Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-12-10

performance had begun 10 was a mag
nificent cast, and every effort on the
part OF the manager or performers was
received with enthusiasm.
AS First Citizen Jim hal little op-
portunity of displaying his histrionio
power until the great forum scene was
reached, Special effort had been made
ON the part OF the management to have
the scenic effects most elaborate, and
the scene Of the Roman forum was o.
pecially woll reproduced
At the back of the stage long flight
OF steps led up to the tribunal, and here
Mark Antony had aroused the populace
to seek revenge for the blood Of the
murdered Caesar. The actor who por-
trayed the part Of Antony had stirred
the audience to high pitch of excite
ment with his powerful and magnetic
delivery OF the lines over the dead body.
Jim also found himself under the spell
OF this eloquent appeal for Justice, and
his thirst for revenge was becoming
most seal
He could scarcely wait for his cue,
but it came ut last. Antony had told OF
Cmsar's will, his requests to the city,
his love for the people, finishing with
the words;
81 Here was Cesarl When comes
there such another?"
Jim, wild with excitement, caught
the cue, and jumping upon tho steps
above the crowd, cried:
"NeverI Neveri Comei Away Well
burn this body in the holy place and
with tho brands fire.
The word fire" had no sooner passed
his lips than it was echoed by cry
from the audience. 'Firei Firor"
For moment the stiffness of death
repned over tho petrified spectators,
only TO be followed by wild pande-
monium 1t had not been cry Of
wolf I" Already dense smoke was
filling the thenter, and 1t was evident
to all the house was on fire.
Luckily thQse occupying seats In the
orchestra escaped without difficulty,
but not 30 fortunate were those who
had occupied seats in the balcony
There every exit was cut off The stair
could not be reached, owing to tho
Dense suiiocating smoke.
Jim, hearing the cries of "Firel
that had followed his appeal to tho
mob, realized at once tho danger. He
could see Polly. her face blanohed with
terror. appealing TO him to como to her
rescue.
Rushing from the stage. no sought
the side entrance to the balcony, but
WAS driven back by the hames which
were making rapid progress He re-
turned to the stage in time to find tho
Roman mob, that few moments be-
fore was mad with frenzy, now wild
with fear He would appeal TO them
once more
For Gods sake, men, don't leave
these people in the balconies to die
Here, quick Lend hand, some Of youl"
And Jim rushed for the steps leading
to the tribunal. In second they were
torn from their fastenings and horne by
the men to a place beneath the balcony,
where they might afford means of do
scent to the terror stricken spectators
The men had scarcely time to brace
the steps before the people began to
chamber down in their mad rush 10 ~.
cape
In vain did Jim look for PoI'7 ~ Ito
crowd Could siie have been usei.oino
by tho heat and smoker With the energy
Of despair he clambered up the steps,
fighting his way against the struggling
stream OF humanity that poured down
against him and almost overbore him.
Nearly suffocated with smoke, no
CROPPED his way TO the place where he
had last seen his sweetheart. There he
found her. lying in the aisle, insensible
Snatching the lifeless form OF the
girl IN his arms. be struggled back to
tho steps. only to find they had col.
lapsed under the weight of the crowd
He leaned over the balcony, but NO dense
was the smoke no could SOC nothing.
Jump for the neti" no heard some
one call to him. and, looking closer, ho
could discern men standing beneath the
balcony with something stretched be-.
tween them.
God help you, Polly. It's our only
chance. And AZ ho spoke he raised her
insonsible form over the balcony His
hold loosened and his burden fell from
his arms He tried to follow. but sank
back. overcome by tho smoke
AT tho Lafayette hospital the next
morning there were many inquiries for
tho First Citizen, aud Jim answered
them IN best he could, though the effort
cost him many IA twingo of pain
Over his head hung tho torn and
soorched remnants Of tho tunic In
which he had led tho mob to save many
a life. AT his side sat Polly. reading to
him proposition from tho manager Of
the Adelphi thcater for permanent en-.
Globe