Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-06-01
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CHAPTER XIX.-(Continncd.9
BY Fl. S. MEREeENzAN

distinctly formed group apart was bare
II visible to the keenest glance. Helen's
slow. gentle eyes were turned toward the
center of the house, bent vaguely on the
brightly dressed occupants Of the stalls.
Il suppose" said Helen, closing he!
fan that all this is rather trivial for you.
The interest you take in it must be super
fetal now that you are so busy"
oh. no." Tyars FASTENED to begin; he
VAS looking past her in that strangely
r,rsistent way into the theater, and some
hing he saw there made him turn his head
ouirkIy toward the stage.
"HaIloo," he exclaimed. Then he
caught her wrist in his grasp. Keep
still" he whispered.
The painted curtain was bellying right
forward like the mainsail of a bark, ans!
from the space at either side a sudden
volume OF smoke poured forth in huge
uneven clouds.
In second the whole audience was or
it, feet, and for moment sickening 81
lence reigned-the breathless silence OF
supreme fear.
Then a single form appeared on the
stage It was chat Of the man referred to
nv Claud Tyars moment before; he who
v.
He was still in his dark wig and pallid
makeup. On his arm he carried the coat
he had just taken off, and the other arm.
clad in white shirt sleeve, was raised in
gesture of command.
Il must ask YOU he cried, in 4 full.
clear voice, ito leave your seats AS
And his tones were drowned, completely
overwhelmed by a strange, unearthly
roar: the roar of a thousand human voices
raised in one surging wall of despair, like
the din of surf upon a single shore.
The man shouted, and his gestures were
almost ludicrOuS, even at that supreme
moment, for no sound could be heard
from his lips.
Then the gas was turned out, and in the
darkness a terrible struggle began. Some
who came out of it could liken it to moth
ing on earth Women shrieked and men
forgot themselves.
As the gas fickered and finally col
aDscd those in the stage box caught
momentary vision of wild, distorted faces
coming toward them. The pit had over
flowed the stalls. Strong barriers crum-
bled like matchwood. Into a hundred
minds at once there had flashed the hope
Grace EastOn!' 1t was Tyar's voice
raised. and yet not shouting. The crisis
had come, the danger was at hand, and
Helen knew who it was that would take
the lead. She heard the two men an
swer.
Keep the people back. 1 will break
open the door on the stage. 1t is our
pest chance"
The girl felt herself lifted from the
ground and carried to the back Of the
box.
Helen :" whispered Tyars.
Yes"
Are you all right?'
Yes"
81 thought you had tainted, you were
so quiet. Hold on to my coat! Never
leave go of that. ~
He turned away from her, and above
the din and uproar came the sound OF
his blows upon the woodwork of the door.
Ii seemed impossible that such strokes
could have been dealt by an unarmed hu-
man hand.
Between the blows came the sickening
sound of the struggle at the front of the
box. Imprecations and supplications, min
CHESS fists upon human faces. Shoulder
to shoulder the two men-the American
and the observation-disclosures for the lives
Of the women placed by the hand of God
under their protection. 1t was a terrible
task, though few women reached the front
Of the box. Each man struck down, each
assailant beaten back was doomed, and
the defenders knew it. Once down, once
under foot, and it was a matter of mo-
mentS.
Fresh assailants came crowding on,
treading on the fallen and consequently
obtaining an ever-increasing advantage as
they rose on a level with the defenders.
Neither seemed to question the wisdom
of Tyars' command. 1t was a matter Of
life or death. Those already in the stage
box would only be crushed by the onrush
OF the others were they allowed to enter.
With a dazed desperation the two men
faced the frightful odds. hammering wild
~ with both fists. Their arms ached
from sheer hard work and they painted
hoarSely. Their eyeballs throbbed with
the effort to pierce unfathomable dark
ness. 1t was quite certain that their de-
Tense could not last long.
Stick to :" yelled Tyars. He might
have been on the deck of the Martial
during a white squall so great was the
uproar all around him. At last there
was the sound of breaking wood.
Grace shouted the voice of Tyars.
Yes"
Look after Miss Winter when we
60"
"Easton ~ he cried again.
Yes, old man.
Come last, and keep them back if you
can Then minute later he shouted,
Gomez
At the same instant the roaring crowd
Of madmen poured in over the front of
the box, like soldiers storming a bastaon.
The door which Tyars had succeeded in
opening was so narrow as to admit of