The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-11-21
BOGGS' FIRE ALARM.

There had been several fires in neighboring
Harlem flats and Boggs was on the alert.
He lived on the Top floor with his wife and
| two children III a new house that had no
elevator.
eff there should be fire here" said
| Boggs, repeatedly, to his better half, ''leave
everything and go either down the fire
escape or up on the roof
Every well, my dear!" was Mrs. Boggs'
reply. Don't worry!'
One morning Mrs. Boggs went out early
with her children for walk in the park.
The servant was on the roof hanging up
the washing and Boggs was enjoying a
late sleep in the brass bed in the back
parlor. He had been to the lodge the
night before and his head was filled with
queer buzzing sounds. Through the
parlor window the dazzling rays of the
floor In the bright light particles of
dust foated hither and thither, famed
by the gentle summer breeze.
Boggs was half awake. He looked
dreamily across the floor toward the par
lor mantel to see what time it was. Then
he started up in bed with jump. His
bloodshot eyes bulged until he looked like
a bullfrog ready to spring.
Its smoke!" he exclaimed, his teeth
chattering. Its smoke as sure as there's a
sun a-shining!
Boggs looked at the broad belt of sun
light that swept across the room. There,
coming up through the cracks in the floor
in front of the tiled fireplace, he could see
little wreath of blue smoke curling lazily
upward. 1t was so tiny at first that it
was hard to believe that it was smoke, but
with two leaps from the bed Boggs got his
nose within range and was ready for ac-
ton.
Heavens" he cried, though nobody
heard him, the house is atire, and here
J am alone. Shall l open the windows and
yell or shall put it out myself?'
He rushed into the kitchen. There
the floor stood a tin boiler overlooking
with soap suds and water in which the
clothes had been soaked all night.
This will do it!' he CALCULATED, as he
dragged the boiler over the floor into the
parlor. The smoke was thicker and bluer
than before and the odor of burning wood
J fairly made Boggs insane. He upset the
boiler on the floor directly over the smoking
cracks and rushed back for more. Then
in his mad flight, he remembered that his
wife had some money and valuables in the
bureau top drawer. He dropped the boiler
with crash and dashed into the bed
room.
He ransacked the drawers after an
other, but he could find nothing. An
open trunk stood in his way. Instantly he
was seized with wild desire to save some.
thing He grabbed his wife's best Sunday
hat and threw it in. Then he hurled these
articles on top OF it:
One alarm clock, one pair of rubber boots,
one broken umbrella, one pile of old news.
papers, one doll, one cracked china pitcher
one bowl, one box of cigars, one pair OF cuffs,
three soiled collars, one bottle of ink, two
pairs of socks, one paper of tacks, tack
hammer and chisel, set of false teeth, one
carpet slipper, three pillows and tomato
can.
Then he came to his senses for a moment
and rushed back into the parlor. The
blue smoke was curling up in a maddening
way. Boggs turned on the water in the
kitchen and in the bath tub. Under the
streams he placed bowls and pals, while
he filled the washtub again through the
showerbath hose.
"Fire!" he walled piteousy, as he poured
water in turn from the wash boiler, two
pals, two bowls and big saucepan upon
the smoking cracks.
Fire! Ring the alarm!'
1t was another frenzed desire to save
something that took him next. So he
hurried into the bedroom and turned the
trunk upside down.
Fire! FIRE." was his constant wall. He
stepped on tack and shrieked with pain.
Then he bumped his head against a pro-
jecting shelf and staggered back, groggy.
He threw two of his wife's dresses into the
trunk and his boys rocking horse and a
sled on the dresses.
Fire! My God, we are burning up''
H. Ill, 6, e,x,l,; aud
teeth were chattering as if the thermometer
was 20 degrees below zero. He took an
other look at the smoke, but it was still
curling lazily up as if it had no desire to
bring matters to crisis.
"B-r-r-r-r-r-r! 1t was the electric bell at
the front door.
B-r-r-r-r-r-r! But Boggs was busy draw
! ing more water. He sprinted out of the
1 kitchen with the wash boiler and fell head
1 ong 1t was a crash that awoke the neigh
borhood.
"Fire'' he fairly roared as he got up and
4 looked again at the lazy smoke. sMurder!'
B-r-r-r-r-r-r! 1t was the bell again. Then
i there was pounding on the door produced
i by the fists of man.
'Fire!" shouted Boggs as he tipped over
/ the umbrella stand and opened the door.
! whats all this mean! queried the jan
4 itor.
y John, what on earth are you doing??'
Il asked Mrs. BoggS, eNcitedly.
l My ceiling has fallen" erowled Foggs
4 the tenant below, land you've flooded my
4 parlor Who's going to pay for it; hey:"
4 Its an outrage exclaimed half dozer
u women.
4 Hes crazy, sure!" said the servant girls
4 The street was filled with fire engines
4 The tiremen came leapmg up the stairs.
4 Where is it:" they yelled, bringing il
i their axes.
4 In there' said Boggs. family, as HI
j pointed in toward the parlor. The tiremel
and the janitor rushed in together. TIL
N. blue smoke was still curling up from tn
) floor.
n" .It,s noth;ng" remarked the ianitor
r" with look of disgust. '.The fue is on
We of order and the smoke is coming up through
nd the floors! There's no fire."
en- When order had been restored Mrs. Bogg