foot of which was the conflagration.

"That was a bad one, Ned!" gasped Tom, as he turned to one side
to pass an engine on its way to the scene of excitement.

"I should say so! Must have been somebody hurt in that
blow-up!"

"I only hope it wasn't Mary or her folks!" murmured Tom. "The
wind is sweeping the fire right that way!"

"What are you going to do, Tom?" yelled his chum, as the
business manager saw the young inventor heading directly for the
blaze. "What's the idea?"

"To rescue Mary, if she's in danger!"

"I'm with you!" was Ned's quick response. "But you can't go any
closer. The police are stretching the fire lines!"

"I guess they'll let me through!" said Tom grimly.

He slowed his car as he approached a place where an officer was
driving back the throng that sought to come closer to the blaze.

"Git back! Git back, I tell you!" stormed the policeman,
pushing against the packed bodies of men and boys. "There'll be
another blow-up in a minute or two, and a lot more of you
killed!"