Chapman stepped on the accelerator and the car shot up the oiled way. The thunder seemed to explode right overhead. Before the first peal rolled away there was another sharp flash. Although the rain still held off, the tempest was near.
“Oh!” gasped Jessie, covering her eyes.
“There’s the church,” said Amy. “We’ll soon be home now.”
Even as she spoke another crackling stroke burst overhead. The green glare of it almost blinded them. The thunder shook the air. Jessie screamed.
“See! See! Look at the parsonage!” she cried in Amy’s ear.
“Why, the boys must have already strung their wires and got a radio set established,” said Amy.
“Look at the window—that attic window!” Jessie exclaimed. “Don’t you see what I see, Amy Drew?”
“It’s smoke!” said the other girl, amazed.
“The house is afire! In the attic! That lightning must have struck there. It must have been led in by the wires, just as Momsy feared.”
“Then the boys never closed their switch!” cried Amy. “Oh! I wonder if Doctor Stanley or Nell knows that the house is on fire?”