"Come on, Harry!" urged Tom, throwing open the door. "We can make it."
They started, when, from the floor above, a woman's frantic appeals for
help reached them. Children's cries were added to hers.
"Get to the street, Harry!" shouted Tom. "I'm going upstairs. There'd
be no satisfaction for me in reaching the street if I abandoned that
woman and her babies to their fate. One of us can do the job as well as
two!"
CHAPTER XVI
DANES SHIVERS ON A HOT NIGHT
Almost immediately after the cries of "fire" the bell at the fire
station pealed out.
Paloma's volunteer fire department turned out quickly, running to the
scene with a hand engine, two hose reels and a ladder truck.
By this time, however, the whole of Paloma appeared to be lighted up
with the brisk blaze. Tongues of flame shot skyward from the burning
hotel, while small blazing embers dropped freely into the street.
"Is everyone out? Everyone safe? Anyone missing?" panted Carter, the
young proprietor of the Cactus House.
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