get him!" crie

th in there in less than a minute!

p. I'll be right after you. We've got to get him. Stand fir

, making his voice heard above

s they got to the point where they could look into t

ed, pointing to a figu

h air to hold in their lungs as long as possible, for they

Frenchman, though he spoke good English. The boys lifte

! Crooked Nose got some of it, but I hid the most. He shan't have it! I mus

ving!" s

led Jerry, doing just what he warned

e reflection of flames outside. Ned understood, and, taking hold of the old man's legs one of

rooked Nose," and "money and jewelry." The boys paid little attention then, though the

the ladder,

sack of flour, Ned. I can carry[35] him down that way.

ill. The Frenchman was either unconscious now, or incapable of motion, for he was as limp and inert as Jerry could wish, and he was ea

eemed to have lived all alone. There was a bed in one corn

or jewelry either," murmured Ned. "I guess he was out o

room that Ned was almost trapped. He made a dive for the window and got out on the ladder. Down it he hurried, after Jerry and his burden, and he was not

3

s he came to the ground, a few

n, and he was carried to a place where volu

e the old Frenchman had lived, and there was no hope of saving it. The place was lik

ring for the unfortunates who had lost nearly everything, and who w

re about to go to their automobile and depart for hom

w. We might

for cuts from glass or partial smoke suffocation, and there the boys found the old Frenchman. He was

wn[37] the ladder, who saved you," sai

nd then, as if realizing that the boys could not understand

my life! But tell me, did you see Crooked

He thought the old man was st

oked Nose?"

ot some of my money and some of the jewelry, but the rest I put in the iron box and locked. Then I hid it. But the fire came and I could not fin

Nose a man?"

d not give it to him, and he said he would take it, or he would-- Well, he made threats. I hid most

it was," replied Jerry, as he looked at th

took it," suggested Mr.

is name?"

ld Frenchman s

id. "He changes his name too often. Crooke

ain and again he implored to be allowed to go back and look for his money, but of

ll was lost, the old man became calm

ewelers. Then he had become crippled by an accident and had moved to Cresville for his health. In Cresville he had managed to

3

have a fine gold watch, and a silver tea set, and a magnificent diamond brooch,

a big loss for some

had had a visitor. This, as he explained, was a

ewelry I do not know. But he threatened, and would have hurt me, had I not given him some. But I hid the most of it, and then the fire came.

you call Crooked Nose got it," suggested Jerry. "

, learning that some of the neighbors[40] would car

has become of Professor Snodgrass?" ask

be a good plan

r may have carried him off,"

re the runaway fire horses had

call a 'large' evening," remar

juicy,"

oiled steak," put in Bob. "What do yo

gastronomic suggestion," rep

include the professor

nd, but he was not in sight. The horse lay there, having been

at the same time mentioning the fact that Professor Snodgrass was in town, and would p

fairly run into by, a man who seemed in great haste. He acted in a peculiar m

murmured Jerry, who had received t

: 'Excuse me!' d

He must be going

his chums, turned quickly

see him?"

t him!" declared Jerr

e?" went on Bob, i

hat?" Ned

, fellows, maybe that's the man who tried to rob the old F