"I fancied I heard some sounds like an explosion--and shouts," said Mrs. Fairbanks. "There is a great glare over to the south. Look, Ralph."
She held aside the curtain so he could see.
"Why," cried Ralph, "it is a fire--a big fire, somewhere!"
"Farrington's old factory," said Mrs. Fairbanks.
[CHAPTER XXIV--FIRE!]
A great red glare covered the whole southern sky as Ralph reached the outer air.
"Mother is right, I guess," he spoke quickly--"it is certainly in the direction of the old factory."
The spur switch to the factory had been completed for some days. Ralph had that afternoon operated the levers opening the Farrington extension for the first time.
The new lessee of the factory, he understood, was going to use oil for fuel under some of the boilers. Among the twenty-odd cars switched off on the spur that afternoon Ralph had noticed as many as ten tank cars.
As Ralph ran on, he was surprised to note the extent of the glare. It spread from a point quite remote from the factory right up to the factory location.