icle in view. The two trustees
climbed stiffly and uncertainly into the back seat as if they felt they
were risking their lives, and Bi lumbered rheumatically into the
driver's place and took up the lines. It appeared that the only living
thing in Tinsdale that wasn't awake and keen to go to the fire was that
horse, and Bi had to do quite a little urging with the stump of an old
whip. So, reluctantly, they joined the procession toward the Carson
house.

As the stream from the hogshead gurgled smaller, and the victim writhed
out of its reach and began to get his bearings, suddenly the outside
kitchen door burst open and a crew of rubber-coated citizens sprang in,
preceded by a generous stream of chemicals which an ardent young member
of the company set free indiscriminately in his excitement. It struck
the right man squarely in the middle and sent him sprawling on the
floor.

Bob dropped the conductor pipe in exhausted relief and flew to the scene
of action. It had been fearful to be held from more active service so
long. Emily, outside, could be seen dancing up and down excitedly and
directing the procession, with frightened shouts, "In there! In the
kitchen! Quick!" as the neighbors and townsmen crowded in and filled the
little kitchen demanding to know where the fire was.

Mrs. Carson with dignity stepped forward to explain:

"There ain't any fire, friends, an' I don't know how you all come to get
here, but I reckon the Lord sent you. You couldn't a-come at a better
moment. We certainly was in some trouble, an' I'll be obliged to you all
if you'll just fasten that man up so't he can't do any more harm. He
came walkin' in here tryin' to take away a member of my family by force,
an' he pointed this at me!"

She lifted the incriminating weapon high where they could all see.

Herbert Hutton, struggling to his feet in the crowd, began to understand
that this was no place for him, and looked about for an exit, but none
presented itself. The chauffeur had vanished and was trying to make out
what had happened to his car.

Hutton, brought to bay, turned on the crowd like a snarling animal,
although the effect was slightly spoiled by his drabbled appearance, and
roared out insolently:

"The woman doesn't know what she's talking about, men; she's only
frightened. I came here after my wife, and I intend to take her away
with me! She escaped from an insane asylum some time ago, and we've been
looking for her ever since.