New-York tribune., 1911-12-17

packed bodies swaycd rrcsolute.
"Whoop cr up," The twelve marines seized hands
and lined up rampaging coryphcc background Sing
it. YOU terriers, Any old thing. One for the money,
two for the show Whcw, smokes getting thick.
three TO make They're taking notice, all right
Ii We can hold EN- five minutes
Bcrthnc piroucttcd down the stage, arms aklmbo,
icwccd head tossing Below the officers had houdcrcd
into close double file Arm locked in gold laced arm,
they formed straining gangway to the door Through
that living passage forced into line, the audience was
leaving the hall Some hustled and crowded in fear;
but the mass stumbled on, daZcd and obcdcnt. And,
in comic fascination, one and all twisted their gilecSS
nccks to glimpse the stage where that red vision still
swirled and flashed and cleaned
hot gust blew choking into Bcrthlnc's face. She
wheeled in jigstcp, snatched Jimmy chapcau from
his head and tossed 1t high in air With that turn She
saw past the side ripple Of smoke waves cept
along the ndcry floor Here and there tiny red blaze
nickcrcd The men working like demons. They
beat down the flame with their coats they tore down
smoking curtains they dashed on buckets OF water.
well last about three minutes more. Then Jump
for it," whcczcd Jimmy. Tears drippcd from hs smart
ing eyes he capcrcd down front. Gee. I'm most
srangcd Hit 'er up, Corrigan. Can YOU keep going,
Bcr,hinc, Bully for you Dance nearer the ioothghts
smoke isn't 50 thick
Bcrthinc swaycd after him. with gay, holden steps,
with lifting, coaXng arms. The blue iog thlckencd
The stencil of burning cloth Stung her throat Halt the
audience safely out, she thought as she cake
walked down center and back again.
She looked across at the Admrals dals. There,
huldlcd in a white faced cump they stood, the l'yra-
The Pyramid face was ashcn blur. The BRIDE had
lust twisted her ivory fan to splintcrs The Grass
hopper famed herself pacidly with her husband S
cbabcau Not one hinchcd Not one glanced toward the
door Navy women to their plucky souls, they stood
in the face Of doom and waited for their men.
cone more minute, gupcd Jimmy, staggering.
"Thcyrc gcttin' EN- out, thank the Lord! If We can
Bcrhinc looked down at that locked, fighting wall OF
men. The last Of the audience, suddenly tcronzcd
was almost past control. \ pang Of dcahllkc fear
caught at Bcrthinc's heart Her lips grew cold She
halted, trembling.
Then, through that cloud Of terror, she caught
Wavncs eyes. 1t though his hand graspcd hers
across immcasurablc depths. Strung to her last taut
nc-yc, she danced on
suddenly the band stopped, dead There was a crash
Down pitched a side drop, ablazc y scorching pain
ran down Bcrthincs arm rag Of burning canvas lay
on her shoulder She brushed II of hen She saw that
her lace skirts were smoking. Dazcd she looked up
From the back drop reared straight incredible wall OF
Jimmy was tearing off the burning lace, crushing it
with hi, hands beating il down with his Chapcau.
Movclcss She stared out the hall As she looked,
the officers line broke up in a screaming mob. To
man, they came rushing toward her. She stared at
them with blank eyes
WAYNE was ahead He lcapcd the footlights With
a veil Of rage and terror he snachcd her into his
"Don't touch me. You'll scorch your best uniform.
Wayne. she said quite distinctly Then al the world
turned black and fell away
Gle had been swimming too long under water,
~ Bcrthne concluded. She was terribly tired and
cold She must get 10 the surface But her breast WAS
weighed down suiocltion. She could not ralsc her
head nor bend her back.
wave Of rcnding agony grippcd her, wrcnchcd each
bone in her winciug body, stabbed her throat tore at
her heart. Then, shuddcring, she sank beneath
Of relief so heavenly in It's soothing that brought
exquisite pain Of its own
Again she SWAN deep beneath the black water. The
roar Of the long reef drummcd in her ears. The chill
of the spray curdcd through her aching veins. But
,hi. WAS not SO bad. For now WAYNE WAS swimming
with her. holding her up. Her left hand was locked in
his. She knew the pressure Of each gripping finger.
Would he ever bring her to shore; Surely he could
how tired and cold She wasl