way!"

"I don't care if it is!" fairly shouted Muchmore. "Let the pictures
burn. As for you, old woman, if I find you meddling any more, with
what doesn't concern you, I'll find a way to stop you! Now clear out!"

The woman shrank back, mumbling to herself, and hastened down the
stairs.

"You boys are too fresh!" went on Muchmore. "Why don't you mind your
own business?"

"Our business is to put out fires!" declared Herbert. "And that's what
we're doing here."

"Then keep out of places where you have no right to enter! There is no
fire here!"

"But it may get here soon, and we wanted to save the things," added
Vincent.

"Get out!" exclaimed Muchmore, in an angry voice. "Don't you attempt
to go into that room. You'd better pay more attention to the blaze."

"The blaze is being attended to all right," replied Herbert. "We've
got two streams on it. But if you don't want us to save any goods, I'm
sure we don't mind. Come, Vincent, we'll leave."

The two boys, puzzled by Muchmore's queer actions, went back to where
their companions were still playing water on the flames.