He had looked over at the big house as he spoke of its inmates, and his eye had been caught by an appearance which struck him as unusual. The house was dimly lighted everywhere, but in one room, the upper one with the semicircular window, there was an effect of brilliancy of a ruddier color than is ordinarily produced by electric lights. As Peter and Jane now stared at it, it seemed to grow in intensity, and there showed a wavering and flashing of this singular light which looked suspiciously like fire. "Do you suppose there can be anything wrong?" speculated Peter, anxiously. "Of course a fire of coke or cannel in a fireplace might give that effect, through those thin curtains, but we--haven’t seen--anything like it--before--and--By George!" as the light flared more ruddily than ever for an instant and then grew dull again, "I believe there _is_ trouble there! Anyhow, I ’ll run over and find out! They can’t blame me for that." He was starting off at a run when Jane darted after him. "I ’m sure I saw flames jump up, Pete!" she called, excitedly. "The window’s open, and the curtain blew to one side. Oh, hurry! Most of them are away; I saw them drive off an hour ago." She was running at Peter’s side, fleet of foot as he. Her mind had leaped to the youngest member of the unknown household, the one who did not drive away after nightfall to dinners and parties, like the others. Only that day she had met Shirley and exchanged with her the few bright words the little girl seemed to welcome so eagerly. They ran up the steps of the great portico, with its stately columns, and hurrying across it, came to a partly opened door. Peter rang the bell, peering impatiently through the vestibule into the large, square, half-lighted interior. "I ’ll wait just one minute for an answer," he said with his foot on the threshold, "and then I ’ll be up that gorgeous staircase back there." Jane put her head in at the door. "I smell smoke!" she breathed, and Peter pushed past her. Delaying no longer, he ran across the hall and up the staircase, closely followed by Jane. As he reached the top, a little white-clad figure ran screaming toward him. He rushed by, but Jane, at his heels, caught the little girl up in her arms. "There, there, darling," she soothed the frightened, sobbing child, "you ’re all safe! Peter will take care of the fire. Are they all away? There, don’t be frightened, dear!" Over Shirley’s head Jane saw Peter vanish through a doorway--beyond which she could see a mass of smoke and flame--slam down a window, and dash out again, closing the door behind him. Then he was off down the stairs, shouting for help as he went, and getting no response from any quarter of the strangely deserted house. "Take her away!" he called back to Jane, as he ran, and Jane attempted to obey. "Where are your clothes, dear?" she asked the child in her arms, but could get no coherent answer.