divers other excited exclamations rang out, and in the cupola directly overhead the brazen tongued bell sent out its warning, appeal and encouragement in vibrant and deafening tones. Glenning needed no spurring on. His hands were the first to fall into place, and with rumble and rush the Macon Fire Company started on its errand of succour. The hook-and-ladder wagon, being lighter, was dragged along by half grown boys, who took a keen delight in emulating, both in speed and endurance, their elders in the lead. To the accompaniment of yelping dogs, men in vehicles and men on horseback, the procession rushed madly up Main street, rudely disturbing the calm serenity of the summer night. As he ran, doing his full stint of work, and more, the athletic stranger cast his eyes about in a vain effort to locate the conflagration. He turned to the man running nearest him. "Do you suppose it's out? I can see no sign of it now." "No; it ain't out! Cemetery hill's in the way. There's been nothin' to put it out. An old white man, a girl and two old niggers couldn't do much with a house on fire!" Glenning noticed from the straggling houses and vacant lots that they were nearing the edge of town. "Where is it, anyway?" he asked. "In the country?" The man puffed and blew before making reply. "Mile from the court house, ever'body says. I b'lieve it's a mile and a quarter. Seems like three or four tonight!" He dashed the perspiration from his eyes, and settled to his work afresh. John looked at him again, and in the dim starlight, to which his eyes had become accustomed, he saw that the man was young and soft. His hands showed white, his face was purple from exertion, and his breathing was stertorous. "Pretty tough on a fellow who stays indoors, isn't it?" queried Glenning, pleasantly. "You--bet! Stranger, ain't you?" "Just came on the train tonight." "You must be--mightily interested--in these people!" "I'm going to make this place my home." "Uh-huh. I know you--now. You're the--new doctor!" "Yes. My name's John Glenning." "Pleased to--meet you--doctor! I'm Tom Dillard. Work--in bank!" "I'm glad to know you. You're my first acquaintance here. It's harder work pushing a fire engine than it is pushing a pen, isn't it?" Mr. Dillard grinned acquiescence. "Con--_siderable_!" he gasped. "Whose house is it that's burning?" continued Glenning. "Must be--Major Dudley's; no other house out--here close." At this juncture they rounded a sharp curve in the road, and came in full view of the fire, now close at hand. "Stable!" exploded Mr. Dillard, and everybody redoubled their exertions at the same moment, rendering further conversation out of the question.