The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1910-03-31
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l am spared to my friends and rlla-
tlves," declared Patty, with a lugubri-
GUS air, as she proceeded to unload
the millinery creation of birds and
from her head. tits q won
der that my sad and sudden end"
Why, Patty, what in the world has
harpened?' asked Corinne, Pumping
down on the hatrack seat and draw
ing her caller to the place beside her.
Il came over to tell you the whole
thrilling tale" sa;l Patty. "You know
dear, that all my life l have longed
to do something worth while-I mean
; to put my own powers n our
to the test. l wanted to know just
what I should do under circumstances
calling for GOODNESS and quick decision.
Well, yesterday my opportunity
came"
Why, what in the world hap
pened?' exclaimed Corinne. do get
into your story quick, Patty and leave
out the preliminaries."
No story is good without the prop
er introduction" returned Patty, re-
provingly, land this is just like the
stories you reaQ In DOCKS.
| Seeing that her listener was proper
ly impressed, Patty went n II had
promised Merrill that l would press
out his muller, so l put an iron on
that little stove attached by a hose to
the jet near mothers dresser and
then went down to the library to
read, while it was heating. Only a
few minutes later there came a smell
of burning stuff and the room began
to fill with smoke"
why, Patty, it was a fre!"
Please don't interrupt, Corinne, but
you guessed correctly. Instead Of
rushing wildly into the street or
screaming for Hilda in the kitchen, l
ran upstairs and by some instinct
made for mothers room. There the
seething, roaring flames met my
gaze"
You didn't go in?" cried Corinne.
Il did," declared Patty grimly,
though well pleased with the effect of
her recital upon her listener. "Of
ner, where Merrill's muf1er, dangling
f-om the dresser, was a mass Of
famcs. Without a cry, but with my
ace deadly paie-I could see myself
in the mirror rushed into the midst
OF that terrible con1agration and
turned OF the ope2 gas jet. The
frightful heat and smoke and odor al
most overcame me. l fell back only
TO come on again with renewed de-
termination, dragging mothers new
blankets which had lain folded on the
couch. | dashed the bundle with all
my strength on that wicked blaze"
Why, what II sou had caught on
.irc?"
In such moments sof peril" said
Patty grandly, ''one must not. think
Of ones self. Next l rushed to the
celeIhoEe and told the operator that
oar house was burning to the ground
and asked her tc ring the alarm for
me. In an another second or two l
lad Merrill on the wire. To him l
had barely reported that our home
was in flames and l was battling with
them all alone when 1 heard the re-
ceiyer drop at his end of the line.
by this time l was faint and gid
dy with the smoke. Iran to the win
lows and threw them open just as
he hook and ladder wagon came tear
ing along. l waved to the driver to
top and the fremen yelled to me not
to jump.
There came a horrible crashing
md falling. 1t proved to be our front
:oor, which they had broken down.
Then the house Immediately was
illed with the fremen.
Il had scarcely finished showing
hem the smoking debris when Mer-
ill came dashirg wildly into the hall,
grabbed me and carried me out ii his
arms to the street.
Il succeeded in explaining to Merrill
in just a few more minutes that l, all
anaided, had quelled the blaze. AS
re had rushed down in a taxicab;
without his hat or coat, we went back
into the house to Cct thawed out.
Honestly, after he came and was
holding me l hardly swooned at all.
1.-THE fremen were all filing down
the steps and every one of them was
milling and chuck!ing as if pleased
with my heroism. Still, one horrid
fireman said as he passed that 1t was
q pity l didn't have sense enough to
brown a glass OF water on the mutt1er
instead of making a bonfire OF my
mothers blankets. But the others
told him to hush and Merrill said |
was a brave, cooi-hcaGed little hero
inc"
We'll, 1 should think you were!"
treathed Corinne, allowing herself to
relax. IF you had only called me
up, too. I'm SO sorry / missed it,"