So far no sign of fire was to be seen outside the building. Its tier on tier of dark windows gave no hint of what was going on inside. Not a light showed anywhere, save when a fireman appeared at the door with a lantern. But at last the blackness behind the windows paled, took on a murky-red tinge, and smoke began to billow out at the doorway. A great gasp of surprise and horror arose from the watchers. Here, then, was no mere incident to bring an hour’s amusement, but a veritable tragedy!
Further and further away the throngs were pushed and ropes were strung across the streets. Tom found himself jammed against a doorway on Bennett Street, his view of a corner of the big building almost cut off by a broad-shouldered man in front of him. Searching backward with his foot, he found a step and managed to ascend it, those behind good-naturedly giving way. From somewhere came the rumour that Chapinsville and even Bow City had been called on for apparatus.
“It would take two hours to get engines here from Bow City,” said an excited little man at Tom’s elbow. “Anyhow, they ain’t got enough pressure to fight that fire. And they ain’t got the ladders.”
“Good thing it didn’t start in the daytime,” said another man. “Lots of folks would have been burned up, I guess.”
“Don’t reckon there’s anyone in there now, do you?”
“No. They stop the elevators at eight. Besides, there wasn’t a light showing when I got here, and that was before the auto-engine came.”
“I heard,” said the broad-shouldered man in front of Tom, “that there’s a man on the tenth floor. Don’t know how true it is. Hope it’s not. If he’s up there he’ll have to burn--or jump!”
The voice was familiar and Tom leaned forward until he caught a glimpse of the speaker’s face. It was Mr. George, and Tom spoke to him eagerly.
“Don’t they have life nets, Mr. George?” he asked.
“Hello, Tom! I guess so, but you’ve got a mighty poor chance to strike a net when you jump from the tenth story. I dare say it’s just a fake. Folks imagine all sorts of things at a time like this.”
“Do you suppose they can save the building?” Tom asked.
“I don’t know how bad the fire is. One fellow said the whole inside was burning, but I don’t know how much he knew about it.”