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. 

"Wants to see me, eh?" returned Tom, musingly. "Well, I don't know whether I want to see her or not." 

"You might as well go, Tom, and have it over with," suggested Sam. 

"If I go, I want Nellie to go along," returned the brother. "I want her to know how I stand on this missing-ring question. By the way, how is she, all right?" continued the youth, addressing Stanley, who had brought the news that he was wanted. 

"She seems to he all right, although she is very nervous. She says the reason she didn't hear the alarm and get out of the building in time, was because she had had a toothache and had taken a strong dose of medicine to quiet her nerves. Evidently the medicine put her into a sound sleep." 

"How about the toothache?" asked Sam, slyly. 

"Oh, that's gone now; the fire scared it away." 

"Where is she?" questioned Tom. 

"She is in the office with some of the other teachers." 
How was the smoke getting out?
windows and doors