Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-10-06
Presence of Mind


The curtain had fallen upon the first
act, and Thomas Nash, whose atten-
ton had been divided between the
stage and the girl who sat next to
him, was able to devote all his atten-
ton to the latter That, be it under
stood. as far as he dared; for she was
a complete stranger to him. lie could
not speak to her, but was forced to
content himself with little surreptitious
chances aside, each of which gave him
some further detail of her profile; her
=. blue eyes, her slightly retrousse nose,
her arched lips, and the whiteness of
her neck and shoulders. There was a
man with her, a man with brown
mustache. which Mr.. Nash character
fzed uniustly as scrubby. But for the
girl herself, he had nothing but appre-
citation.
The orchestra was about to COM
mence the entr'acte, when a man In
evening dress stepped before the foot
lights and spoke to the audience In
voice which cracked little in his eff
fort to suppress anxiety.
Ladies and gentlemen" he said, Il
should feel much obliged If you would
all leave the theater at once and quiet
ly. There is no danger. but you must
leave at once" He mOtioned to the
leader of the orchestra to play.
Everywhere men and women stood
I'D. quick anxiety in their faces, vague
ouestionings in their eyes. In that mo-
ment Mr.. Nash looked at his neighbor,
and she did not hesitate to speak to
him.
"Wbat is it?" she said under her
breath. "Fire?"
81 suppose So" he answered non
chalantly. with the wish to pose as
hero in her eyes, But don't be afraid.
There is nothing to fear. will help
Won If necessary. l have been in
theater fire before" he continued, fing
ing truth to the winds. THE great
thing is to keep ones presence of
mind"
And then the curtain bulged forward,
a vast sheet of flame swept from its
under edge, and the man before the
footlights threw up his arms and fell
writhing before that scorching blast.
Mr., Nash forgot his heroism, forgot
the girl, forgot everything save the
necessity of reaching the doors as soon
as possible and at any cost. He turned
and fought his way through the crowd,
striking men in the face, fiinging wo-
men on one side, his mind panic fear
He felt two hands gripping his 81 5ul-
ders. but they scarcely retarded him,
and he had more formidable obstacles
TO contend with. Cursing and thrust
ing. trampling upon the bodies of those
who had fallen, he forced his way
through. until at length he met the
cool rush of air that was streaming in
from the night outside, and found him
self safe in the crowd on the opposite
side of the street, painting and shaken,
amazed and Mortified at himself.
A sobbing voice near him called him
to his senses. He looked round and
saw the girl to whom he had spoken.
shivering in her evening dress, but too
hysterical with grief and fear to notice
the cold.
"oh, thank you," she cried; thank
you! l should never have got through
but for YOU
Mr.. Nash stared at her moment,
unable TO realize the extent OF his good
fortune. He had fed in panic and had
earned the reputation Of hero.
That gentleman who was with you?"
ne Queried.
She pointed horror-struck TO the blaz-
Ing theater.
.'Oh. so back for him." she cried
go back and save him! You are
brave: and will thank you and pray
for you all the days of my life"
Mr.. Nash's heroism received a nasty
shock. He looked about him desper-
ately. But oIxe again fortune be-
friended him, and he saw the very man,
though much singed and blackened,
coming toward him.
Thank heaven you are safe.'' said
the newcomer with emotion.
yes, yes,' she cried. Thank hea-
ven! And thank this gentleman. too.
He saved me. He got me out OF the
building"
The young man shook hands with
Nash warmly.