“That was their second attempt,” muttered Tom grimly, as he turned back to where the flames still held dominion. “I wonder if I shall be as lucky when the third attempt against me is made?”
CHAPTER XVII. TIM GRIGGS “GETS HIS”
In another hour the spot where the hotel had stood was marked only by a shapeless mass of smoking embers.
The citizens of the town went back to their beds. Mrs. Gerry and her children had recovered consciousness and had found a friendly lodging for the night.
The rescue performed by Tom and Harry had been a simple enough achievement.
Shut off from every other means of escape, they remembered the dumbwaiter that ran from the kitchen up to the floors above.
The two little children were sent down on the dumb-waiter, Harry riding on the top of the wooden frame. Mrs. Gerry's rescue was delayed until Harry could send the dumb-waiter up to the third floor, where she and Tom awaited its return. Aided by Tom, she descended to the kitchen without accident; then Tom followed, sliding down the rope. It was but the work of a moment to break through the basement window and pass the woman and her children out to safety.
Morning found Proprietor Carter somewhat resigned to his loss. True, the hotel had been destroyed and the embers must be removed, but both building and contents had been fairly well insured.
“I'm a few thousand out,” said the hotel man philosophically, “but I have my ground yet, and, the insurance money will allow me to rebuild., and put up a more modern hotel. Of course I'll be a few thousand dollars in debt, to start with, but after a short while I'll have earned the money that I've lost.”