| Show cheerio fun for all the children aai A Ui aj chapters cys V edited by DOROTHY EDMONDS BUCK THE FIRE DOG buck was a mongrel dog everyone agreed about that if you started to call him a police dog you would be halted by the resemblance he be bore to an al and it was so with every breed you could mention buck had bad been picked up in the streets halt half starved and dirty by a kind fireman on his way home and after that he had been forever adopted by the fire house as a mascot it seemed as it if buck had been born to fires when the gong rang buck was at attention ready to spring to the drivers seat jilt at the whistle of one of the men in fact he be made himself so useful by keeping back crowds and other fire duties that they never went to a fire without him in his seven years of service with them buck had performed several heroic deeds had saved three lives as well yes sir buck was a regular fireman and as he be lay relaxed and half asleep at the feet of the men who were playing cards awaiting their the ir next nest summons there was great satisfaction written on the brave dogs face once in awhile he wo would uld twitch and his expression would change as if remembering some of the hard days before the firehouse fl adopted him it was a hot summers day and a long time since any fires of consequence had taken place suddenly 1 buck sat up and almost sit simultaneously nul the gong sounded one two three seven that was up dp on oak avenue the part of the town owned by the very wealthiest it might be a big fire at any rate largo large damages were likely to result the bremen lost no time the engine was out of the door siren blowing buck on the front seat the crew in places allotted to them and all obstructions out of the way boys followed running people stared from windows crowds swarmed along the streets hastening to see the excitement much of the house bad already burned away when they reached the destination it looked as if 11 they could not save much of it water roared out of the hose and neighboring fire departments came to aid Is everyone out one of bucks men asked of a bystander yes everyone I 1 think woman hysterical had to be carried out unconscious children man yes everyone out but before the man mail had the words out of his mouth a woman came screaming up to the bucks captain junior she cled junior Is in there I 1 tainted fainted they carried me out but did not see him ile he Is in there you must save him you tou must 11 she started herself toward the burning house at this point the roof of the house bouse fell in with a terrific crash and the fir emens hopes of saving the child were dashed to the ground the woman collapsed again three firemen had bad rushed to the scene to discover any possible means of getting in but with the root roof crashing in even their slimmest slim chances were downed oh gasped all the bystanders the little boy he must de be burned oh how terrible then to the amazement of the crowd the joy of the fire department buck whom no one had noticed was absent came haltingly blindly toward them hanging tight to a small body smoke was in his eyes in his throat he could not see he stumbled toward them ano an dropped the precious bundle at the feet of the captain buck had found a way to get in buck bock had heard the childs cries buck had been the only one who could find a way and if he had been a hero before after that ho he was the pet dog of the whole town and no won wonder er 1 fal m 1932 western Now vaDer union |
