Part 38 (2/2)
At that instant there came a more terrific crash than any that had preceded it, and the whole place seeht
Every one was stunned for a moment, and when they recovered their nu toward the far from the roof
”Fire! fire!” she cried ”Your house is afire! It's been struck by lightning!”
”By gu, and my old it her out, anyhohat good is our fire department with no hosses t' haul th' hose carts, an' all one, too!”
He was rapidly shouting this as--he ran from the barn
”Where are the hose carts?” called Cora after him
”In Si Appleby's barn! A mile away, an' it's a bad road” He pointed to the barn, for it was in sight down the hill
”Is there a hydrant near your house?”
”Yes But what good be they without hose?” returned the far house, the hiredup the hose carts!” cried Cora
”We'll pull theet the hose here! Don't be afraid Put on the rubber coats and the helh theet that poor woman out!
”Hurry! hurry!” she cried as she cranked up her car ”Back your machine out! Reverse it! I'll follow! Let's see what the ency!”
CHAPTER XXII
IDA GILES
Bess really surprised herself by the quickness hich she got her machine out of the barn In the exciteiven her cairls were rushi+ng down thepuddles, but they the downpour by the fireave one look back at the burning house The blaze had enveloped the entire roof
”Oh, if we can only return in time!” cried Cora as she threw in the full speed forward
Cora said afterward that they reached the barn in less than four minutes, but Bess declared they never went as fast as that Mr
Appleby did not knohat toauto the fire apparatus, but--he ed to understand what had happened, and why they wanted it
”Tie the hose carts to the back of the autos with ropes!” cried Cora ”We can pull them up the hill Are there any men around to help with the hose? If there are we'll take theuess not; but I'll send ht away
There'll be lots of o with you”
Fortunately there was no need to hunt for ropes, as there were two long ones on the hose carts, and Mr Appleby, working with speed, aided by the girls, soon had the apparatus attached
The run back took longer, but it--was ood time, and Cora and Bess, at the wheels of their respective cars, guided the house