| Show A LITTLE MAI la lad of 14 years saves a panic and Chi children laren omaha neb jan 24 offie downs the drummer boy bov in the dodge street school calmed a panic and prevented a terrible calamity calain ity among chil children dien ile he is less than 14 1 t years old but the moment be heard the hall gong going sound the alarm ot of tire fire he did not forget he had important business it was the crisis for which his hia little head bead had aten trained and his courage in the presence of a rattled pal and excited teachers saved a dead and injured list this young chap has been the military band of the school it il has bas been his duty twice a day to stand at the bottom of the stairs and march out the scholars to the step of an army rattle ghis exercise w was is called the fire drill and the pupils from the infant class up wore vere told they must never hesitate when the drum should sound aach tot knew his place in the line and so accurately and thoroughly were they trained that principal Irin cipal allen alien boasted the big 0 building could be emptied inow in two 0 minutes ile he had a chance to practically test his boast lie he was quietly seated in his room about 2 when miss Jl hughes pale and excited from frig fright bt dashed in with the erv cry that the building was on fire she hastened back to her charges I 1 and plot alof allen alien ran to the gong they heard the rush of the children up stairs and the alarms from the other teachers there was a stampede and in the excitement no one remembered the fire rules or the drummer boy offie downs kept his head he saw the smoke coming dg through the register he did not think it was necessary to ask permission to leave the room he rapidly passed the instructors without a word and went down the two flights of stairs on the run he wanted the drum and he got it principal allen alien was not in his room but the young fellow did not hesitate to enter ile he pulled the instrument down from the hook and ancl slung the strap over his shoulder and plunged into the hall the smoke was now so denie he could barely see his way and on the floor above he heard the teachers shouting to the children to remain in order there were inere fire engines rattling outside but like a soldier in a battle offie downs stood at his post lie he picked his way ivay to the bottom of the stairs just as the pupils appeared in a herd at the top of the stairs he pounded the drum for dear life the verv very first sound from it acted like magic mr allen alien pulled three little girls and one boy from under the feet of rushing 0 children and comin to keep step to the music the littly ones then remembered their les lessons ons and to the music el dimly linly came down the long flight as they had done a thousand times before smoke filled the entire building but in a minute from the time the band began to play there was not a child in it the boy waited until mr allen alien told him that everybody was war safe and then he came down the front steps the crowd cheered cheed and last night families sang the praises of his young youn courage |
