p of the wooden frame. Mrs. Gerry's rescue was delayed until
Harry could send the dumb-waiter up to the third floor, where she and
Tom awaited its return. Aided by Tom, she descended to the kitchen
without accident; then Tom followed, sliding down the rope. It was but
the work of a moment to break through the basement window and pass the
woman and her children out to safety.

Morning found Proprietor Carter somewhat resigned to his loss. True,
the hotel had been destroyed and the embers must be removed, but both
building and contents had been fairly well insured.

"I'm a few thousand out," said the hotel man philosophically, "but I
have my ground yet, and, the insurance money will allow me to rebuild.,
and put up a more modern hotel. Of course I'll be a few thousand dollars
in debt, to start with, but after a short while I'll have earned the
money that I've lost."

"Why did you smile when poor Carter was talking about his loss?"
demanded Harry, as the chums strolled away in search of breakfast.

"Did I?" asked Tom, looking suddenly very, sober.

"There was a broad grin on your face?"

"Carter didn't see it, did he?"

"I don't know; but why, the grin, Tom?"

"I'll tell you after I see what answer I receive to a telegram that I've
sent."

"Tom Reade, you always were provoking!"

"Now I'm doubly so, eh?"

"Oh, well, I don't care," muttered Harry. "I can wait; I'm not very
nosey."

By noon General Manager Ellsworth arrived on the scene of the labors of
the young engineers, out at the site of the big quicksand.

"You can run the work here this afternoon, Harry," Tom declared. "I
shall want to put in my time with Mr. Ellsworth."

"Was he the answer to your telegram?"

Tom offered no further information, but hurried away to meet the general
manager, who had come out to camp in an automobile hired at Paloma.
Manager and chief engineer now toured slowly toward town, Harry watching
them as long as they were in sight.

"Tom has something big in the wind," muttered Hazelton. "It must be
something about the hotel fire. What can it be? At any rate, I'll wager
it's something that pleases my chum wonderfully."

Nor did Tom return until late in the afternoon. He came back alone.

"Well?" demanded Harry.

"Yes," nodded Tom. "It's well."

"What is?"

"The game."

"What is the game?"

"When you hear about it--" Reade began.

"Yes, yes--"

"Then you'll know."

"Tom Reade, do you know, I believe I'm quite