The Banner Boy Scouts Mystery

i

dent, they did nothing to look for the culprit. The only evidence th

liam, walking ahead, turned into Water Street, and the rest of the boys followed them.

e boys followed him. They came upon a two story frame house. Dense clouds of smoke came billowing out of the doorw

ck of the house. He cried, “A couple of you try to find buckets and water

ont door. Just as he turned to run up the stairs, tongues of flames shot out of the smoke. The thought

shing back and forth, picking up things and dropping them. They were so bewildered, they did not know what to do. As Paul dashed in, they rushed at him and clung to his arms. The

search for a ladder. The five minutes that elapsed to procure a ladder seemed like an age. At last Bobolink came running up with

ith a soap box. The ladder was stood on the box and several of the boys supported it. Paul helpe

2

bewildered, almost fell from the ladder. Bluff raced up and directed the woman’s legs, rung by rung. The old woman at last

ously. “Downstairs,” his tremblin

ch r

nd at last found what he was searching for—a pail of water. Dipping his handkerchief into it, he clasped the wet rag over his mouth and nostrils. Layers of heavy smoke whirled all about him. He walked along the wall and listened carefully. An infant’s wailing came to his ears and he searched frantically for the door. Finding it at[26] last, he threw it open and stepped in quickly. He brought in with him a dense cloud of smoke. He moved blindly about the room, d

se and set to work. Captain Bob was there. It was he who had helped Paul through the window. About a minute after Paul had been taken out of the house, there

d his father bending over him. “Are you

es. He nodded. “I’m all right,

ened to co

he found[27] the boys crowding around

remarked, “Some f

en fighting the blazing structure. “Wha

thin’. “They wouldn’t have been,

d would surely have peris

t did not seem to help. The fire ate through the wooden house and ten minutes later one of the walls collapsed. A groan rose up from the watching crowd and some turned their h

effort was futile and he ordered his firemen to just stand around and let the fire burn itself out. Soon the ho