Little remained to do now, but to guard against stray sparks in the building that had been saved at such risk. The crowd began to disperse.
“Where’s the professor?” asked Joe, moving about in his blanket like some pale-faced Indian.
“They took him to the hotel,” said Tom. “Say, Joe, don’t you want to stop at our house and get some of my clothes? It’s nearer than going to yours.”
“Good idea. Thanks. I guess I will. I don’t feel exactly like showing up at home in this rig.”
Some one who knew Joe offered to drive him in his automobile to the Simpson house. Tom, of course, went with his friend, and Joe was soon clothed in ordinary garments, having first taken a bath at Tom’s house, for the smoke had made him black and grimy.
CHAPTER V
JOE’S AMBITION
“Where are you going now, Joe?” asked Tom, as his chum, after having thanked Mrs. Simpson for her hospitality, stood, ready to leave the house. “Going home?”
“Not right away,” Joe answered. “I had an idea I’d like to call on the professor to see if he was all right. It isn’t every day I help rescue a man that way, you know.”
“Help rescue him!” exclaimed Tom, with an accent on the first word. “Why, you did it all, Joe! And, say, I never saw anything done slicker. Using your wet clothes was just the thing.”
“It was the only thing,” said Joe. “I knew the fire wouldn’t get through my soaking wet coat and trousers in the little while he was exposed to the flames. But say, Tom, are my clothes too badly burned to wear?”