Tom was about to make some remark, but the doctor motioned to
him to refrain, and then Ned came up with the runabout. At first
Josephus Baxter, which was the name of the man who had been
rescued, made some objections to going to Tom's home. But when it
was pointed out that he might lapse into a stupor again from the
effects of the smoke poisons, in which event he would have no one
to minister to him at his lonely home, he consented to go to the
residence of the young inventor.

"Though if I do lapse into unconsciousness you might as well
let me keep on sleeping until the end," said Mr. Baxter bitterly
to Tom and Ned, as they drove away from the scene of the fire
with him.

"Oh, you'll feel better in the morning," cheerfully declared
Ned.

The man did not answer, and the two chums did not feel much
like talking, for they were worn out and weary from their
exertions at the fire. The factory had been pretty well consumed,
though by strenuous labors the blaze had not extended to
adjoining structures. The home of Mary Nestor was saved, and for
this Tom Swift was thankful.

Mrs. Baggert, the Swift's housekeeper, was indeed glad to have
some one to "fuss over," as Tom put it. She prepared a bed for
Mr. Baxter, and in this the weary and ill man sank with a sigh of
relief.

"Can I do anything for you?" asked Tom, as he was about to go