By the burning wing, which was Mr. West’s library, were three lines of boys, clad in khaki uniforms. They were passing armfuls of books from one to another, along the lines, like a bucket brigade. Firemen working within the burning home, beat their way through the smoke and appeared in the long French windows with the stacks of books.
Joan felt sure Alex was with the boys and scrutinized each face. Finally she located him up near the front, and she and Chub edged up. “Hello, Alex,” she said when he looked up.
“’Lo,” he answered, and didn’t seem half so surprised to see her as she had expected. Perhaps he thought that she went with Tim on all his assignments. She wished she did! But luck like this—going with him twice in the same week—wouldn’t happen again in a long time.
Mr. West was helping to save the books, too. He was hatless and coatless, and running here and there. He didn’t look like a millionaire—this little gray-haired man who, now that his family and home were in no danger, was all eagerness to save his precious books.
“I’m going to help, too,” announced Chub, and Alex made room for him in the line.
Joan felt a little put out. Boys had all the fun! She couldn’t stay there, for a Volunteer, who looked like a butcher, waved her off.
From near the car she watched Lefty’s silhouette as he bent over his tripod, snapping pictures in the light of the flames.
Presently, the fire was out, only a wet odor of smoke in the air, the charred part of the home looking like the injured wing of a great, white bird. Chub came through the smoke. “Come on and say good-by to Alex,” he said. “He’s a good scout.”
They started along the winding path toward the entrance gates, where the boys were forming in lines to march back.
“Gosh, what a tough-looking guy,” Chub pressed her arm as they neared the pond, where, by the water, half hidden by a clump of bushes, they made out a big figure standing, with brass buttons gleaming like stars. He was talking to another khaki-suited shadow, and his voice sounded threatening. “Lissen, I’m going to beat it, if I want to, and if you try to stop me, you’ll be sorry! See?”