The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1920-05-13

]
/ In front of the rendezvous n large
| crowd was already collected; the new
| arrivals swcllcd II thrcofOld Then
| by that curious form of thought trans.
ference which often animates big gath.
crings, word went through the crowd
that the hall was nearly filed, that
there was room for scarcely two hun
dred more. And fully five THOUSAND
wanted admittancc. As 10y single
impulse the crowd became a seethlng
clamorng blind mob that surged this
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 bntons freely.
BY sheer strength Eitzhugh wedged
his way to the protection of a door,
which, being partly open, gave way
before the impact Of his body, preCipl-
tating him into a narrow hallway. He
rcgained his feet In second, and
stepping outside closed the door and
stood with his back against It.
The next moment a singular thing
happened. From out that frenzled
mob, like a ship tossed by restless
sea into n haven of safety, a woman
was swept squarely into his arms. For
n bare moment he held her, flushed
and palpitating, in a close embrace.
Then he released her and saw her hat
was missing and that her clothing was
torn and dSarrayed.
"Thank you'll" she exclaimed breath
lessly.
The rays Of a nearby street lamp
fell athwart her face, and his first
thought was that she was a Jewess
then n Russian, he added, apparently
of good birth and schooling. Though
she spoke with n slight foreign accent,
her English was dramatically per-
feet. Her forehead unusually broad
and high for woman, and her cast of
features denoted uncommon intellect.
Like angry waves the mob ragged
about them in their inadequate refuge
and he opened the door, pushed her
into the hallway, and followed, clos
ing the door behind them.
You'll find 1t safer in here" said
he, and added with some hesitation:
"I-my name is Fitzhugh. You needn't
tell me yours if you'd rather not"
Il see no reason why / shouldn't"
she retorted, yet with the hot color
flooding her cheeks. Il am Esther
Strom, Mr.. Fitzhugh, and l am very
happy to know you, even If only for
4 minute" She held out to him a
small, dark hand, and he pressed it In
his large, white one.
Are you going inside?" she asked. !
81 don't think So" he laughed, and !
motioned toward the crowd outside,
How can II"
"You-I might he able to get you
inf you care TO 60"
He started. "Then you are an"
"Oh!" Her hand fumbled excitedly
at her neck, then dropped to her side
with q little gesture of dismay. I'm
afraid I've lost mething-something
I valued very much. 1t was a brooch
an heirloom. And I've lost it,"
He struck q match, and together
they searched the floor.
perhaps you dropped 1t outside"
he suggested; and feeling the neCes-
sity of doing something. yet knowing
the futillty 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 a large packing case. He
noted 1t 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 n great sadness, and
something far rarer besides-sympa-
thy. You poor, wretched people !" he
heard her murmur. How | wish l
could talk to you as I should like tor
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 l could do It for you" he
offered, his voice betraying his eager
ness. would you like 70 hear me
try2
Without waiting for her answer.
fearful lest II be a negative, he ell
bowed his way to the packing case,
mounted It, drew Il deep breath, and
stood up to his full height. The arc
lamp, beating upon his face served
uncommonly well for a calcium light.