as practically over, as a can of
gasoline that had not burned had been set outside. There had been really
more smoke than fire from the first.

Cora went back to the strange woman.

"You need not be afraid," spoke the girl, in a tone that gave
encouragement. "We will not blame you too much--until we have heard your
story. But of course I must know who you are."

"Yes--yes," answered the woman. She sank down on the stairs. The place
was free of smoke, and some distance from the blaze. Suddenly the stranger
arose, and clutching Cora's arm in a grip that hurt, and that showed the
nervous tension under which she was laboring, she whispered:

"I know I can trust you--I can tell by your face. But the--others!" she
gasped.

"Leave it to me," answered Cora. "I may be able to think of a way to help
you. Go over into the kitchen, and say Miss Cora sent you. It is so dark
now the others will not see you. Hurry."

With her brain in a whirl--wondering upon what strange mystery she had
stumbled, Cora thrust the woman forth from the stable. Then, seeing that
she advanced toward the house, the girl groped her way up the stairs
to get the extinguisher. When she came down the fire was sufficiently
conquered as not to need more attention.

"Did a rat get you?" asked Jack. "Say, you do look pale, Sis," for the
electric lights, with which the garage was illuminated, had been turned
on. Truly Cora seemed white.

"There are some big ones up there," she remarked evasively, wondering if
the woman would really go to the house.

With unsteady steps the stranger made her way to the kitchen, where two
rather frightened maids were watching the progress made in fighting the
fire.

"Miss--Miss Cora told me to come here--and wait for her," faltered the
woman. She made no effort to ascend the steps of the back porch.

"Come right in," urged Nettie. "Or perhaps you would rather sit out here
and watch. I'll get you a chair."

"Yes, I would--thank you."

She walked up and sat down.

"I--I had rather be out in the air," she went on.

Back in the garage the young people were seeing that no lingering spark
remained.

"It is all out," remarked Bess. "Oh, but we're so soiled and--and smoky."

"Regular bacon," remarked Jack with a grin. He looked like a minstrel
because of the grime.

"Oh, wasn't it a narrow escape!" gasped Belle. "Could the lightning have
struck?"

"It didn't seem so," remarked Cora, not now so nervous. But she was stil