The new enterprise., 1902-04-03

tho purpose, as he said. "Of showln'
dem kids how { beat drum fur true"
He would come to the school half an
hour TOO early aud march around the
building, beating all kinds Of weird and
stirring music from his drum. When
the school-bell rang, he'd leave the
instrument with the fat old woman
who kept the grocery next door, but
at recess, at noon, and in the evening
he would reappear ready to challenge
everybody to a drum-beating contest.
As his skill waNed greater his rivals
fell away and in due time Tommy
came to be recognized az 9TH cham
poem"
Meanwhile the fire drills became less
frequent MS the children became quick
and proficient in the maneuvers calcu-
lated TO maintain order and safety in
case OF a fire, For n while weekly
drills became the rule, then fortnightly,
then monthly, until, as the warm days
came on and the fires in the furnace
were allowed TO go out, the fire drills
were forgotten and dust began to ac-
cumulate on the class drums.
One warm May day a sudden pur
Of hot smoke swept in through the
north windows Of the building and
threw the school into sudden panic.
A rush OF cracking flames, the shouts
of people in the street, an explosion and
the Siding smell Of gasoline completed
the disorder. The forgotten school fire
bell did not ring, the teachers shrieked,
the children began to cry and rush for
the doors.
Tommys room was on the top floor.
His teacher, with forty scared young
stcrs pellmell at her heels, was rush
ing down the steps when she and they
heard the first tap OF a drum. In the
whole building it was the only one
that sounded.
RAP Tap Rap-tap-a-tap,"
Slowly at first, but with increasing
speed, loud, precise and vigorous until
every frightened child in the swarm
ing Railways heard it and instinctively
fell into the marching order Of the al
most forgotten fire drill. 1t recalled
the scattered senses Of the teachers,
and its gay tattoo OF rollicking strokes
seemed to mock at the fire, which was
now roaring into the north windows
and filing the halls with smoke,
The principal and teachers and the
awe-stricken children who first gained
the street and saw the fire department
attack the burning grocery store could
hear the wonderful volleys for minutes
after they were safe, The drummer
seemed IN haste to escape, and the ey-
posed wing Of the schoolhouse was all
abla2e when he, the last Of all,
marched out 10 the music Of his own
making.
It was Tommy. They all cheered
him as he arrived on the sidewalk,
and the women were for kissing him,
but he seemed in no mood to quit
drumming. On the contrary, his stub
born, but ambitious mind seemed bent
on a further display Of his ability in
this line. He acted as though it was
his last chance to appear to advan-
tage, and he was rubbing it in" on
the whole gallery Of his rivals, his
teachers and the principal. So he
struck n few fancy measures, and,
perhaps with a furtlve anticipation Of
an enforced vacation, made them as
merry as a drum can yield.
Nobody ever could convince Tommy
that he was hero. But when school
reopened he was permanently "class
drummer" and nowadays even the
stern principal is lenient with the law
less boy.--John II. Raftery, in tho
Chicago. Record-Herald.