A dense volume of black smoke greeted them.
The crowd was thick, and the two had hard work making their way forward.
"It's our place!" cried out Frank suddenly. "And the whole store is afire, too!"
"Our place!" ejaculated Richard. "Oh, I hope not!"
But it was only too true, and in a moment they stood opposite the establishment of Williams & Mann, now all blaze from top to bottom.
"Stand back there!" exclaimed a burly policeman, waving his club at both boys. "Stand back."
"We work in the place," explained Frank.
"Can't help it," was the reply. "The insurance patrol has charge of the goods. You'll have to get out of the way. Lively, there!" added the officer, as a hook and ladder truck came dashing up the street.
So Richard and Frank fell back into the crowd, and were immediately joined by Bretzwartz, the German shipping-clerk.
"I guess the place is a goner," remarked Frank, as the flames shot out of the upper windows.