The Falls City tribune., 1910-05-06
MAZE.
Story Awarded Second Prize in April
Contest CT Our Dumb Animals.

smoking and recalling the 6lofles OF
Hose Company, Number One" for
the benefit of a chance visitor. The
perils of firo.fightlng and the heroic
deeds of different firemen had all
been discussed.
Well, FL tell you who's got as
much sense at a fire us anyone in
the company" drawled the engineer,
and that's Maize" lie icrked his
thumb toward one of the stalls in
the rear Of The engines where the
head Of a magnificent bay horse
could be seen, nosing over the hay,
and p%ausing now and then 10 glance
socially toward the group around the
stove.
I can remember when he was
nothing but a green country horse,
filled to the brim with skittishness
aud deviltry, - continued the engineer,
but it didn't take him long to get
onto the ropes. Do you remember
that fire down at the car shops, Bill?
Well. sir, Maize had only been in
training six months when we had
that call. The flames had such IA
start that we needed every man and
there wasn't n soul TO stay with the
horses. Twas an awful winters
night-most as bad as this one" he
added. as the wind howled around the
corner
yet that horse stood out there in
the snow till after midnight. Trains
would 90 roaring by and he would
just tremble with fright, but he never
moved an inch from his tracks till
he came to hitch on again. Since
then he's been our standby. We
never bother to look after the team
he's IN. They're dead sure 10 be
right where we left them, every time.
That horse hasn't missed a fire in
three years! You can't keep him in,
he's So"
The brazen clamor Of the fire gong
broke in upon his speech. Instantly
every man was on his feet. Before
the signal had finished striking, each
one was flying to his place, struggling
into his boots and coat and on the
way.
As the locks ON the stall doors
We're thrown back the horses sprang
out. MAZE was first, his neck arch
ed high and his nostrils distended
with excitement. He crashed down
the hall and wheeled into his place
in front of the engine, where he
stood fairly %shivering with Impotence
till the harness was buckled on.
Then they whirled II into the night.
y driving blast of snow and wind
struck them. and the pavement was
a glare of ice beneath the eager hoofs
The grizzled driver tightened his
hold on the Juggling reins. Hope
nothin' happens" he muttered.
Before them lay a long down
grade, at the end of which a burn
ing factory threw its glowing flames
duly through the flying snow. The
horses were going at full gallop, their
mighty bodies thrilling with eager
ness. They were almost there.
Suddenly Maize slipped, struggled
in vain to keep his footing, and fell
with a siekening thud. The other
horse was dragged down with him.
Instantly the men were beside the
struggling team. The other horse
got to his feet, but Maize half arose.
only to fall back again. After a
mighty effort he scrambled to his
feet. He started forward. but one
leg huns limp and broken. Before
the men could stop him he strug-
gled ahead, almost grooming with
pain, yet with his eyes fixed on the
blazing fire beyond. Hobbling and
slipping, he battled on for a few
PAGES and then fell for the last
time. Nothing could be done save
to put him out OF his misery, yet, as
he lay on the pavement, his last
feeble struggle was toward the fire
that goal he had striven SO brave