The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-29


the girls wiz All ss. smoshsfea or
crushed coming down. Don't you see,
Helen -and Bert started On down the
hall to get the other extinguisher.
Helen thought quickly. II she ran
back and gave the alarm Of fire she
knew there would be a rush for the mar
row stairs. and if she did not 60 back
another girl might be sent out 70 find
out what the trouble was and be SO
frightened that she would start the
panic on the spot. Only a moment
Helen paused. Then she turned and ran
back up the stairs. sped down the long
hall that was rapidly filling With smoke,
opened the door Of the south room
softly and slipped inside
'sWell, Miss Gordon" said Miss Pit
kin. impatiently.
eMy brother Bert says that the dis
turbance win soon stop. They-they're
fixing something"
1t was fortunate that Miss Pitkin was
at a dificult part Of the problem and
that the girls didn't look at Helen
closely. else they might have seen how
pale her face was and how she trem-
bled
All day the room had been cold and
draughty, but now II seemed to Helen
10 have become suffocatingly hot and
stuify, and she was sure that she
smelled smoke. II seemed terrible 70
her that the other girls sat 50 uncon-
cernedly and watched Miss Pitkin
droning her explanations. AS for
Helen. she sat up straight and stih and
pale. listening Intently for the sounds
that came family from the hall. To her
Imagination it seemed almost that she
could hear the cracking Of the hre ia
the wood Of the stairWays and wains-
coting Of the dry old building. And
every moment she expected TO hear
Bert come running down the long hall
with the warning that they must run
for their lives. For Helen had the
greatest confidence in Bert-she was
sure he would do his best to save them.
Miss Gordon. you may 90 over this
equation for me-"
Helen started suddenly al the sound
Of her name. but Miss Pitkin's voice
seemed a long distance away.
did you hear meg" asked Miss Pit
kin. sharply, repeating her question
"I-I-don't believe can" faltered
Helen. listening all the while to the
sounds outside, and wondering why the
other girls did not smell the smoke
"Aren't you feeling well2' asked
Miss Pitkin.
mo, IL mean l am-quife wen.
Would she never know when the
danger was over?
A hand went up in the corner Of the
room near the door.
~Well?" asked Miss Pitkin.
Il think / smell smoke" said Juiia
Newman, and instantly every girl IN
the room started suddenly and glanced
apprehensigely toward the hallway
Miss Pitkln walked to the door.
NO. no" cried Helen. suddenly
don't 60 out. It's all right"
why. child. what's the matterE
asked Miss Pitkin, sternly.
AT that moment there was a loud
knaek Miss Pitkin. who now smelled
the smoke. threw open the door. There
stood Bert Gordon. his face blackened
and his hair towsled. Every girl IN
the room, now thoroughly frightened
pressed forward, and the smoke rolled
into the room IN clouds.
We've got the fire all put out now
said Bert, excitedly. "aEa there's not 9
bit Of danger. We were trying to start
the fire in the furnace for the first time
and one Of the iues was broken. Jusl
open the windows"
Forty pale and frightened girls
crowded around Miss Pitkin and clam
ored their questions. In the meantime
Helen had sunk heavily into one o.
the seats.
why. Helen, what's the matterT
questioned several Of the girls.
Il believe she knew all about it anS
didn't tell" said another, exeitedly.
yes" put in Bert Il told her no
TO. There would have been a panic i
she had. and the janitor and coul'
never have got the fire put out
Then such a crowding around ans
hand-sbaking and sympathizing 81
there was Even Miss Pitkin melted
and, with tears in her eyes, called
Helen her brave girl" And the. mex
morning, when the girls gathered il
the old assembly-room. Miss Pitkir
praised Helen pubhcly-a thing thai
rarely happened at Rathmore-ane
Helen's mother was there to hear.
1T is the other kind Of courage,
Helen whispered. with tears in hel
eyes.
And from that time to this Heller
has never been twitted about being q
coward. She still breads thunder
storms. but she has learned so to CON
troll her fears that few know Of hel
weakness. Chicago Record.
II Annoyed Her.
II never was so mortified in all my
lifer' she exclaimed.