"We have only two," Nan began.
"Chimneys or fireplaces?" asked the hired man, with a chuckle.
"Fireplaces." Nan was patient. "One in the back part of the living room, the other in Aunt Emma's room. I don't know how to thank you," she added gratefully. "You've been awfully good."
"Shucks, I ain't done nothing," declared the man, embarrassed. "I had a hunch what had happened by the look of the smoke. The chimney must have got all stopped up and some of the soot came down and smothered the fire and sent all the smoke out into the house."
"We ought to go and see how Aunt Emma is," Nan said anxiously, and Sadie called her attention to a small boy running down the road toward them.
"Looks like a messenger from the Jameson place," she said.
"Miss Harrison," the urchin called when he came within hailing distance, "wants to see the girl that saved her life!"
CHAPTER IV
GRATITUDE
The three girl chums stared at each other.