“I won't accept your resignation. You'll have to wait until you see Cornish!”
Dan strode out into the street, not knowing what he would do. He was disheartened and exasperated at the stand Holloway had taken.
Presently his anger moderated and his pace slackened. He had been quite oblivious to what was passing about him, and now for the first time, above the rattle of carts and trucks, he heard the newsboys shrilly calling an extra. He caught the words, “All about the big forest fire!” repeated over and over again.
He bought a paper and opened it idly, but a double-leaded head-line arrested his attention. It was a brief special from Buckhom Junction. He read it with feverish interest. Antioch was threatened with complete destruction by the forest fires.
“I'll take the first train for Antioch. Have you seen this?” and he held out the crumpled page he had just torn from his newspaper.
Holloway glanced up in astonishment at this unlooked-for change of heart.
“I thought you'd conclude it was no way to treat General Cornish,” he said.
“Hang Cornish! It's not on his account I'm going. The town is in a fair way to be wiped off the map. Here, read.”
And he thrust the paper into Holloway's hands. “The woods to the north and west of Antioch have been blazing for two days. They have sent out call after call for help, and apparently nobody has responded yet. That's why I am going back, and for no other reason.”