The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. 1015, June 10, 1899

In the bustling aftermath of a sudden town‑hall fire, a group of young girls—Sheila, her cousin Effie and their friends—find themselves swept into a frantic scramble for safety. Sheltered in an upper drawing‑room, they watch as smoke curls through the streets and hear the frantic cries of mothers searching for lost children. The scene swirls with heroic firemen, panicked crowds, and the shocking sight of an actor abandoning his duty, a moment that underscores both bravery and selfishness in the chaos.

Through Sheila’s observant eyes we glimpse the community’s quick thinking: orderly exits, brave rescues, and the determined effort of a boy named Cyril who darts into danger to secure a fire‑escape for those trapped above. The narrative captures the tension of that pivotal hour, the mix of fear and resolve, and the way ordinary people become unexpected protectors when disaster strikes.