some one to nurse. Bring the runabout here, will you please,
Ned?"

As Ned darted off to run up the machine, the man opened his
eyes again. For a moment he did not seem to know where he was or
what had happened. Then, as he saw the lurid light of the flames
which were now dying away and realized his position, he sighed
heavily and murmured:

"It's all over!"

"Oh, no, it isn't!" cheerfully exclaimed the doctor. "You will
be all right in a few days."

"Myself, yes, maybe," said the man bitterly, and he managed to
rise to his feet. "But what of my future? It is all gone! The
work of years is lost."

"Burned in the fire?" asked Tom, wondering whether the man was
a major stockholder in the company. "Didn't you have any
insurance? Though I suppose you couldn't get much on a fireworks
plant," he added, for he knew something of insurance matters in
connection with his own business.

"Oh, it isn't the fire--that is directly," said the man, in the
same bitter tones. "I've lost everything! The scoundrels stole
them! And I--Oh, never mind!" he cried. "What's the use of
talking? I'm down and out! I might just as well have died in the
fire!"