Dave, however, led the way.  By the time that the little party had descended two flights they were met by firemen rushing up.  After that the task of reaching the street was easy.

As the rescuers and rescued came out upon the street the crowd, now driven back beyond police lines, started to cheer.

But Dave’s hand, held up, acted as a silencer.  Dick and Miss Dodge were carried to a neighboring drug store for attention.

Now the firemen tried to run up ladders to the studio floor, with a view to fighting the flames by turning the stream on through the windows.  Flames drove them back.  The on-lookers were quick to grasp the fact that had no one acted before the arrival of the firemen, Grace Dodge would have been lost indeed.  As it was, the fire fighters were obliged to fight the fire from the roof of the next building.

The office building in which the flames had started was almost gutted before the blaze was subdued.

An hour later Grace Dodge was placed in an automobile and carried to her home, a physician accompanying her.

She had revived for a brief period, but had again sunk into unconsciousness.  Whether her life could be saved was a matter of the gravest doubt.

And Dick?

Young Prescott was revived soon enough, after expert assistance had been secured.

Yet he had swallowed more of the overheated air than had the girl.

In the minds of the medical men there was a grave doubt as to whether his lungs could be fully restored—–­or whether he would be doomed to a spell of severe lung trouble, ending, most likely, in death at a later day!

Scores of people turned back from that fire with tears in their eyes.

They had seen this day something that they would remember all their lives.

“Dick and Dave were wondering whether they had courage enough for the military service,” sobbed Laura Bentley, in the privacy of Belles room.  “They have courage enough for anything!”

Dick was up and about the next day, though he did not go to school.

Moreover, later reports placed him out of serious danger.  The football squad was gloomy enough, however.  Their star left end man would not be in shape for the big Thanksgiving Day game.

CHAPTER XXII

THE THANKSGIVING DAY GAME

Say, you’re a great one, Prescott, to throw us down in this way,” chaffed Drayne, as Dick strolled into dressing quarters.

“Oh, come, now!” broke in Darrin impatiently.  “It’s bad enough, Drayne, to have to play side partner to you in the biggest game in the year, without having to listen to your fat-headed criticism of better men.”

Drayne flushed, and might have retorted, had not Wadleigh broken in, in measured tones, yet with much significance in his voice: 

“Yes, Drayne; cut out all remarks until you’ve made good.  Of course you are going to make good, but talk will sound better after deeds.”