lagration the flames already were
leaping from the roof and roaring from the upper windows. Despite the
heat, the crowd before the building was clustered close about the door of
the telephone office, and Jack hastened to join them, to learn the cause.
Making his way through the throng, he reached the front as a blanketed
figure staggered, smoking, from the doorway. Someone sprang forward and
caught the blanket from the stumbling man, at the same time crying, "Did
you get them?"

"No," gasped the telephone operator, for Jack saw it was he; "the whole
office is in flames. I couldn't get inside the door."

Mayor Davis, the first speaker, turned quickly about. "Then we'll run
down to Orr's and telegraph."

At once Jack understood. The mayor wished to send for help from other
towns. He sprang forward. "I'm here, Mr. Davis--Jack Orr. I'll take a
message!"

"Good!" said the mayor. "Run like the wind, my boy, and send a telegram
to the mayors of Zeisler and Hammerton for help. As many steam engines as
they can spare. And have the railroad people supply a special at once.
Write the message yourself, and sign my name. Tell them four more fires
have broken out, and that the whole town may be in danger."

Jack broke through the crowd, and was off like a deer.

Farther down the street he passed another building, a small dwelling,
burning, with its frightened occupants and their neighbors hurrying
furniture out, and fighting the flames with buckets.

Down the next cross-street he saw flames bursting from a second house.

Then it was that the real gravity of the situation began to come home to
Jack. Till now it had all been only a thrilling drama--even the bearing
of the mayor's urgent message had appeared rather a dramatically
prominent stage-part he had had thrust upon him.

On he sped with redoubled speed, and turned into the main street. Then
his alarm became genuine. Lurid flames were licking over the tree-tops
directly ahead of him--in the direction of the store! A moment later a
cry of horror broke from him. It was indeed the store block!

But his own personal alarm was quickly lost in a greater. Suppose the
telegraph office also should be in flames, and he unable to reach it? He
ran on madly.

He neared the store, and with hope saw that so far the flames were only
in the second story. Men were hurrying in and out, and from the
hardware-store adjoining. But as he rushed to the drug-store door a cloud
of heavy smoke