“B’gee! This is fierce!” cried Charlie, as the two boys, having thrown their buckets aside, stood contemplating the ruin wrought by the fire. “Have you any idea how this occurred?” he added, turning to his chum.
“Well, I think I have,” replied Jack, with a frown upon his handsome face. “The surgery was set on fire by Otis Clymer.”
“You don’t mean that!” exclaimed young Fox, starting back in astonishment.
“Well, I don’t mean anything else,” replied Jack stoutly.
“Tell me what ground you have for thinking so. This is a serious charge to bring against that fellow. It will lead to his immediate arrest and prosecution. If sustained he will surely be sent to the State prison for a good many years, for arson is a crime severely dealt with.”
“He’s not merely guilty of attempted arson, Charlie,” said Jack, with a serious face, “but the scoundrel actually left Gideon Prawle to perish in the flames.”
CHAPTER VI.
OTIS CLYMER AND DAVE PLUNKETT AGREE TO PULL TOGETHER.
“Is it possible!” gasped Charlie Fox, his eyes sticking out.
“It is an awful truth,” answered Jack, solemnly. “I don’t know exactly what made me wake up, unless it was the dream I had. At any rate, I woke up with a feeling upon me that something was wrong. I tried to get asleep again, but I couldn’t, which is an unusual circumstance with me. Finally I got up and went to the window of your room to look out. It was bright moonlight, and everything was quiet all about. The surgery, you know, was almost in front of me, and my eyes took it in with the rest of the scene. I was astonished to see the door open and some one standing on the doorstep. At first I fancied it was Prawle, but I soon perceived it was the figure of a much smaller man. He was standing in the full glow of the moonshine. Then I recognized Otis Clymer. I knew he had no right to be there after what had occurred, and I watched him attentively. In a moment he turned around and disappeared into the building, closing the door after him. I was sure he had some bad purpose in view, so without waking you, I hurriedly slipped on my shoes and trousers; ran down stairs, let myself into the garden by the side door and started for the surgery. Hardly had I reached there before the door was suddenly jerked open and Clymer rushed out into my arms, nearly upsetting me. But my suspicions being aroused, I held on to him and demanded to know what had brought him there at that hour. He told me it was none of my business, and struggled to get away. Then I caught sight of the fire inside. I accused him of the crime, when he managed to strike me a stunning blow in the face, wrenched himself free and dug out of the garden. Then I entered the surgery, and found Prawle stretched out, the picture of death, and I had all I could do to get him out of reach of the flames.”