g on the spot. The firemen were arriving, and
as I reached _terra firma_ a great spout of water went up over the
burning wing.

The main portion of the house, which was built of stone, save for the
surrounding verandahs was still uninjured, but the wing at the back,
which had been a later addition, run hastily up to meet the needs of
business, was of frame, and it was burning like tinder. Though it seemed
that the alarm had only been given five minutes before my appearance on
the scene, already it was beyond saving. My reason for preferring the
wing I have already stated, but what the pretended Harvey Farnham's had
been I had yet to learn, for so far was the main portion of the hotel
from being crowded on this occasion, that we two had been the only ones
who slept in the annex. Otherwise the alarm must have been given from
inside, instead of by a policeman, who had seen a sudden light leap up
while passing on his beat.

Where was Mr. Farnham? That was the question asked by the excited
landlord, who, half-dressed, had come out to give what help he could. By
this time a sheet of flame was pouring from his windows, so much more
violent than in any other portion of the fated wing, that I could but
fancy, as I looked up, that the fire must have started thereabouts.

The only hope was to save the main building--the frame addition had been
doomed from the first. Everyone had come out, guests and servants alike,
in varying stages of deshabille, which might under ordinary
circumstances have struck one as comic enough, but the supposed Farnham
was nowhere to be seen.

When it became known that there was another occupant of the burning
annex, the firemen made heroic efforts to reach the windows on their
ladders, but each time they were beaten back by the blinding flame and
smoke--a salamander could not have existed there for an instant.

Murmurs of horror and dismay came from the lips of the crowd as they
stared with a species of fearful fascination at the flames, which must
long ago have destroyed, not only life, but all vestiges of humanity, if
indeed a human being had been there when they began their revel. But I
said nothing. I thought now that I understood the reason why my friend
had taken the room in the frame addition to the Santa Anna Hotel. The
plan commenced to take form in my mind, and I believed that the
cablegram had only precipitated its execution.

CHAPTER XXV

"It's Dogged as Does It"

Fortunatel