Cleveland County herald., 1920-01-22

denSely packed crowd had assembled. A platoon of policemen, marching five abreast and armed with night sticks, had drawn up on the outskirts of the crowd. The police had been given to understand that the jobless men would march once around the Hoop" and dis band on the lake front. But it was now seen this was not their plan. h. stead of turning east the leaders turned west, and all along the line the cry arose "Smulski's hall !"
 Fitzhugh fell in with the surgng mass and like it became imbued with the spirit of "On to SmulSkfs hall !'
 In front of the rendezvous large crowd was already collected; the new arrivals swelled it threefold. Then, by that curious form of thought trans ference which often animates big gath eringS, word went through the crowd that the hall was nearly filled, that there was room for scarcely two hun dred more. And fully five thousand wanted admittance. AS by single impulse the crowd became seething.
  way and that, trampling the weak un derfoot, crushing, struggling, swearing, without reason or purpose. The police, instantly suspecting a riot rushed in, using their batons freely.
 By sheer strength Fitzhugh wedged his way to the protection of a door, which, being partly open, gave way of h ;,Ai tating him into a narrow hallway. He regained his feet in a second, and stepping outside closed the door and stood with his back against it.
 The next moment q singular thing happened. From out that frenzied mob like ship tossed by restless sea into q haven of safety, a woman was swept squarely into his arms. For q bare moment he held her, flushed and palpitating, in q close embrace. Then he released her and saw her hat was missing and that her clothing was torn and disarrayed.
 ''Thank you!" she exclaimed breath lessly.
 The rays of nearby street lamp fell athwart her face, and his first thought was that she was a Jewess; then Russian, he added, apparently of good birth and schooling. Though she spoke with slight foreign accent her English was grammatically per feet. Her forehead, unusually broad and high for a woman. and her cast of features denoted uncommon intellect.
 Like angry waves the mob ragged about them in their inadequate refuge ant he opened the door, pushed her into the hallway, and followed, clos ing the door behind them.
 ''You'n find it safer in here" said he, and added with some hesitation: ''T-my name is Fitzhugh. You needn't tell me yours if you'd rather not"
 II see no reason why I shouldn't,' she retorted, yet with the hot color flooding her cheeks. ''I am Esther Strom, Mir. Fitzhugh, and l am very happy to know you, even if only for a minute" She held out to him small, dark hand, and he pressed it in his large, white one.
 Are you going inside?" she asked
 'I don't think so," he laughed, and motioned toward the crowd outside How can I?"
 "You-I might be able to get you inf you care to go."
 He started. "Then you are an"
 "Oh!' Her hand fumbled excitedly at her neck, then dropped to her side with little gesture of dismay. I'm afraid I've lost mething-something I valued very much. It was a brooch an heirloom. And I've lost it!"
 He struck a match, and together they searched the floor
 'Perhaps you dropped it outside" he suggested; and feeling the neces- sity of doing something, yet knowing the futility of the action, he opened the door leading to the street. Mid way between the door and the alley, against the brick wall of the building, he saw large packing case. He noted it was of strong material, re- enforced at the corners.
 The woman seemed to have forgot ten her loss in the rush of some stronger emotion. She stood beside him, gazing at the unclean crowd with wistful eyes, and there shone in the liquid depths great sadness, and something far rarer besides-sympa- thy. "You poor, wretched people," he heard her murmur. How l wish I could talk to you as 1 should like to!''
 He looked at her quickly. His bud ding thought burst suddenly into full bloom. To "show off, before this woman, to parade his talent before her, to impress her and win her ad- miration-what delight that would be-
 ''Perhaps I could do it for you," ha offered, his voice betraying his eager ness. Would you like to hear me try"
 Without waiting foS her answer, fearful lest it be a negative, he el- bowed his way to the packing case, mounted it, drew deep breath, and stood up to his full height. The arc lamp, beating upon his face, served