stairs. It's only ten stories down, and going down isn't
anything like coming up."

"Oh, indeed I can walk!" said Mary. "Let's hurry out!"

They turned toward the stairway, which wound around the elevator
shafts, but such a cloud of hot, stifling smoke rolled up that it sent
them back, choking and gasping for breath.

And then, as they stood there, up the elevator shafts, which were
veritable chimneys, came more hot smoke, mingled with sparks of fire.

"Trapped!" gasped Mr. Keith, and he pulled Mary back toward his offices
to get away from the choking, stifling smoke. "We're trapped!"

CHAPTER XXIII

TO THE RESCUE

"Uncle! Uncle Barton!" faltered Mary, as she clung to Mr. Keith. "Can't
we get down the stairs?"

"I'm afraid not, Mary," he answered, and he closed the door of his
office to keep out the smoke that was ever increasing.

"And won't the elevators come for us?"

"They don't seem able to get up," was his reply. "Probably the fire
started in the bottom of the shafts, and they act just like flues,
drawing up the flames and smoke."

"Then we must try the fire escapes!" exclaimed Mary, and she started
toward the front window, pulling her uncle across the room after her.

"Mary, there aren't--aren't any fire escapes!" he said hoarsely.

"No fire escapes!" The girl turned paler than before.

"No, not an escape as far as I know. You see, this was thought to be a
fireproof building at first and small attention was given to escapes.
Then the law stepped in and the owners were ordered to put up regular
escapes. They have started the work, but just now the old escapes have
been torn down and the new ones are not yet in place."

"Oh, but Uncle Barton! can't we do something?" cried Mary. "There must
be some way out! Let's try the elevators again, or the stairs!"

Before Mr. Keith could stop her Mary had opened the door into the hall.
To the agreeable surprise of her uncle there seemed to be less smoke
now.

"We may have a chance!" he cried, and he rushed out. "Hurry!"

Frantically he pushed the button that summoned the elevators. Down
below, in the elevator shafts, could be heard the roar and crackle of
flames.

"Let's try the stairs!" suggested Mary. "They seem to be free now."

She started down the staircase which went in square turns about the
battery of elevators, and her uncle followed. But they had not more
than reached the first landing when a roll of black, choking smoke,
mingled wi