Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1910-03-09
The Heroic
Role

TITS nothing short OF miracle that
am spared to my friends and rela-
tives," declared Patty, with lugubri-
Gus air, as she proceeded to unload
the millinery creation OF birds and
animals from her head IT'S won
der that my sad and sudden end"
why, Patty, what in the world has
happened7" 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" said Patty. You know,
dear. that all my life l have longed
to do something worth while-I mean
to put my own powers and resources
to the test. wanted to know Just
what l sAouid do under circumstances
calling for GOODNESS and quick decision.
Well. yesterday my opportunity
came"
Why, what in the world hap
pened7" exclaimed Corinne. DO get
into your story quick, Patty and leave
out the preliminaries."
mo story is good without the prop
or introduction" returned Patty. re-
provingly, 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 muffier, 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 a smell
Of burning stun and the room began
to I'LL with smoke"
Why. Patty, II was fret"
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 mot my
gaze"
you didn't go in?" cried Corinne.
II did" declared Patty grimly,
though well pleased with the effect OF
her recital upon her listener. "Of
course, the fire was over in the cor
ner, where Merrill's muffier, dangling
from the dresser, was mass OF
flames. without a cry, but with my
face deadly pale-I could see myself
in the mirror rushed into the midst
OF that terrible confiagration and
turned OF the open gas Jet. The
frightful heat and smoke and odor al
most overcarle me. 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 you had caught on
fire?"
In such moments Of peril" said
Patty grandly, "one must not think
Of ones self. Next | 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 heard the re-
ceiver drop at his end OF the line.
by this time l was faint and gid
dy with the smoke. ran to the win
dows and threw them open Just as
the hook and ladder wagon came tear
ing along ! waved to the driver to
stop and the firemen yelled to me not
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
filled with the firemen.
II had scarcely finished showing
them the smoking debris when Mer-
rlll came dashing wildly into the hall,
grabbed me and carried me out in his
arms to the street.
Il succeeded in explaining to Merrill
in Just a few more minutes that l, all
unaided, had quelled the blaze. As
he had rushed down In taxicab,
without his hat or coat, we went back
into the house TO get thawed out.
Honestly, after he came and was
holding me hardly swooned at all.
THE fremen were all filing down
the steps and every one OF them was
smiling and chuckling as II pleased
with my heroism. Still. one horrid
fireman said as he passed that II was
pity didn't have sense enough to
thrown glass of water on the mufier
instead OF making bonfire OF my
mothers blankets. But the others
told him to hush and Merrill said
was a brave. cool.headed little hero
ine."
"Well, l should think you were!"
breathed Corinne. allowing herself to
relax. IF you had only called me
up, too. I'm so sorry missed It."