The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1903-08-01
nrTholmpkins\ gives a Ne Drill

sternly. "The first lesson is to keey
cool"
"Thompkins' fiat is on fire" some
one was shouting outside the door.
Send for the fire department; KEEL
In the door; rescue the women"
Come in this way" some one was
bawling in the rear. Smash in tn Il,
windows"
| The cook came charging down the
hall with big cut-glass punch bowl
She tumbled over Thompkins, and he
and the cook and the punch bow
mixed In fierce scuffle on the floor
Mrs. Thompkins, rushing wildly in &
quiet the disturbance, fell over the
cook and Mr.. Thompkins and the
punch bowl, and added to the merri
ment The maid was still screaming
wildly in the parlor and the hubbuh
outside increased. The front door
gave way with crash and the janito.
and half dozen neighbors came pour.
ing In. Two of the men seized the
maid and rescued her in the most ap.
proved style. Unfortunately, they
slipped on the top landing and the
three rolled down the stairway with
many pleasing crashes that added to
the shrieks and cries that were now
resounding through the building as
the frightened flatters hurried out or
rushed back and forth, carrying down
their belongings.
Some OF the invaders thoughtfully
saved vases and clocks by hurting
them through the windows, while two
others fought with the piano and
finally succeeded in getting It wedged
In the hall outside and cutting off the
escape of four women from the fiat
above, who sat down on the floor and
screamed shrilly that they were being
roasted alive.
Thompkins gained his feet as the
firemen, who had now arrived, broke
In the rear windows and led a hose
into the building.
Get out, you fools!" roared Thomp-
kins. "A mans house is his castle:
get out or I'll have you arrested"
He's nutty," yelled some kind
hearted neighbor. Seize him, men,
and then put out the fire."
Thompkins stood at bay with n
chair, but fireman ran in under his
guard and toppled him over and he
was hustled down the back stairs,
where the janitor and a fat man sat
on him and told him to be calm. that
the fremen had arrived, and that the
building would be saved and that Mrs.
Thompkins had not been injured.
The firemen aid big crowd of
neighbors came hurrying down in a
moment to say they couldn't find the
fire and to ask who had given the
alarm. Thompkins tried to tell how
he had merely planned to give his
household fire. drill, when Mrs.
Thompkins asked the fat man to make
her husband stop talking. as the ex.
citement had upset him. The fat man
put large, greasy hand as big as a
ham over Thompkins' mouth, and then
Mrs. Thompkins said that her maid
had become hysterical at seeing a
mouse running about the room and
had begun to shrek "Fire!" This had
been heard on the outside and had
all the excitement The neigh.
bors commenced carrying their belong.
ings back to their flats, and Mrs,
Thompkins led her liege back to their
wrecked apartments.
why didn't you let me tell them the
simple TRUTH" demanded Mr.. Thomp-
kins.
Because" replied Mrs. Thompkins.
after the neighbors pick up their
most valued furniture and bric-a-brac.
which they threw out of the windows |
In their excitement, they would come
In here and hang you to the chande-
Iier."
And Mr. Thompkins concluded that
ais wife was really practical sort of
4 woman. He also decided to give up
he matter Of fire discipline drill. for
The time being, at least.
.osos@.~~.-so~'~-~~~~~~~>~ |