The Hull Home Fire Read Online Free

official in turn. “As you undoubtedly must know.”
    Cahill glanced sideways at her. “Sufficient number, you say.” He pursed his
     lips. “That is a matter of opinion, madam.”
    Mrs. Hull’s nostrils flared wider than an angry horse.
    Mary repressed a giggle as she filled the kettle with water.
    Cahill gave her a fatherly smile. “Who is this young woman ?”
    Isaac supplied her full name along with a list of duties. “She’s been here for
     two years and has never once complained about being overworked. Isn’t that
     right, Mary ?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Cahill addressed Isaac again. “How many people reside here at
     present ?”
    “Twenty-nine in the main house, including myself and Howard Pike. There’s
     twenty-two in the Annex.”
    Mrs. Hull’s mouth twitched. “We live on Allandale Road,” she said. “My husband
     often spends nights at the Home when he’s concerned about a patient’s health.
     Howard’s a seventeen-year-old student at the Prince of Wales College.”
    The superintendent looked at Isaac from under heavy brows. “I understand the
     Department of Public Health and Welfare pays for the residents’ lodgings.”
    “Not for everyone,” Isaac said. “Pike and several seniors pay their own
     way.”
    Cahill jotted down a sentence in his notepad. “We’ll inspect the rooms in the
     main house, then proceed to the Annex.”
    Mary made beds and gabbed with residents on the second and third storeys, all
     the while keeping pace with the inspection. She noticed both officials wrote
     often in their notepads and only gave nods and grunts to inquiries from the
     Hulls.
    “Which way to the Annex ?” Superintendent Vivian said when they returned to the
     main floor. Mary grabbed bedclothes from a closet and followed them
     outside.
    “Hmm, no fire escape,” Superintendent Vivian said when he surveyed the outside
     of the building.
    “Brick doesn’t burn,” Mrs. Hull said.
    “The inside is made of wood,” the superintendent countered. “And that does
     burn.”
    Cahill opened the door to the Annex. It swung in and stopped halfway with a
     thump.
    “Exits should open out, not in,” Vivian said. He skirted around a stove which
     partially blocked the door and the stairs.“My God, man. That has
     to be removed immediately.” He looked at Mrs. Hull, her face devoid of any
     humour. “Has any poor old soul stumbled over that stove yet ?”
    “Indeed not. Safety is one of our main priorities.”
    They started up the stairs, Cahill in the lead. “There’s hardly enough room for
     one person at a time,” he said. “My shoulders are scant inches from the
     walls.”
    Vivian wrote down a few more words. “An exceptionally narrow space for sure,”
     he said.
    “Which meets the required three-feet width,” Mrs. Hull said and walked the
     group down the hall. “Gentlemen, I’m confident that you’ll agree the rooms are
     clean and the residents well attended to.” Vivian and Cahill filled out page
     after page as they scrutinized each room. Mary travelled from room to room,
     hanging up clothes and sweeping floors, her ears alert in an attempt to hear the
     conversation between the Hulls and the Fire Department officials.
    A raspy cough scraped into the air. “That’s Mrs. Duggan,” Isaac said. “She’s
     recovering nicely from tuberculosis.”
    Mary rushed into her room and poured water from the jug on the bedside table.
     “This’ll help,” she said, holding the glass to Mrs. Duggan’s mouth.
    “Thank you, my dear,” the old lady croaked.
    Mr. Hull smiled. “As you have observed, we have a very sympathetic
     staff.”
    “How many such cases do you have ?” Cahill said.
    “Eighteen.”
    Mrs. Hull clasped her hands together. “All doing grand,” she said.
    Cahill scribbled down another line. “I haven’t seen a nurse on our rounds,” he
     said. “Where are they ?”
    Mr. Hull went back into the hall. “The night nurse went home
     sick. The other two