The Washington herald., 1912-07-07
The Subjugation of Drake
Continued from page y

he discovered Miss Radford within
few feet of him. She had been hurry
ing to the door to see il escape lay
that way. and the thrush of smoke told
her it did not.
He noticed then that the children
were already marching, white-faced
girl playing the piano for them. Miss
Radford deity turned the head of the
column as it reached the door and
started it round the room.
They'll be putting up ladders" she
said in an undertone TO Drake. Get
over by the windows"
Drake obeyed, and she dartcd across
the room to check an incipient panic.
The next moment she was giving a
hasty order to the girl at the piano.
She seemed to be everywhere that she
was needed the moment she was
needed, and yet, while she moved
quickly, there was no Hurried and
panic-breeding haste in her move
ments. She was outwardly quite calm.
Sing, children" she commanded, as
the girl at the piano changed the air
to a kindergarten marching song; and
she started it, moving now to the
middle of the room. Sing, Tommy
Colep she ordered, as she noted one
little fellow whose fright seemed in
fair way to overcome him; and Tommy
sang. Sing, Susy. Hopkins Sing,
every silent voice into the chorus and
diverted attention, so far as possible,
from the smoke that was now seeping
through the cracks of the floor and
from the excited cries outside.
Drake wondered If this cool. conf
dent, courageous woman could be the
same whose paralysis of fright had
made her so helpless and such
ridiculous spectacle few days before.
A man appeared suddenly at the
middle window and started to climb
into the room.
Stay where you arer cried Miss
Radford, speaking excitedly for the
first time. Line the ladder! Pass the
children down"
A self-opinionated, pedagogical, hys-
terical coward, as she had previously
proved herself, was in command of the
true. They all obeyed her instinctively,
unquestioningly. She held the chill
dren steady, and she told the men
what to do.
Drake picked up child from the
marching line and passed it to the
man at the window, who in turn
passed it to the man below him on the
ladder Miss Radford kept the line
moving, but she changed its course so
that it countermarched back and forth
near the windows. Another ladder
was raised, and the first man up did
as Drake was doing. Still Miss Rad
ford. by her personality, her confidence
and her drill, kept the line moving and
the children singing, while she also
tried to encourage the girl at the
piano.
Keep playing, Mamie" she said, her
voice quiet steady and confident. "It's
all right. I'm here, you know"
But the strain was more than child
nature could bear. Mamie faltercd,
skipped few notes; the air seemed
about to trail off into a tumble of
sounds. Miss Radford was at her side
had lifted her from the stool, seated
herself and taken up the air with
hardly perceptible break. Even then
she had the wit to restrain the girl an
instant with one hand. lest she should
start panic by rushing for window
Get in the line, Mamie" she ordered,
'and singh
As the last child was passed out of
a window Drake called to Miss Rad
ford to come. But she made no move
did not seem to hear. Come" cried