"You must finish your supper; and you are so tired, John!" But he was already at the door and reaching for his hat.
"It must be the lumber-yards, and the river is frozen!" "Wait!" Helen cried.

"Let me get my cloak.

I will go if you do," and a moment later the parsonage door banged behind them, and they hurried out into the darkness.
The street which led to the lumber-yards had been silent and deserted when John passed through it half an hour before, but now all Lockhaven seemed to throng it.
The preacher and his wife could hear the snapping and crackling of flames even before they turned the last corner and saw the blaze, which, sweeping up into the cold air, began to mutter before it broke with a savage roar.

They caught sight of Gifford's broad shoulders in the crowd, which stood, fascinated and appalled, watching the destruction of what to most of them meant work and wages.
"Oh, Giff!" Helen said when they reached his side, "why don't they do something?
Have they tried to put it out ?" "It's no use to try now," Gifford answered.

"They didn't discover it in time.