Part 2 (2/2)

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,” a.s.sented 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, and the chemical powder sprinkled toward the blaze. Sand was also cast on it, but the fire had spread more than the boys had thought. The choking fumes, too, drove the amateur blaze-fighters back.

Again Cora came running from the house through the drenching rain.

”I can't get the fire department on the wire!” she cried. ”Something is wrong with the telephone!”

”It's the storm, I guess,” answered Jack, coming to the door of the old barn that had been converted into a garage. He had to have a breath of air.

”Oh, can we help?” cried Eline.

”Better stay out,” gasped Ed, as he too, came for a little relief. ”I guess we can keep it from spreading.”

By this time several men had run in from the street.

”Where's your water?” asked one.

”Don't want any!” cried Jack. ”It's gasoline. Get more sand if you want to--dry, if you can find it!”

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