CHAPTER XIII
A Heroine's Come-Down
MABEL, with the Janitor and four pursuing firemen at her reckless heels, had made a bold dash through the long corridor that led to Miss Bonner's room. Owing to a strong upward draft, there was surprisingly little smoke in this corridor and none at all in Miss Bonner's distant corner.
Still hotly pursued, Mabel, who had the advantage of knowing exactly whither she was bound, darted down the narrow aisle, reached into her desk, and, unselfishly passing by sundry dearly loved treasures of her own, seized the fat brown purse. Such joy to find it when so many of the desks had been stripped of their contents!
She was none too soon, for the next moment the Janitor's hands had closed upon her and, plump as she was, the sturdy fellow easily carried her out of the room, although Mabel protested crossly that she would much rather walk. In this uncomfortable fashion they reached the corridor.
THE STURDY FELLOW CARRIED HER OUT OF THE ROOM.
"Not that way—not that way!" shouted the firemen, pointing towards a glowing, spreading patch on the ceiling of the main hall. "It's breaking through—you can't reach the door! It's not safe at that end."
"Down to the basement!" shouted the Janitor, nodding toward a narrow doorway, through which the men promptly vanished.
Then, seemingly, a new thought assailed the Janitor.
"Open door number twelve," he shouted after the men.