It was the work of but an instant to slip the catch and raise the window. Harrison jumped out followed by Denton, and as the latter cleared the sill his foot knocked the lamp off the desk to the floor.
There was a crash of glass, and as Denton and Harrison ran off in the darkness they saw a flash of flame, and they smelled burning kerosene.
“What’s that?” asked Harrison, turning for a swift backward glance.
“I kicked over the lamp—accidental,” gasped Denton. “It’s exploded and started a fire. We—we’ll have to go back and put it out!”
Harrison laughed in a low chuckle.
“Go back nothing!” he whispered fiercely. “Let it burn!”
CHAPTER X
THE SIDE-DOOR PULLMAN
Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford. It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
“Well, I got out of that all right,” he said, half aloud, as he stopped, when safely around the corner, to put on his shoes. “I got away without the deacon’s seeing me. But he was right after me, and I didn’t think I made much noise.
“Let’s see now,” went on our hero, musingly, as he straightened up after lacing his shoes. “What had I better do? Say, it’s great to feel free to do just as one pleases for the first time in years!”