Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-08
MONTE CRISPEN
(o1ee, Se91eD
Remarkable Story Of the Mlionareeros Adventures in Kendneon

/ were seen running up the outside stairs n
| the balcony Lights we're flashed ON in the
| theatre and the picture on the screen flut.
tered, dhnmed. and went ont a rus,,
started from the rear seats. Tho foyer
hlled with struggling men, women and
children. '''''
Monte saw young panic developine
| He roughly plowed his way to the plusi.
| covered rail that encircled tine back of the
lower floor. Agent X. followed and
gave him a lift. Astride the rail Monte
commanded the attention OF the excitad
audience. Forming his hands into a cup
around his mouth, he megaphoned again
and again:
Keep your. seats, there is no danger. -
EVERY human emotion is electric and
responds instantly to that which stands
above 1t in the tables of intellect. For
bearance melts anger like water dis.
solves wood hope evaporates despair like
air atomizes water. So we find that
courage liquefes fear, and its expansion
In crisis of events Is as catching as
the measles No sooner did the orchestra
leader hear an intrepid voice of command
at the back Of the theatre than he rallied
his nock of musicians, and the band burst
forth with the stirring strains of the
Wachtparade march.
The dash for the doors was halted AT.
taches collected their scattered wits and
pulled back the iron bolts of the emerg-
ency exits. The outward rush became an
orderly tread.
When the theatre had been nearly
emptied, one woman, frail, white.faced
creature dressed in black, lay stretched
on the balcony stairs, the sole victim
Of the fire scare. AS for the fire, It had
long since been put out; IL was the old
story of careless operator, lighted
cigarette and an innammable film.
Who is she?" asked doctor who had
been attending her.
II know her." said the Secret Service.
man in subdued voice to Monte 80
do you. Look! Now do you know her?"
Crispen, down from his perch on the rail-,
advanced toward the balcony stairs.
We'll am fabbergasted," whispered
the young heir. "Jim Koerner's widow
from Crispen Pa. This is identity night,
all right"
Surprises usually do come in punches"
commented Agent X. Know a safe place
to send her tor"
Yes. My room at the Marleys'. Three
blocks away"
I'VE can use her now that we have that
brute 6S over in the Tombs She may be
able to connect him with the delivery of
the wireless apparatus to her dead hus-
band. She left Crispen two months ago,
no one knew where to-"
A pompous little manager hustled up.
lie tnanKed Monte Tor MS presence OF
mind
Whenever are you moving picture guys
going to get wiser" said Agent K.
hotly You should seat your audience
facing the front of the house, with the
chief source of danger. the picture ma.
chine, on the stage behind the asbestos
curtain. Pitch the floor down from the
back instead Of down from the front"
Not bad idea," retorted the manager
blandly. You see this business is still in
it's infancy"
A policeman interrupted with his men,
orandum book to get the fire particulars,
the name of the woman whom
the doctor said was suffering principally
from shock, and would recover under
proper care.
Her name is Jones-Mary Jones'" said
Agent X. loudly. not wishing her real
name to get into the newspapers. Fac
tory hand. Ambulance here? Good. My
friend here and 1 will take care of her.