Page:Betty Gordon in Washington.djvu/189

Rh he'll do will be to dislodge the car, and we'll fall the rest of the way."

This was a bad suggestion, and only by hard work were two more cases of hysterics averted.

"I think what we need is a drink of water," declared Betty timidly. "Do you think they could get some down to us? And, Bob, why don't they send for the fire department?"

"I suppose because we are not on fire," answered Bob seriously. "What good could the firemen do?"

"Oh, I don't know," said Betty vaguely. "Only in Pineville the firemen get people out of all sorts of scrapes. They can climb you know, and they have long ladders and ropes&mdash;"

"By George, the girl is right!" The elder man looked at Betty admiringly. "Hey, some of you who want to help! Go and 'phone the fire department. And say, send us down some water—we're dry as dust after this rumpus."

Half of the waiting crowd scattered to telephone to the fire department and the other half ran for the water coolers. Their zeal outstripped their judgment In this latter service, and the result was an icy stream of water that poured into the car.