The spectator., 1918-09-13
CHAPTER XVI. a Fire and a RsSctto.

to note that there were no lis4ts in the house Apparently every one had | gone tD bed for a much needed rest. sent Bill up to get Clair's clothing. while I unloaded the supplies and hiG them under tho dock. I expected t, telephone Jim in the morning and tell | h.m where they were so that he could sook breakfast for the castaways. When Bill returned I helped him put | ont Go sea again. This required consid- erable persuasion and s in money. q so had to promise to make it all rIsht with the newspaper man whom he had brought over. Now the next adventure in this ! Arabian nightmare occurred. At first | ! thought it was the reflection of the | rising sun tn the windows of the cot ' taee which caused the red light. but | w hen looked to the east l saw that the sun was not up. Then the house must be on fire. ' Clearly had no time to lose. Proba- | hiy every one was sleeping. l ran up | the path from the beach to the house. my temples bursting with the exertion. | By the time got to the front door the | James were beginning to lick out of | one of the upstairs windows. threw myself against the front | Haor and broke the lock without cere- many. The stairway was still clear. | ! dashed up. yelling. "Fire!" The people began to come out in various stages of undress. carrying | clothing and valuables. vida's stage experience stood her in good stead. | she emerged from her room complete | ly dressed and went downstairs as if she were answering a rehearsal call. All were accounted for but Lucille. pounded on her door again and again.
 "Ilurryr' I commanded at frequent intervals
 I'm hurrying." she always an. swered.
 At last the smoke began to be un- hearable in the hallway. and the cracking of the flames warned me | that in an instant the stairs would be impossible. l stood on ceremony no longer threw open Lucile's door. she was booking aimlessly about her, with A stocking in one hand.
 "I can't md my other stocking" she announced calmly. Don't be excited !' I shouted. "The house is on Ire. and we've got to get cut
 "Tm not excited. But how can es- | cape with only one stocking2" There was no time for argument I | grabbed a blanket that was flung over the foot Of her bed. wrapped her 1T. 1t and swept her Of her feet and into my arms.
 The rescue was very simple. There ! was nttle smoke on the stairway and ln a minute it would have been hard to get down. but as it was only had to hold my breath for few sec. onds and we were safe on the first ioor. which had not caught yet
 However. carried Lucille clear out in the front yard and deposited her iu the little group of scantily clad sur. | Viyors
 Where's the Are departmentY ? asked Vida.
 There isnt any Are department. Kent volunteered gently
 "Can't anything he doueT'
 Not much now" ! shrugged my shoulders. When Ere gets that much headway in country house built of wood there is nothing muet Co do but save the nearby buildings
 How could it have caughtT' aske, Bopp. trying Co put his left shoe on hi' right foot He had carried them boti out In his hands
 No one was up" said Jlm the Ere man.
 How did you come to he around MontyT Bopp strAlghtened up witi a quick glance st me Mrs. Greer telephon.d that you were going to th' mainland"
 It hardly SC med possible. but knew that for a moment they all snspectes me of having set fire to Lucile's houn. in revenge for our quarrel of the eve ming before.
 ''I came back la the island for some thing. and l noticed the fire" l ex plained weakly. ''rhe flames wer' coming out of the window of the north east room"
 ''who slept theref" Captain Persln asked practically.
 No one answered. ] That's funny" Captain Perkinl was sarcastic. "Didnt anybody sleel fin the northeast room. or don't yo, know where you sleptf" , You slept there yourself" Jim ex plained. rather hesitant about callin, his superior officers attention Co such damning fact.
 "OhT The captain collapsed. ["
 guess I did"
 Where did you empty the ashes O ysur pipe before you went to get tha drink of waterf" interrogated |