He was in dishabille just now.  He had run out in his dressing-gown and carpet slippers, and without his wig.  That wig was always awry when he was at work, and it was a different color from his little remaining hair, anyway.  But without the toupe at all he certainly looked naked.

“Go back, that’s a dear man!” gasped Mrs. Foyle, turning the doctor about and heading him in the right direction.  “Shure, ye air not dacently dressed.  Go back, Oi say.  Phat will the young ladies be thinkin’ of yez?  Ye kin do no good here, dear Dochter.”

This was quite true.  He could do no good.  And, as it turned out later, the unfortunate, forgetful, short-sighted old gentleman had already done a great deal of harm.

CHAPTER X

GAUNT RUINS

Ruth Fielding felt a strong desire to return to the threatened building, and to make her way upstairs to that old quartette room she and her chums had occupied for so long.  There were so many things she desired to save.

Not alone were there treasures of her own, but Ruth knew of articles belonging to her chums that they prized highly.  It seemed actually wicked to stand idle while the hot flames spread, creating a havoc that nobody could stay.

Why! if the firemen did not soon appear, the whole West Dormitory would be destroyed.

The burst of smoke and flame into the corridor at the top of the front flight of stairs shut off any attempt to reach the upper stories from this direction.  And although the back door of the building was locked, Ruth knew she could run down the hall, past Miss Scrimp’s already gutted room, and up the rear stairway.

But when she started into the building again, Miss Scrimp screamed to her: 

“Come out of that, you reckless girl!  Don’t dare go back for anything more of mine or Miss Picolet’s.  If we lose them, we lose them; that’s all.”

“But I might get some things of my own—­and some belonging to the other girls.”

“Don’t dare go into the building again,” commanded Miss Scrimp.  “If you do, Ruthie Fielding, I’ll report you to Mrs. Tellingham.”

“Shure, she won’t go in and risk her swate life,” said Mrs. Foyle.  “Come back, now, darlin’.  ‘Tis a happy chance that none o’ the young leddies bes up there in thim burnin’ rooms, so ut is.”

“Oh, dear me! oh, dear me!” gasped Miss Picolet.  “I presume it is posi-tive that there is nobody up there?  Were all the mesdemoiselles at supper this evening?”

“Yes, yes,” said Mrs. Tellingham’s own voice.  “Miss Brokaw has called the roll and there is none missing but our Ruthie.  And now you would better run back, my dear,” she added to Ruth.  “You have no wrap or hat.  I fear you will take cold.”

“I never noticed it,” confessed Ruth.  “I guess the excitement kept me warm.  But oh! how awful It is to see the old dormitory burn—­and all our things in it.”