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"Then you saved it again by your nursing No tays about that Doc Brown says you and Jietting well, you have to show them you're not interested in me Isn't that about it?"

"Yes"

"But you don't have to showany about your courtesy But, look here, Phyllie Have you forgotten what happened in the kitchen that night you helped nant reproach "I should think you would be the last person in the world to reht to mention it because I've asked you a question since that ain't been answered That week's been up ten days"

"I' to answer it now"

And with that she slipped past hih his curls and voiced his perplexity "Now, if a woest ever Just as a fellow is ready to tell her things, she gets mad and hikes"

Nevertheless he s wons were not hopeless for his success He was not sure of her, not by a good deal He had captured her iirl's fancy is not the sa just where he stood with her For himself, he kneas fathohts when he fell asleep

He awoke in the darkness, and sat upright in the bed, a feeling of calaent tickled his nostrils

A faint crackling sounded in the air

Swiftly he slipped on such clothes as he needed and stepped into the passage A heavy s up the back stairway He knocked insistently upon the door where Phyllis and her guest were sleeping

"What is it?" a voice demanded

"Get up and dress, Miss Sanderson! The house is on fire! You have plenty of time, I think If there's any hurry I'll let you know after I've looked"

He went down the front stairs and found that the fire was in the back part of the house Already volu toward the foot of the stairs He ran up to the roo, and called to them: "Are you ready?"

"Yes"

The door opened, to show hi a bundle of clothes They were only partially dressed, but wrappers covered their disarray Keller went to the clothes closet, emptied it with a sweep and lift of his arm, and returned, to lead the way downstairs