Sheridan School’s main building was shaped like a “U.” Beginning as a three story brick building it had grown, rather like Topsy. Wings had been added as the school grew. The original building which had been the old Seminary for young ladies was now only one long side of the “U.” Mimi knew it as Prep Hall. The back end of the original first floor was the dining hall. The one story kitchen had been tagged on later.  
She knew, too, that the whole ell of Prep Hall was so old it was a regular fire trap. Since this was the last year for preparatory students there had already been talk of tearing this old ell down. Plans for remodeling had been submitted to Dr. Barnes. As soon as the swimming pool was finished, Prep Hall was the next thing on the building program.
 
For one terrifying moment Mimi stood transfixed, holding tight to the colonial railing of the roof. She strained forward. The smoke was rolling now. She did not want to broadcast a false alarm. She must be sure. When she first glimpsed the smoke she thought the cooks might be starting breakfast fires in the old coal ranges. Any doubt she might have had, fled now. A blaze leaped skyward and Mimi acted.
 
As a complete picture of his past life runs through the mind of a drowning person, so in that moment of a complete plan of what she must do Mimi into action.
 
Without grabbing her terry cloth robe or without the girls on the roof whom she knew were safe for the time being, she leaped through the window. Two things she must do and every second’s delay could mean the loss of life and property.
 
First she must reach the office!
 
Through the window, out the door of Tumble Inn, patter, patter down the hall to the first stairs. So far so good. She knew every inch of the way. Taking two steps at a time she reached the landing safely. But here she stumbled.
 
Overstepping the first step of the next flight, she fell bumpety-bumpety-bump all the way to the bottom, like the garbage cans in Green Cap Week. When she was smaller she had got for playing on the stairs and bumping from top to bottom very much like her present sitting down manner.
 
The instant she touched the first floor, she fled to the office. No time to count now.
 
As she feared, the office was locked. There was only one thing to do and Mimi did it. She had to get to the telephone. She could not waste time in the semi-darkness for a or club. Doubling up her first as hard as she could, she swung with all her might and main and smashed the glass window. The sound of shattering glass should have every but it only echoed dully through the first floor.
 
Disregarding her smarting and stinging hand she clutched the telephone.
 
She did not know the number of the fire department!
 
She knew the fire drill formation . She could have gone out of the building from the study hall or from Tumble Inn . She had enjoyed the fire drills all year. They broke into the routine. Knowing how important they were, she had and learned, every instruction; but here was something the had overlooked—the fire station telephone number.
 
Mimi was only for a second, however. She had had other and fuller instructions on what to do in case of fire. She dialed the operator, and, with great effort, kept her voice clear so there could be no misunderstanding.
 
“Operator, operator,” Mimi said. She must keep cool and say distinctly where the fire was, instead of merely yelling “Fire, Fire” as most people did when the operator answered.
 
“Please report a fire. Sheridan School. Prep Hall.”
 
“Fire—Sheridan School—Prep Hall—” the operator repeated . The left her voice on the first word.
 
“Right,” Mimi affirmed; then without waiting to hang up the receiver, she flung the telephone from her and was off on her second and more important task. Any person, neighbor or someone out in the country, might see the blaze and turn in the fire alarm but she, Mimi, was the only person awake and she was the one who must arouse the whole dormitory. She had known this before she left the roof. She had not wasted a step or a second. From the broken office window she ran as fast as she could and pounded loudly on Mrs. Cole’s door.
 
“Mrs. Cole! Mrs. Cole,” she called loudly. “Fire! Fire!”
 
The instant Mrs. Cole answered she was on her way again. With all speed, she must reach the basement—and set off the alarm bell!
 
The corridors were long and dark like some of the passages in Cave. On she ran and then down, down, down the back flight of stairs to the basement. With a steady hand she threw the alarm switch.
 
Not until after the fire was over did Mimi understand the risk she ran. The ’s part of the basement where all the bells were was under the kitchen! But none of this now; she had still another task. She must rouse the girls. She knew how soundly some of them slept. She had seen Betsy across the bed after a soccer game and sleep through noise which Cissy would say was “loud enough to wake the dead.” No one must be left asleep now. No one!
 
As she came up the steps out of the basement she could smell smoke. Soon the crackling and popping could be heard.
 
Amid all the confusion which followed Mimi coolly and raced up one corridor and down the other, opening doors, shouting names, and making sure all beds were empty. She did not pass up a Prep door.
 
Lights were appearing. Girls were clinging to each other crying. Some grabbed armfuls of clothes as they fled; others carried dresser drawers, or weekend bags and were spilling things leaving a trail of lingerie and toiletries behind. Once Mimi stumbled in a pile of clothes which had been dropped. They her feet but she shook them free. She must go on—and on!
 
All was . Not a single instruction which had been given during fire drills was carried out by the frightened girls. Startled out of their sleep by the most cry of all—“Fire, fire!”—they were panic stricken. To get out quickly was their only thought. Some jumped. A few used the rickety old fire escapes but most of them followed blindly after the first two who had run for the stairs.
 
Mimi had begun her room search on the third floor and was working down. By the time she had reached the third floor from the basement her heart had been pounding wildly but she did not check her speed. The smoke was thick as fog............