And now, not to keep you any longer
from the story, which I am afraid I interrupted at a rather critical
point, I will merely remark, in passing, that other characters will be
mentioned from time to time, some of whom have appeared in previous books.

In the excitement attending the fire, Bess was puffing on her way to the
garage, carrying a pail of wet sand that she had scooped up from the
driveway. She was followed by the other girls.

"Oh, see the smoke!" cried Eline. "That must be gasoline burning!"

"It is," assented Belle. "Oh, do hurry--somebody!"

Cora came running out of the house, carrying long tin extinguishers, one
in each hand, and one under her right arm. She had just bought a new lot,
and had intended hanging them in the garage, but had forgotten it.

"These will be just the thing!" she cried. "Don't be frightened! There's
not much gasoline in the barn. If we can get out the cars----"

"Something must be the matter!" cried Bess. "The boys--they are in there
yet--they may be overcome!"

As if to deny this startling suggestion Jack fairly shot out of the smoke
in the _Flyaway_--the car of the twins.

"They have left their own car to the last!" gasped Belle.

"They had to!" Cora panted. "They could only take them as they stood, you
know. They were in line. Mine was first, then yours. Oh Jack! is it very
bad?"

"A mean little blaze, Sis! Did you 'phone in an alarm?" He wiped his
streaming eyes, and, bringing the car up alongside the _Whirlwind_, leaped
out to go back to his chums.

"Here! Take these extinguishers!" his sister cried. "I'll get the
department in a minute!"

She tossed the tin tubes to Jack, who, catching them, ran back toward
the barn. It was raining harder than ever now, but no one seemed to mind
it. The girls were totally oblivious of their smart gowns, now badly
bedraggled.

"Take this sand!" wailed Belle. "I don't know what to do with it!"

"Grab this sand from the girls!" yelled Jack to Ed, Walter and Norton,
who, at that moment came out in Jack's car. "Throw it on the blazing
gasoline! What kept you?"

"Your car wouldn't crank!" cried Walter. "It's all right now, though--just
scorched a little in the rear!"

The three lads, Norton clinging to the run-board, got the car to safety,
and then raced back, grabbed the sand from Belle, Bess and Eline, and
followed Jack into the garage, which was now under a pall of smoke.

The tin tops of the extinguishers were yanked off, a