Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-08-13
Prisoners and CapfiVes
-EE@=--
By n. s. MERRIMAN

distinctly formed a group apart was bare
ly visible to the keenest glance. Helen :
slow, gentle eyes were turned toward the
center Of the house. bent vaguely on the
brightly dressed occupants OF the stalls.
II suppose" said Helen. closing her
fan. that all this is rather trivial Tor you
The interest you take in it must be super
fetal now that you are so busy
oh, no." Tyars FASTENED to begin he
was looking past her in that strangely
persistent way into the thcater, and soma
ching he saw there made him turn his head
quickly toward the stage.
"Halloo." 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. and
from the space at either side a sudden
volume of smoke poured forth in huge.
uneven clouds.
In a second the whole audience was on
its feet, and for a moment sickenlnS 81
lence reigned-the GREATNESS silence Of
supreme fear.
Then a single form appeared on the
stag. 1t was that Of the man referred 10
by Claud Tyars a moment before; he VINO
played the villains part so nnconsclouSly.
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 III
. gesture of command.
II must ask you," he cried, In full
clear voice. ito leave your seats AS
And his tones were drowned, completely
overwhe lined by a strange. unearthy
roar; the roar of thousand human voices
raised in one surging wall of despair like
the din Of surf upon 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 terrible struggle began. Some
who came ont of it could liken il TO moth
Ing on earth. Women shrekcd and men
forgot themselves.
As the gas hckcred and finally col
lapsed those in the stage box caught n
momentary vision of wild. distorted faces
coming toward them. The pit had over
flowed the stalls. Strong barriers crum-
BLEED like matchwood. Into hundred
minds at once there had flashed the hope
OF escape through the stage boxes.
"Grace. Eas;on 1t was Tyar's voice
raisrd and YET not shouting. The crisis
had come. the danger was ar hand, and
Helen knew who it was thai would take
the lead. She heard the two men an
swer.
Keep the people back. will break
open the door on the stage. 1t is our
best chance"
,ha nj ri f,lt al hn
ground and carried to the back of the
box.
Helen :" whispered Tyars.
YES"
Are you all risht?"
eyes
II thought you had tainted. YOU were
20 quiet. Hold on to my coat. Never
leave go of thar. -
He turned away from her. and above
tho din and uproar came the sound Of
his blows upon the woodwork OF the door.
1t seemed impossible that snch strokes
could have been dealt by an unarmed hui
uan hand.
Between the blows came the sirkening
sound of he struggle at the front Of the
box. Imprecations and supplications. min
ged with groans and the dull lhud Of mer-
CHESS fists upon human faces. Shoulder
to shoulder the two men-the American
and the Engiishman- fought for the lives
Of the women placed by the hand Of God
under their protection. Ii was terrible
task. though few women reached the front
Of the box. Each man struck down. each
asSalant beaten back was doomed, and
the defenders knew it. Once down. once
under foot, and it was IL matter of mo-
ments.
Fresh assailants came crowding on.
treadlng on the fallen and consequently
obtaining an workmanship advantage ~
they rose on n level with the defenders.
Neither seemed to question the wisdom
Of Tyars' command. 1t was IL matter of
life or death. Those already in the stage
box would only be crushed by the onrusll
OF the others were they allowed To enter.
With a dazed desperation the two men
faced the frighful odds. hammering wild
~ with both fists Their arms achrd
from sheer hard work and they painted
hoarsely. Their eyeballs throbbrd with
the effort to pierce unfathomable dark
ness. Ii was quite certain that their de-
Tense could not last long.
stick to 1t - yelled Tyars. He might
nave Depu on tnr deck or the Mart Ia
during a white squat. 80 great was the
uproar all around him. At last there
was the sound of breaking wood.
Grace ~ shouted the voice of Tyars.
Yes"
look nfter Miss Winter when VIZ
60"
"Easton." he cried again.
"Yes. old man.
Come last. and keep them back If you
can" Then 4 minute later he shouted
Come
At the same instant the roaring crowd
OF madmen poured in over the front o.
the box, like soldiers storming bastlo
The door which Tyars had succeeded il
opening was so narrow ms to admit OF
the passage of only one person AT time
but at this instant the larger door lcadn.
into narrow passage. the real exit from
the stage box, broke down before pres
sure from without. and from this poin
also stream Of halfdemented being,
tried to force an entrance.
The only advantage possessed by th'
original occupants of the box was tina
they knew the position OF the SINAI
door.
The subsequent recollection Of such In
dyiduals as survived were so fragmentar,
ana vague that no connected story OF tht