Flames were beginning to shoot out their fiery tongues through these third story windows.
"Is everyone out of that building ?" demanded the policeman on the beat, rushing up.

He had just learned that a citizen had gone to ring in the fire alarm, so now the policeman's next thought was directed toward life saving.
There was a quick count of those who had been in the offices on the upper floors.
On the fourth floor one suite of offices had been occupied as a china painting school.

Miss Trent, the teacher, who had reached the sidewalk safely, now looked about her anxiously.
"I had only one pupil up there, Miss Grace Dodge," replied Miss Trent, hurriedly.

"I called to her and then ran.

Miss Dodge started after me, then rushed back to get her purse, palette and color case." "Has anyone seen Miss Dodge ?" demanded the policeman.
No one had.
"Then I'll get up there, if I can," muttered the officer.
Dropping belt and club to the sidewalk, and pulling his helmet down tight on his head, the policeman darted into the building and up the stairs.
At that moment, above the smoke and flames pouring out of the third story windows, Grace Dodge appeared at one of the windows on the fourth floor.