n't know," moaned Lyddy. "Do you think it is the smoke?
He has been ill a long time--almost too sick to work----"

"Your father?"

"Yes, sir," said the girl.

"I'll get an ambulance, if you say so--and a doctor. Are you afraid to
stay here now? Are you all alone but for him?"

"My sister--and my aunt," gasped Lyddy. "They're in the front room."

"Keep 'em there," said the young man. "Maybe they won't pour so much water
into those front rooms. Look out for the ceilings. You might be hurt if
they came down."

He found the key and unlocked and opened the door from the bedroom to the
hall. The smoke cloud was much thinner. But a torrent of water was pouring
down the stairs, and the shouting and stamping of the firemen above were
louder.

Two black, serpent-like lines of hose encumbered the stairs.

"Take care of yourself," called the young man. "I'll be back in a jiffy
with the doctor," and, bareheaded, and in shirt-sleeves as he was, he
dashed down the dark and smoky stairway.

Lyddy bent over her father again; he was breathing more peacefully, it
seemed. But when she spoke to him he did not answer.

'Phemie ran in, crying. "What is the matter with father?" she demanded,
as she noted his strange silence. Then, without waiting for an answer, she
snapped:

"And Aunt Jane's got her head out of the window scolding at the firemen
in the street because they do not come up and carry her downstairs again."

"Oh, the fire's nearly out, I guess," groaned Lyddy.

Then the girls clutched each other and were stricken speechless as a great
crash sounded from the kitchen. As the young man from the laboratory had
prophesied, the ceiling had fallen.

"And I had the nicest biscuits for supper I ever made," moaned Lyddy.
"They were just as fluffy----"

"Oh, bother your biscuits!" snapped 'Phemie. "Have you had the doctor for
father?"

"I--I've sent for one," replied Lyddy, faintly, suddenly
conscience-stricken by the fact that she had accepted the assistance of
the young stranger, to whom she had never been introduced! "Oh, dear! I
hope he comes soon."

"How long has he been this way, Lyd? Why didn't you send for me?" demanded
the younger sister, clasping her hands and leaning over the unconscious
man.

"Why, he came home from work just as usual. I--I didn't notice that he was
worse," replied the older girl, breathlessly. "He said he'd lie down----"

"You should have called the doctor then."

"Why, dear, I tell you