“I do hear a bell ringing!” exclaimed Mrs. Martin.
There was more commotion in the hotel, and several guests began running from their rooms, carrying bags and clothing. It began to look as if there was a fire, but there was no appearance of flames, nor could Mrs. Martin smell smoke.
Then Ted exclaimed:
“It was Trouble! He sent in a false alarm! Trouble pulled the fire alarm! Look!”
He pointed to the little fellow who was climbing down from a chair in the hall. The chair was some distance down the corridor, and near a small red box fast to the wall.
In a moment Mr. Martin understood. He had seen these fire signal stations in various places about the hotel. In front of a small iron box was a sheet of glass, and hanging down from the box by a chain was a little iron hammer. Directions on the box said to break the glass with the hammer and pull down the hook inside, which could only be reached when the glass was smashed.
“Trouble smashed the glass and pulled the hook!” cried Ted.
“I heard some glass break,” added Janet.
Mr. Martin ran down the hall to the small boy, who stood near the chair. On the carpet were pieces of shattered glass.
“Trouble, did you do this?” cried his father.