Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-10-14
| NAL BY'S
FIRE DRILL

took their two servants with them.
The servants had the two rooms
ON the top floor. To reach them
you had to go up long, narrow pair
of stairs
rian and cautious.
The first night he woke up about
midnight and got thinking about
fire.
Suppose" said Maltby to himself,
there should be fire, how would
we get the girls out in time?"
He woke up his wife and told her
about it.
'Nonsense!" said Mrs. Maltby, sleep
lily
But it's a serious thing" said
Maltby. tits just this lack of pre-
caution, this want of intelligence be-
forehand, this is responsible for great
loss of life. Isn't that 500"
VERY likely" drowsed Mrs. Maltby.
"How would we get them down?
How would we make them move
quickly enough"
Go to sleep!'
do you smell smoker" said Maltby,
hoping to wake her up.
Mrs. Maltby vouchsafed no answer
Maltby thought on.
The more he thought of it the more
| serious the problem was. Two human
lives in constant danger! It was ter
rible. And he would be responsible!
So long as he lived it would always
l I, i'm, NJ Ac 81
| binary precaution he most do some
thing.
Suddenly there came, out of the in
tense darkness brilliant idea. He
would have a fire drill. They always
had it in schools. If it worked once,
that would settle the whole matter.
If-it didn't work. then every one would
bless him for making the discovery.
He got up stealthily and put on his
bathrobe. He got his watch, in order
to take the time. And then, watch in
hand, and stole upstairs.
Ready" he said to himself in f1cnt
of the girls door. "Go!"
He pounded on the door and at the
same time shouted "Fire!" Silence.
He repeated the experiment. There
was a slight noise inside.
Once more he shouted fire.
He was answered by loud Shrek
In about a second and half two
white-robed figures bounded out of
the door, shrieking at the top of their
voices. Maltby followed them down
stairs. At the door he took the time.
zone minute and a half" he shout
ed. Great! I had no idea that it
could be done in that time. Girls,
you did fine''
In The meantime the girls. half hys-
terical, had hidden themselves be-
hind the kitchen closet
You said the house was on fire.
said Bridget. Sure there's nothing
the matter that l can see."
Dim that scared" trembled Della
Maltby explained. He was ust see
ing how quick they could get out. He
ordered them back to bed.
In the meantime, Mrs. Malthy
aroused by the noise, and finding
y her husband absent descended the
stairs.
What is the matter?" he ex
claimed.
"Nothing!" replied Maltby. Just /:
fire drill, that's all. AS long as yo,
! yourself care nothing for human life
~ why / must. / had fire drill.'
q Mrs. Maltby wrung her hands.
a Where are the girls?" she asked.
q Gone back, of course, to sleep qui
* city and peaceably the rest of tn
10 night. Very intelligent girls, those"
= Don't you believe it!''
. Even as she spoke, two figure
~ once more descended the stairs Fac
~ had bundle.
What's this?" asked Maltby.
Ii Bridget spoke.
p I'VE leave here on the first train il
,o the morning"
But, girls, don't you understand.
was merely taking an ordinary precal
ton. I was looking out for you.
wanted to prove that you could &c
out in time" 8f
Mrs. Maltby grabbed him by tn
armtand~pushed him through the doc
gently but firmly. There was fir
. in her eyes that he recognized mean
), business, even in the dim light.
go upstairs and leave me here!
- she said. Maltby went.
1t was perhaps half an hour late
that his wife returned She was cain
but frigid.
You are very intelligent person
aren't your" she said.
81 think am, said Maltb,
weakly.
You understand, of course that
these girls don't stay we shall hav
to give up this place and go bac
home, and that 1t will only cost 70
$500 for rent, besides the inconv,
nience and loss of health"
Are they going to stay?" aske
Maltby, breathlessly. He was begil
ming to get interested in the poss
bilities. He hadn't viewed the 81
uation in that light before.
"On one condition, and that is thu
we occupy their rooms. and thew hay