begged.

"Any nice girls down there?" asked Jack, making eyes at Eline.

They all started as a particularly loud clap of thunder followed a vivid
flash of lightning, and the wind rose suddenly, moaning through the trees.

"I don't believe it will amount to much," was Walter's opinion. "Probably
only a wind storm."

"But I guess I'd better put down the windows on the West side," remarked
Cora. "I'll be back in a moment----"

As she spoke there came a dash of rain against the side of the house, and
another flash of lightning was followed by a vibrating peal.

Cora screamed.

"Oh, what is it?" demanded Bess, nervously. Jack clasped her hand.

"Look!" cried Cora. "The garage--it's on fire. I just saw a flash of
flame! Our autos will be burned!"

"We've got to get 'em out!" declared Jack. "Come on, fellows!"

He made a dash for the door. Ed leaped through the low, open window.
Walter followed Jack. The girls stood uncertain what to do.

"The lightning struck it!" gasped Eline.

"We must help to get out the autos!" cried Cora. "We must help the boys
to fight the fire!"

"Telephone in an alarm!" suggested Bess.

"The autos first! The cars first! We must get them out!" Cora cried as
she hurried out of the door, the three other girls trailing after. "If
we get the cars out the barn can go!"

CHAPTER II

THE STRANGE WOMAN

Only for an instant had Cora Kimball hesitated. Usually she was even
more prompt than her brother Jack to get into action, but the flash of
fire she had seen in the garage, and the thought of the valuable cars
stored there--cars in which they were to make their delightful summer
trip--seemed to paralyze her for the time being. Then she was galvanized
into life and action.

"Cora, there comes your car out!" cried Bess, as the _Whirlwind_, the
powerful Kimball auto, was seen to poke its hood from the now blazing
barn. Ed had been the first to reach the structure, and, quickly switching
on the self-starter, had run the machine out.

"I guess they can get out the others!" said Belle, as Walter and Jack
dashed inside.

Cora suddenly turned and ran back toward the house.

"Where are you going?" asked Eline. "Oh dear! The whole place will soon
be afire!"

"That's what I'm afraid of!" Cora called back, over her shoulder. "I'm
going to get some extinguishers! Maybe the boys can't reach the one in
the barn. It's our only chance--an extinguisher. Water is the worst thing
you can put on