The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-06-09

had not hurt him very much. since he
SO soon forgot, which was exactly
Grantley's purpose. But from that mo-
ment he hated the padded stomach
and the false hair which were bis
bread and butter.
He made no attempt to reopen the
discussion, and the weeks went past
rapidly with no apparent change in
their friendly relations. Nettie did not
dream that beneath his fun GraHtley
nursed the sorrow she had caused and
that only in the watches of the night
did he give way to feelings none the
less poignant because SO successfully
concealed.
Then came the lesson the girl needed,
They were playing a small theater In
a week of one night stands. At the
matinee some gas tanks used for color
effects thrown up from beneath the
stage in the last act exploded as the
operator tried to start them up. He
was the eompany's electrician and IN
accustomed to handling calcium lights.
An incorrect mixture of the gases. fol
lowed by momentary panic of the
man, and the damage was done.
Flames burst through the traps to the
stage, the dust on the freproofed
scenery carried the fire to the rigging
aloft, and the place was ablaze II
only remained for the stage hands tc
drop the fire curtain, cut the skylight
ropes and then make for safety.
Once the skylights were opened the
draft drew the flames up to the roof
and away from the auditorium; but,
though this saved the audience, it
meant death for the girls who were
dressing on the top floor. The small
theater was insuff1ciently supplied
with dressing rooms, and the chorus
was herded In an unfinished loft above
the auditorium, usually given over TO
the storage of odds and ends. With
the skylignts open they were trapped.
With no thought for himself, Grant
ley sped up the narrow iron stairway
leading to the loft. Behind him the
stage was a mass of flames. So he
drove back the few girls who were
trying to make their way down the
stairs. Most of the chorus were too
terrified to attempt to escape, but as
Grantley burst into the room they rose
to their feet, wild with hysteria.
1.-THE roofs the only chanceT' cried
Grantley as he pointed to the iron lad
der leading to the skylight. Until
the flames spread there is safety in the
front of the building. Hurry up, girlsI''
He drove them up the narrow pas
sageway, and as he stood at the foot
of the ladder he encouraged them with
his voice, relieving the tension by jok-
ing. He was the last through the sky
light, and it was Nettie who helped
him through.
Already the rear Of the roof was
| blazing, but the front was still safe
and on one side there was a drop OF
a dozen feet to the roof of an adjoin
ing building. Leaning over the edge
Grantley swung the girls down one By
one, and at last he dropped to the roc
himself just as the flames burs
through the front Of the theater roof
and a stream of water drenehed hin
to the skin.
"Close CALL" he commented as b.
glanced up and rubbed his aching
arms. I'D like to find the fellows whC
turned the hose on me-"
'It was from the street. They coult
not see you," explained Nettie. "I'n
glad they did 1t, Dick"
She pointed to the painted tin of the
roof, where his wig and beard lay we
and draggled. ITS washed the mem
DRY out" she explained. And the ligh
of understanding came into Grantley's
eyes as he bent and kissed her white
face, to him sweeter than ever In thu
awakening Of love.