Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-07-10
PRESENCE OF MIND.

| the girl VINO SAT next TO MIN, was dDle
to devote al his attention to the latter.
! That, be it understood, as far as he
dared: for she was a complete stranger
/ to him. He could not speak to her, but
was forced to content himself with little
surreptitious glances 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 q man with her. man with
a brown mustache, which Mr. Nash
characterized uniustly as scrubby. But
for the girl herself, he had nothing but
appreciation.
i The orchestra was about to com
menee the entr'acte, when man in
evening dress stepped before the foot
lights and spoke to the audience in a
voice which cracked little in his effort
to suppress anxiety.
Ladies and gentlemen he said, q
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 up
quick anxiety in their faces, vague
questionings in their eyes In that mo-
ment Mr.. Nash looked at his neighbor
and she did not hesitate to speak to him.
what is it?" she said under her
breath. "Fire?'
Il suppose SO. he answered nonchal-
antly, with the wish to pose as a hero
in her eyes. But don't be afraid There
is nothing to fear. [ win help you if
necessary. ! have been in "a thieater fire
before" he continued, finging 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
writing before that scorching bIssst
Mr.. Nash forgot his heroism, forgot the
girl, forgot everything save the neces-
sity 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 wom-
i EN- on one side, his mind panic fear. He
felt two hands gripping his shoulders,
but they scarcely retarded him, and he
had more formidable obstacles to con-
tend with Cursing and thrusting,
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 himself 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
hvsterical with grief and fear to notice
the cold
"Oh. thank you'll" she cried; thank
you! | 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 a hero.
"That gentleman who was with you?a
he queried.
She pointed horror-struck to the blaz-
: ing theater.
"oh, go back for hint" she cried 60
back and save him! You are brave
and viii thank you and pray for yen
all the days of my life'
.
shock. He looked about him desperate.
~. But once again fortune befriended
him. and he saw the very man, though
much singed and blackened coming to-
ward him.
Thank heaven you are safe!s said
the newcomer with emotion.
Yes, yes!" she cried Thank heavenl
And thank this gentleman, too. He
saved me. He got me out of the build
ing"
The young man shook hands with
Nash warmly.
Sir" he said, eve must know more OF
each other; my sister owes you her
life. My father and mother will be
anxious to thank you themselves. was
Knocked down in the first rush. / be-
lieve that my being so saved my life
for l crawled under the seats and got
over into the pit, and so out that way
This is terrible business Let us get
away at once and find cab"
/ They hurried down a side street ard
found a four wheeler not 100 yards
away. As Mr.. Nash sat in the cab OPP
posite to his new-found friends, he be-
came calm enough to realize the ex-
tent of his good fortune The Young
man introduced himself as William
Pearson. name which MIR Nash knew
well as associated with one of the big
industries of the city He introduced
also his sister Lucy and Mr.. Nash re-
sponded by giving his name and men
tiening modestly the fact that he was
a solicitor. They dropped him at his
rooms with further thanks, an address
and warm invitation u call uDon the
following day.
The Pearsons lived in large house
in the fashionable quarter of the town.
On presenting himself at the door, Mr.
Nash was ushered into the drawing
room. which was filed with people, ail
talking excitedly. 1t was Mrs Pear
sons at-home day. ard the tragedy OF