Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-02
CHAPTER Xxx.


ing to disturb the harmony Of the proceed
ings.
"You may make your mind quite easy on
that score" said Field with reassuring
smile. There will be no disturbance as far
as I am concerned. I want to Identity
somebody whom 1 believe is in the house,
and when that Is done my work is nm
ished. Never mind about a seat-let me
stand by the side Of the stalls SO that /
can pass for an official
There was no difficulty whatever about
this. and therefore Field stepped into the
house as the curtain was going up on the
last of the brilliant trifles of the evening.
The house was packed to it's utmost capac-
ity with an audience that seemed decidedly
to appreciate the bill of fare that had been
prepared for their delectatfon.
Field glanced round the house with his
usual blank way that nevertheless took In
everything. Most of the people In the stalls
were known by sight to him. In an upper
box on the prompt side he saw the dark
face and eager eyes of the Rajah of Ahbad.
He seemed to be looking for somebody, for
his glasses were constantly In use. mere
was restless air, too, about the ra1ah, that
showed that he was not altogether at his
ease.
1--WE live and learn" Field told himself.
II wonder what yonder willy oriental would
think if he knew all that have discovered
lately. I suppose one Of his favorite ballet
girls is in the piece Pretty piece too. and
pretty music"
Field laid himself out for enjoyment for
the next quarter of an hour. The heroine
of the piece in the form Of Miss Adela Vane
was late in appearing. The thing was drag
ging, too or so it seemed to Field All at
once there were voices at the back OF the
stage as If somebody was quarreling. sud
denly the bright tuneful chorus broke of al
together and a female voice screamed.
little puff of smoke came from the stage.
In the twinkling of an eye the whole
house rose and shuddered. There was
IL, 1ly1 10 oil I'd hxy
and forked tongues of flame licked the imi-
tation forest, and with a swish all the
chorus fled from the stage. Far away up
in the gallery somebody was roaring FIRE.!
A rush to the doors was already taxing
place.
From the stalls rose a tall man with
military air, who commanded everybody 10
wait There was no danger, he cried, II the
audience only kept their heads. On the
stage a manag ger, with white face and
perspiring forehead, announced the fact that
the appliances for dealing with the fire
were of the finest possible description, and
that there was no danger at all.
But it was all too late. The panic had
already gripped the audience, and yelling,
frightened crowd pressed to the exits. The
smoke was getting thicker and blacker; the
flames were making the place unpleasantly
warm. Field could feel the heat on his
face He had been close to the staIis exit
and might have slipped away at once, but
he had held his ground. 1t was he who
I'll knock down the first man who tries
to pass me-" he cried. There is plenty of
time. For Gods sake, control yourselves.
Come quietly. Don't you know that the
utes if people will only go quietly? Now
come along and don't press" The stern,
hard tones were not without their erect.
Field looked SO calm and collected and con-
fident himself that the feeling spread quick
ly all over the stalls. The fireproof curtain
had not been dropped for the simple reason
that it would not work, as Is often the case
with appliances of the kind. The stage was
burning furiously.
But in the pit and dress circles and in the
higher parts OF the house other cool and
collected men had risen to the occasion.
Women were crying and sobbing, and more
than one had tainted but the mad panic
was over, and something like order had been
restored. The stalls were moving quietly
along now, and 1t was marvellous to see
how quickly the place was being deserted.
In the vestibule long queue OF ponce hao
gathered and stood to prevent people hud-
ding together. In less time than 1t takes
to tell, everybody was outside. Like magic
an engine had appeared, and men In he'll
NETS were jumping nimbiy over the stalis
laying their hose down. AS Field turned to
go little cry from the stage attracted his
attention.
A girl stood there. dressed as Vatican
shepherdess She seemed absolutely d i,3.sd
and frightened, pretty and pathetic little
Go back" Field yelled. You'll have
that blazing scenery on top of you. Why
don't you go back to the stage door?'
The actress turned at last and shook her
head. Tears were rolling down her face.
IT can't" she said. THE fire is too great.
I was in my dressing room, and l did not
know. Oh. why doesn't somebody save
me?"
It was quite clear that the little girl was
too dazed and frightened to do anything.
Without any further loss of time Field
jumped into the orchestra and scrambled
back for the moment he could see already
that the wig Of the pretty little shepherdess
was being scorched by the hot, fiery breath.
He lifted the girl in his arms and made
bold leap over the orchestra into the stalls.
Then he carried her out into the street and
called for a cab The air of the night was
not without effect on the frightened &C
treSs.
where shall tell the man to driver
Field asked
Il shall remember presently" the girl
said. II am altogether dazed and stupid
for the moment. l can see nothing but fire
and smoke Let me think. Oh, yes, it is
coming back to me. Yes, Mrs. Marsh, 124
Copeland avenue, Regents Park. Oh. 1t Is
very good and kind of you. Will You let
me tender my thanks when am betterT
II have done nothing" Field said mod
estly. A sudden idea occurred to him. ac-
customed as he was to think matters out
quickly and in all kinds of sterling sur
rOundlngS. III L may, l. Will call upon you
tomorrow morning. Goodnight"
The cab whirled away, and Field
went thoughtfully down the Strand. 1t
seemed to him that he had seen the pretty
little actress before, but then such queer
sensations are frequent in times Of danger
and excitement, Field reflected. At the
same time he could not quite rid himself of
the idea that he had seen the girl before.
He pondered over the matter until another
idea filed his mind.
"By Jove," he exclaimed, II had quite
forgotten the coloneFs message. I was to
60 to Edward street near the Borough and
wait to see what 1 should I'll just go
and hang about there for half an hour or so
on the off chance though 1 am tired as
a dog already. 1t seems to me that l can't
do better than take a cab"
A cab accordingly whirled Inspector Field
to the upper end of Edward street, which is
by no means a bad type of street for the
Borough. The houses are of a respectable
class for the most part, the class of houses
that let lodgings to medical students and
the like 1t is not the sort of thoroughfare
that is generally given over to adventures.
and Field loitered about there for long
time before his search was rewarded.
He chatting to policeman on the
beat seeing that he could not loaf there
without arousing the suspicious Of the in
telligent officer on duty, without disclosing
his identity, when a couple passed him.
The man wore long fawn overcoat and
silk hat; he was well-dressed man, as