The hall was, indeed, filled, and standing room was at the proverbial premium when Colonel Wentworth, visibly proud of the success of his undertaking, advanced to welcome the gathering and to introduce the first speaker.
There was the speaking usual at such a meeting, only this time it was tinged with a deeper note of seriousness. America had not yet awakened to the realization of what war really meant, and was going to mean. And some of the speakers tried to bring this home to the people of Cresville.
The meeting was rather long, and even though they were as full of fire, zeal, energy and patriotism as any person there, Ned, Bob and Jerry, after two hours of speech-making, began to wish themselves out of the place. They felt they had done their duty, and were longing for a little change, when it came, most unexpectedly.
They were sitting in the rear of the hall, close to the main entrance doors, when Ned heard a sound that made him suddenly sit up.
“Hear that?” he asked, in a whisper, of Jerry.
“What?”
“Fire alarm! It’s from the box down near dad’s store! I’m going to see what it is!”
He rose softly, so as not to disturb the speaker. The sound of the alarm could be plainly heard. Bob and Jerry also arose and made their way out, as did several others. An undercurrent of excitement seemed to pervade the meeting. As the boys reached the door, there came from the street a cry of fear.