"I shan't be," was the calm reply. "Not unless there's somethin' criminal about it."
"It might be arson."
"I'll take a chance on it startin' from Dan Whipple's cigarette. In fact he owned as much. Dan's terrible careless with his cigarettes. Now, hop along, Eleazer, else the whole conflagration will be out 'fore you get there."
The unlucky fire-chief had no choice.
"Drat it!" raged he, as he strode off across the sand. "Drat it! Ain't that just my luck!"
[Chapter XI]
Either the book for which Marcia searched was not to be found or she was in no haste to return to her awaiting suitor.
Whatever the explanation, her absence lengthened from a few moments into a quarter of an hour.