"Oh, I am so thankful it was not worse!" murmured Grace. "Suppose it
had burned down the main building!"

"Tom, you're a hero!" cried Spud, coming up.

"Nothing of the sort," retorted Tom. "Anybody could have done what I
did, and you know it."

"All the same, you're the one who did it," answered Spud, admiringly.

"He certainly did," said one of the men in the crowd. "That teacher
ought to be mighty thankful for what he did for her."

"I don't want her thanks," added Tom, in a low voice. "All I want her
to do, is to treat Nellie fairly."

CHAPTER XII

TOM SPEAKS HIS MIND

"Tom, Miss Harrow would like to see you."

It was an hour later, and the Rovers and the Laning girls had spent
the time in watching the efforts of the others to put out the last of
the fire. In the meanwhile, some of those present had gone through the
addition to the main building and opened the various windows and
doors, thus letting out the smoke. An examination proved that the
damage done there was very slight, for which the seminary authorities
were thankful.