world, and the
least useful in a practical way in any emergency. He never had anything of
importance to do with the government of the school; but he sometimes gave
the girls wonderfully interesting lectures on historical subjects. He
wrote histories that were seldom printed save in private editions; but
most of the girls thought the odd old gentleman a really wonderful
scholar.

He was in dishabille just now. He had run out in his dressing-gown and
carpet slippers, and without his wig. That wig was always awry when he
was at work, and it was a different color from his little remaining hair,
anyway. But without the toupe at all he certainly looked naked.

"Go back, that's a dear man!" gasped Mrs. Foyle, turning the doctor about
and heading him in the right direction. "Shure, ye air not dacently
dressed. Go back, Oi say. Phat will the young ladies be thinkin' of yez?
Ye kin do no good here, dear Dochter."

This was quite true. He could do no good. And, as it turned out later, the
unfortunate, forgetful, short-sighted old gentleman had already done a
great deal of harm.

CHAPTER X

GAUNT RUINS

Ruth Fielding felt a strong desire to return to the threatened building,
and to make her way upstairs to that old quartette room she and her chums
had occupied for so long. There were so many things she desired to save.

Not alone were there treasures of her own, but Ruth knew of articles
belonging to her chums that they prized highly. It seemed actually wicked
to stand idle while the hot flames spread, creating a havoc that nobody
could stay.

Why! if the firemen did not soon appear, the whole West Dormitory would be
destroyed.

The burst of smoke and flame into the corridor at the top of the front
flight of stairs shut off any attempt to reach the upper stories from this
direction. And although the back door of the building was locked, Ruth
knew she could run down the hall, past Miss Scrimp's already gutted room,
and up the rear stairway.

But when she started into the building again, Miss Scrimp screamed to
her:

"Come out of that, you reckless girl! Don't dare go back for anything more
of mine or Miss Picolet's. If we lose them, we lose them; that's all."

"But I might get some things of my own--and some belonging to the other
girls."

"Don't _dare_ go into the building again," commanded Miss Scrimp. "If you
do, Ruthie Fielding, I'll report you to Mrs. Tellingham."

"Shure, she won't go in and risk he