Alice were to be drawn up through the hole that went down into the secret room where the money box had been found.
"Quick!" cried Paul, as he made the splinters fly. This was only for the effect, as the section on the roof was all ready to come away. "Hurry up, Sneed!" called the young fellow. "It's getting pretty hot here. We'll have to follow each other closely down the ladder."
"We can't get away from here any too soon for me," the other answered. "This is the worst yet"
In another moment the secret room was exposed. Ruth and Alice were in it, a little afraid, after all, that something might happen.
"Come on!" cried Paul reaching down his hands. Alice climbed up on a chair in the room, and Paul lifted her out on the roof. Then Mr. Sneed did the same for Ruth.
Putting the girls over their shoulders, in the manner in which firemen make rescues, the two started down the ladder.
In spite of Mr. Sneed's fear, nothing happened. The rescue went off finely, and even those not taking part in it applauded as it came to a close and Ruth and Alice, who were supposed to have fainted, were revived.
Then their parts ended, for that particular
