The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1906-09-08
Prisoners and Capfiyes
CHAPTER XIX.-(Continued. ,
BY II. s. MERRIMAN

\
distinctly formed a group apart was bare
ly visible to the keenest glance. Helen
slow, gentle eyes were turned toward tn
center of the house, bent vaguely on tn,
brightly dressed occupants of the stalls
Il suppose" said Helen, closing he
tan, that all this Is rather trivial for you
The interest you take in it must be super
hcial now that you are so busy"
oh, mol" Tyars FASTENED to begin h,
was looking past her in that strangely
persistent way into the theater, and some
hing he saw there made him turn his heat
quickly toward the stage.
"Halloo!" he exclaimed. Then hs
caught her wrist In his grasp. "Keer
still" he whispered.
The painted curtain was bellying RICH.
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 a sickening ST.
lence reigned-the breathless silence OF
supreme fear.
| Then a single form appeared on the
stage. 1t was that of the man referred TO
by Claud Tyars a moment before he who
played the villains part so unconsciously.
de 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 a full,
clear voice, ito leave your seats as
And his tones were drowned, completely
overwhelmed by a strange, unearthly
'oar; the roar Of thousand human voices
raised in one surging wall of despair, like
the din Of surf upon a shingle shore.
The man shouted, and his gestures were
almost ludierous, 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 1t could liken it to moth
Ing on earth. Women shrieked and men
forgot themselves.
As the gas fickered and finally COL
apsed those in the stage box caught a
momentary vision Of wild, distorted faces
coming toward them. The pit had over
flowed the stalls. Strong barriers crum-
bled like matchwood. Into hundred
minds at once there had flashed the hope
OF escape through the stage boxes.
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. I will break
open the door on the stage. 1t is our
,est chance"
The girl felt herself lifted from the
ground and carried to the back of the
box.
Helen p whispered Tyars.
Eyes"
Are you all right?"
Eyes"
II thought you had tainted, you were
90 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 hui
man hand.
Between the blows came the sickening
sound Of the struggle at the front of the
box. Imprecations and applications, min
gled with groans and the dull thud of mer-
CHESS fists upon human faces. Shoulder
to shoulder the two men-the American
and the Englishman-fought 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 1t. Once down, once
under foot, and It was a matter of mo-
ments.
Fresh assailants came crowding on.
treading on the fallen and consequently
an eyer-increasing advantage as
they rose on level with the defenders.
Neither seemed to question the wisdom
81 Tyars' command. 1t was a matter OF
life or death. Those already In the stage
box would only be crushed by the onrush
II the others were they allowed to enter.
With dazed desperation the two men
laced the frightful odds, hammering wild |
y with both fists. Their arms ached |
rom sheer hard work and they painted |
,oarsely. Their eyeballs throbbed with
he effort to pierce unbelievable dark |
less. 1t was quite certain that their ds- |
ense could not last long.
stick to 1t! yelled Tyars. He might
rave been on the deck Of the Martial
Turing a white squall. so great was the
,proar all around him. At last there
vas the sound Of breaking wood.
Grace !" shouted the voice of Tyars
Eyes"
Look after Miss Winter when we
o."
"Easton !" he cried again.
eyes, old mani"
Come last, and keep them back II Won
an" Then a minute later no shouted
Gomez"
At the same instant the roaring crowd
{ madmen poured In over the front Of
he box. like soldiers storming a bastion,
Me door which Tyars had succeeded in
pening was so narrow as to admit of
be passage Of only one person at a time.
ut at this instant the larger door leading
ato a narrow passage, the real exit from
he stage box. broke down before a pres
ure from without, and from this point
lso stream Of half-demented beings
ried to force an entrance.
The only advantage possessed by the
riginal occupants Of the box was that
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