revived.

"Well, that was a narrow squeak for you," said one of the
firemen, glad to breathe without a mask on.

"Yes, it was touch and go," remarked the young doctor, who had
used heroic measures to bring the man back from the brink of the
grave. "But you'll live now, all right."

The revived man looked dully about him. He seemed somewhat
bewildered.

"Of what use to live?" he murmured. "You might as well have let
me die in there. Life isn't worth living now," and he sank into a
stupor, while Tom and the others looked wonderingly at one
another.



CHAPTER III

TOM'S NEW IDEA


"What's the matter with him, Doctor?" asked Tom in a low voice
of the young physician who had been working over the man. "Do you
think he is worse hurt than appears? Is he dying, and is his mind
wandering?"

"I don't believe so," answered the doctor. "At least I don't