CHAPTER IV--"POOR BOBBY!"
Ordinarily the girls of Central High were perfect in "fire drill." Butthen, when ever they practiced that maneuver, there was no fire. For ahundred or more of them, however, to see the shooting flames andblinding smoke, and to hear a teacher who had "lost her head" screamingas loud as she could scream, was likely to create some confusion.
It was Mrs. Case who rang the fire alarm. This notified the janitor, ifhe was in his basement quarters, of the situation of the fire, too. Hewould come with an extinguisher to their rescue. But meanwhile the blazein the principal's office was increasing.
"That reckless girl!" shrieked Miss Carrington. "She shall pay forthis!"
And Laura, who had run down the room until she, too, was at the door ofthe office, knew whom the teacher meant. Poor Bobby Hargrew! She and herpiece of burning punk-stick must be at the bottom of the catastrophe.But Miss Carrington really spoke as though she thought Bobby hadintentionally set the fire.
"Oh, she never could have meant to do it," cried Laura, horrified.
The girls had run from the door into the corridor and nobody but MissCarrington and Laura were at the office door.
"What shall we do? What shall we do?" moaned the teacher, wringing herhands.
"Can't we put it out?" demanded the girl.
"No, no! You'll be burned! Come back!" cried Miss Carrington.
But the smoke had cleared somewhat now and Laura could see just whatdamage the fire was doing. It surely had started in the big wastebasket.If Bobby had flung the burning punk into that basket she deservedpunishment--that was sure. Now the flames were spreading to the rug onwhich the basket stood. And they were charring the corner of the desk.Laura could smell the scorching varnish.
"Come back, Miss Belding!" commanded the teacher again.
But the girl thought she saw a chance to accomplish something. There wasno use in waiting for the janitor to come to put out the flames if theycould be quenched immediately. And no knowing how long before John wouldreach the room. He was not very spry.
Besides, to allow the fire to spread was both reckless and foolish.Laura saw just what should be done. She sprang into the room and passedthe flames in a single swift dash.
She reached the window and seized the heavy bowl of water in which thegold fish swam. It was some weight for her, but she seized it firmlywith both arms, and staggered toward the burning basket.
The smoke was drawn away for a moment by the draught of an opening doorand she heard Miss Carrington scream again. But Laura shut both her eyestight and staggered on.
Her foot tripped on the edge of the rug, she felt the blast of fire inher face, and then she overturned the full globe, fish and all, upon theflames!
With a great hiss of steam, which rose in her face in a cloud, the waterstruck the burning basket and the rug. There was enough water tosaturate the place where the fire had been burning the most briskly. Notevery spark was put out with this dash of water; but it took but aminute to stamp out the remainder when the steam cleared away.
But the poor fish! All four lay dead upon the floor, either trampledupon, or scorched by the flames.
"You are a very strong young girl, Miss Belding," said Mrs. Case,hurrying in. "And a quick witted one."
Laura was thinking that it was the second fire she had put out that day!
Miss Carrington was still sputtering. She called Laura "a dear, goodgirl--so bright and quick-witted!" And on the other hand she scoldedabout Bobby Hargrew until one would have thought poor Bobby was amonster of wickedness.
"Never mind the poor fish, Miss Agnew," cried the teacher, as thedoctor's tender hearted daughter expressed her sorrow over the fate ofthose pretty creatures. "More fish can be bought--plenty more. And hereis the rug ruined--and Mr. Sharp's desk injured. But it shall be paidfor--yes, indeed! Clara Hargrew's father shall settle the bill. And MissClara shall pay for it, too. Careless, reckless girl!"
"Oh, but Miss Carrington!" cried Laura. "Perhaps she didn't do it."
"Who could have done it, then?" demanded Gee Gee, almost tempted to beangry with Laura for trying to defend the culprit.
"But nobody saw her----"
"I do not say she deliberately set the fire," said Miss Carrington,angrily. "But she had the lighted punk. Naturally she tossed itthoughtlessly into the basket. Behold the result!" finished Gee Gee, sodramatically that her glasses hopped off her nose.
"Oh, I can't believe Bobby would have done so careless a thing,"murmured Laura in the ear of her chum, Jess Morse, who appeared at thisjuncture.
"But who else could be guilty?" demanded Jess, convinced against her ownwill.
"It will just about finish Bobby for this half," groaned Laura.
"I should say it would!" returned Jess, as Mrs. Case called them back totheir seats, while old John, who had now arrived, remained to clean upthe debris.
The excitement had come very near breaking up the meeting. And it wassome time before the athletic instructor could obtain the undividedattention of the girls.
The meeting was advanced far enough for a committee to be appointed toreport on constitution, by-laws, and the like, and the government of thenew organization. It was the intention of those backing the organizationthat the girls of Central High should govern their athletics as much aspossible themselves. Too much interference by the faculty always spoilsa school society.
Laura Belding and her chum were both appointed on this committee; andHester Grimes and her friend Lily were likewise members. The committeewas to report in a week, and Mrs. Case was to meet with them and advisethem.
Miss Carrington burst out in her tirade upon the absent Clara Hargrewjust as soon as the meeting was closed. She said to Mrs. Case:
"One of my pupils you cannot have in your association, Mrs. Case! Ishall veto Miss Hargrew's entering into any sports, or taking any'extras,' during the remainder of this term. And I shall take up thematter with the principal, too. I am not at all convinced in my mindthat for such an offense a girl of her age should not be suspended."
"Why, don't you suppose it was entirely an accident, Miss Carrington?"asked the athletic instructor, doubtfully.
"I don't know whether it could be called wholly an accident. I shalllook into it very closely," said the other teacher, shaking her head andbiting her lips.
"Poor Bobby!" repeated Laura Belding to her chum, as they went out ofthe school building. "She is so enthusiastic over games and athletics,too. It will be dreadful deprivation for her."
"Do you suppose she really threw that burning punk into the papers?"asked Jess.
"Why--I suppose so. Of course, she'll be given a chance to say whethershe did or not. But how else could the fire have started?"
But Miss Morse had no answer to make to that.