The Irish standard., 1911-07-08


two-step that tempted every couple
onto the floor. They were slipping
along in perfect time when there was
grinding shudder, a sickening move
ment of the floor, like the trembling
leaves, as Of an earthquake.
The music stopped. Craig, near the
platform, released his hold on Blanche
and laid his hand across the strings
OF the leaders, violin. He realized that
the rhythm must be broken at once.
AS if in agony the building creaked
and groaned. The united swaying of
the dancers had proven too great a
strain for the rotting and ill-placed
>timbers. The floor settled. Plaster
fell In dusty clouds. One after anoth-
er the window panes crashed and tin
kled to the floor.
A heartbeat Of horror, and then ev.
cry person stood the naked savage
again. The thin film of manners
slipped off like WORKOUT garment.
mere remained only the instinct Of
MISREPRESENTATION. The. women
screamed shrilly as they faced toward
the one inadequate door. The men,
with barred teeth, prepared to trample
down anyone who blocked their path.
Every person? No. Blanche Carey
old not join in the stampede She
stood by Craig at the upper end of the
hall, her hand on his arm. He. too,
stood fast.
She knew what the rush for safety
would mean. The doorway would be
damned; the weaker would go down,
to be trampled to death. Others would
be crowded off the narrow landing
at the head of the stairs, to fall
crushed and mangled to the floors be-
low.
The wave of panic mounted upward
toward Its crest. The timbers cracked !;
the floor began to settle, slowly but
lnexorably. In second the rush
would begin.
Hold on!" Craig's voice cut across
the babel. Unconsciously they hest.
tated; no one had ever heard him
shout before. Hold on; there's no
danger. Go slow. We can't all get
down at once.
Each man take lady, Sam Dob.
son, lead off. There's Nellie Smith be.
side you. That's right; go slow. No
hurry-no hurry at ALL She's stopped
falling.
Keep away from that window, you
TOOL! What do you want to jump for!
time to catch the boiling piano player
by the throat and hurl him back on
the platform.
Line up there, tell you! Every
man take girl. Two by two, and &C
slow! Go slow, say! The dangers
all over now"
heavy piece Of molding dropped
from the sagging ceiling and struck
him on the head. He staggered, but
did not fall. A trickle OF blood crept
down his cheek. He turned reassur
ingly to Blanche.
"1'm not hurt" he said in an under
tone. He still smiled. ',s'-s
He shouted again: 1.-TWO by two
don't crowd at that door, No hurry
l tell you. Don't push on the stairs.
The floor had ceased to settle. Cool
er heads had recovered themselves
and were echoing his warnings. The
mob melted into an ordinary line. Il
went downstairs in leisurely fashion
Here young man carried in his
arms girl who had tainted; there an
other, white faced, brushed the plaster
from his companion.
When the floor was clear Craif
signed to the orchestra. They
streamed off the platform, over the
quaking, humpy floor, packing theil
instruments as they went.
Craig offered his arm to Blanche
On his face was the smile that womer
derided; but she saw 1t now with {
vision that quickened and purified.
She would never be ashamed o. tina
smile again. 1t was but the lovablt
peculiarly of true man-loving ant
tender and brave. Impulsivcly sht
threw her arms about his neck.
Frank" she said, you are my hero
and / love you'll"