Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1910-05-04
The Heroic
Role

TITS nothing short Of miracle that
/ am spared to my friends and rela-
tives," declared Patty, with a lugubri-
Gus air. as she proceeded to unload
the millinery creation OF birds and
animals from her head. TITS won
der that my sad and sudden end"
why, Patty, what in the world has
happened?" asked Corlnne, Pumping
down on the hatrack seat and draw.
ing her caller to the place beside her.
81 came over to tell you the whole
thrilling tale" said Patty. You know,
dear. that all my life have longed
to do something worth while-I mean
TO put my own powers and resources
to the test. | wanted to know Just
what should do under circumstances
calling for coolness 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 prellminaries."
mo story is good without the prop
er introduction" returned Patty. re-
provlngly. "and this is Just like the
stories you read in books"
Seeing that her listener was proper
ly impressed. Patty went on: Il had
promised Merrill that l would press
out his mufiier, 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 II was heating. Only =
few minutes later there came q smell
Of burning stun and the room began
10 nll with smoke"
why. Patty. II was q frs!"
please don't interrupt, Corinne. but
you guessed correctly. Instead oa
rushing wildly into the street or
screaming for Hilda In the kitchen.
ran upstairs and by some instinct
made for mothers room. There the
seething. roaring flames met my
gaze"
You didn't go inH" cried Corinns.
II did" declared Patty grimly.
though we'll pleased with the effect Of
her recital upon her listener. "Of
course. the FIRE was over In the cor
ner, where Merrills muffier, dangling
from the dresser, was a mass Of
flames. Without a cry, but with my
face deadly pale-I could see myself
In the mlrror-I rushed into the midst
Of that terrible confagration ana
turned of the open gas Jet. The
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 IL you had caught on
firef"
TN such moments of peril" said
| Patty grandly, "one must not think
OF ones self. Next l rushed to the
telephone and told the operator that
our house was burning to the ground
and asked her to ring the alarm for
me. In an another second or two
had Merrill on the wire. To him !
had barely reported that our home
was in flames and was battling with
them all alone when l heard the re-
|
by this time was faint and gid
dy with the smoke. ran to the win
doWs and threw them open Just az
the hook and ladder wagon came tear
ing along. l waved to the driver to
stop and the firemen yelled TO me moi
TO jump.
There came horrible crashing
and falling. II proved to be our front
door, which they had broken down
Then the house Immediately was
nlled with the firemen.
II had scarcely finished showing
them the smoking debris when Mer
rill came dashing wildly into the hall
grabbed me and carried me out in hi.
arms to the street.
II succeeded in explaining to Merrill
in Just a few more minutes that I, al
unaided, had quelled the blaze. Al
he had rushed down in a taxicab
without his hat or coat, we went bacl
into the house to get thawed out.
Honestly. after he came and wal
holding me hardly swooned at all.
THE firemen were all filing dowI
the steps and every one Of them wal
smiling and chuckling as II please'
with my heroism. Still, one horrit
fireman said as he passed that 1t wa
a pity I didn't have sense enough I,
thrown a glass of water on the muffie
instead of making bonfire of m,
mothers blankets. But the other
told him to hush and Merrill said
was a brave, cool-headed little hero
iue."
well, l should think you were!
breathed Corinne. allowing herself I
relax. "If you had only called m
UP, too. I'm so sorry missed it,"