and her party,
however, they were in the worst possible position as far as quick escape
went. By some oversight of the fire inspectors the seats on several front
rows had been built close against the sidewalls, with no passage at that
end of the rows for entrance or egress.

Bess was next to the wall, and she jumped up, crying: "Oh, come on,
girls! let's get out. Walter! I say, Walter! I'm frightened. Let us go."

Grace was crying.

Nan hugged Inez close to her and looked to Walter, too, to extricate
them from their situation. But Linda had reached across her cousin,
Pearl Graves, and clawed at Walter in abject terror. "Oh, save me! save
me, Walter!" she moaned. "I am _so_ afraid of fire--and in a place like
this! Oh! oh!"

"Shut that girl's mouth!" exclaimed one man from the front. "Stop that
screaming! There is no danger! The fire is confined to the box, and that
is made of sheet iron. We're all right. Don't crowd!"

The panic had, however, spread too far.

The mob struggled and fought at the main doors. The police had been
summoned; but they could not get into the building through the main
entrance, and the side exits were toward the rear. Several people were
knocked down and trampled on. A pungent odor of burning filled the
theatre; the crackling of the flames grew louder and louder.

Walter had his hands full with Linda and Pearl, who had become likewise
panic-stricken. Nan pushed Grace and Bess back toward the wall.

"Stand right where you are. We mustn't get in that crowd. We'll be
killed," advised she, holding little Inez close to her.

"Save me! save me, Walter!" wailed Linda.

"I wish somebody would take this girl out of the way!" growled Walter
Mason in much disgust, and far from gallant.

"Don't leave me!" shrieked Linda.

People began madly to climb over the seats--and over one another--to
reach the side exits.

"How ever will we get out, Nan?" demanded Bess Harley, with keen faith
in her chum.

"Keep still. Let us wait," urged Nan.

But at that instant red and yellow flames burst from the box where the
picture projecting machine was housed. These flames began to lick up the
furnishings of the balcony like so much tinder. Sparks and dense smoke
were thrown off and both settled upon the struggling people below.

"Oh, Walter! Walter! We shall be burned," cried his sister.

The boy had never yet neglected his timid sister's cry. He somewhat
rudely pushed Linda away and reached across Nan a