The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-01-06

There were four of these hung close
together, and no one noticed the spiral
OF flame run up between this drop and
the next. The scenery was fireproof
ed, but the rough surface of the can
vas was coated with dust, and the
dust carried the flame.
a watchful fireman discovered the
smoke and turned in an alarm, while
he gave the signal to the stage man.
ager to lower the fire curtain.
AS the great asbestus shield de-
scended one of the actors stepped be-
fore the curtain line and made an
announcement that an accident had
occurred.
There is positively no danger" he
assured, but merely as a precaution
you are asked to leave the house as
quickly as possible"
The band was still playing and the
people in the rear Of the house were
moving toward the entrance when the
stage hands in the flies cut the ropes
and permitted the scenery to fall to
the stage, where the fire could be
Iougnt with greater ease.
Until then there had been an orderly
movement. At the speakers sugges-
uon the people in front were waiting
until those in the rear seats had gone
that there might be no crowding.
Billy, watching over "E 112," had
his sharp eyes ON the people in his
section, and as the heavy battens
from which the scenery was hung
came crashing to the stage one man
sprang to his feet.
He was sitting in the fourth row,
and in a flash Billy realized that
should this man break the order of
departure there would be a crush In
which many would be hurt.
Billy still carried his now useless
tray, and quick as fash he pretend
ed to stumble and fall against the
panic stricken man. In falling he
thrust the fellow back into his seat,
and the ice cold water drenched the
mans face and neck and trickled
down inside of his clothing.
Those near by laughed, and the
crowd, which had been upon the verge
of a panic. cooled down. The panic
was averted.
But Billy had slipped on one of the
thick tumblers rolling under his feet.
IN an instant he was on the floor of
The aisle on top of the clutter of
broken glass, and his face and arms
We're badly cut before the girl in "E
112' could spring to his relief
Strong arms bore the boy to the
head of the aisle where already the
doorkeepers were turning back the
crowd with the assurance that the fire
was all over. And almost before he
realized it Billy was lying on the sofa
In the retiring room. and "E 112" was
bathing the cut hands and face with
soft cloths, while Calkins stood help
lessly by.
Gee" said Billy ruefully, 81 bet l
have to pay for new uniform. This
looks like been working in a butcher
shop"
Nonsense" broke in Calkins. who
could be human at times, though it
was seldom that he exhibited this
trait. "You saved the day, Billy, and
you can have a new uniform every
week If you want one. This lady tells
me that In drenching that fool you
stopped a panic"
well, he had it coming to him."
said Billy. "He was husky guy in ID
112, and he had the willies. he was so
scared. says to myself that If he
got 'em runnin' e 112' would have the
chance of "a SNOWFALL in-well, you
know where. So plugged him wit
the glasses, and then he was good for
awhile. l wouldn't let them walk all
over YOU" he added to the girl.
The glorious eyes grew more tender
rs she realized what the boy was say.
Ing. Men had sought to do great things
to show their love for their ladyloyes.
but this boy of twelve was as brave
and as fearless as any knight who
ever wore his lady's favor in his he'll
met.
His thought had been solely for her,
yet he had probably saved scores from
death or injury. and 1t was she who
was responsible for the deed. Slowly
she bent her beautiful head and press.
ed her lips against his own.
ut was very brave of you, dear"
she said In whisper. ~ am very
proud to think that 1t was for me you
did so fine deed"
Billy blushed; then he looked with
adoring eyes into the brown ones that
were searchin- his face.
I'D burn down the theater every
Tuesday-when you come-for that"
he declared as he lapsed into uncon.
sciousness, and 1t was Miss Golden's
turn to blush. Could he but know it
Billy had for the moment become
more than boy. He was a man and
the knight Of sc 49,"
Russian Education