ding our hero came across an old lady who
was rather queer in her mind. The lady was also lame and walked with
great difficulty.

"Oh, Joseph! what is the trouble?" she cried.

"The hotel is on fire, Mrs. Dalley. Come, let me help you out."

"On fire! Oh, I must save my canary!" And the old lady started back for
her room.

"You haven't got time, Mrs. Dalley. Come with me."

"I cannot let my dear Dick perish!" answered the old lady, firmly.

Joe looked along the hall and saw that the flames were moving swiftly
toward the room the old lady had occupied. To enter the apartment would
be highly dangerous.

"You simply can't go after the bird, madam," he said. "Come with me!"

"My bird! my bird!" screamed Mrs. Dalley, and tried to run, or rather
hobble, towards her room, despite the smoke that was now rolling over
her head.

"You must come with me!" exclaimed Joe, and drew her back. She tried to
struggle and then, without warning, fainted in his arms.

The burden was a heavy one, but our hero did not shirk the task before
him. He half dragged and half carried the unconscious lady to the
nearest staircase and almost fell to the bottom.

The smoke on the second floor was so thick he could scarcely see.

But he kept on and went down another flight and reached the office. He
could hardly breathe and the tears were running down both cheeks.

"Hullo there, boy!" came the call of a fireman, as he appeared through
the smoke. "Better get out of here!"

"Help me with this lady," answered Joe.

"A lady! Oh, all right!" And in a moment more the fireman had Mrs.
Dalley over his shoulder and was carrying her out. Joe came close
behind. The lady was taken to a nearby drug store where she speedily
revived.

By the prompt efforts of the fire department only a small portion of the
hotel was burnt. But the whole building was water-soaked, and all of the
boarders had to move out, and then the place was closed up.

"Out of a place once again," thought our hero, rather dismally. "What's
to do next?"

This was not an easy question to answer. He looked around for another
opening but, finding none, resolved to pay a visit to Riverside.

"I can call on the Gussings, and on Ned," he thought. "I know all of
them will be glad to see me. And maybe Mr. Mallison will be wanting to
make some arrangements for next summer. I suppose he'll run the boats as
usual."

"Going to leave Philadelphia, eh?" said Frank. "Do you intend to come
b