back.

"There is room enough--and time enough," panted Nan, resisting. "I must
look after Inez."

"Let that young one go with Bess and Grace," Linda said. "Somebody's got
to help me with Pearl. The silly has fainted."

Nan saw that this was so. She adjured Bess to take care of Inez.

"Hi! I don't need nobody ter take care o' me," cried that independent
young lady. "I'm big enough to take care o' myself. You come on, Nan
Sherwood."

"I'm coming," promised Nan, slipping back to help with Pearl.

Instantly Linda pushed by and followed the other girls, leaving Nan alone
with Pearl Graves. The girl had no intention of helping her cousin.

Walter was smashing one seat-back after another, and calling to the
girls to follow. Bess had grabbed up Inez and now only Nan and Pearl
were left behind.

The latter was really senseless. Shaking her--patting her hands--rubbing
her forehead--all did no good. It seemed impossible for Nan Sherwood to
arouse her.

The smoke came down upon them, thick and stifling. The others of her
party were shut out of Nan Sherwood's view. She heard them calling to
each other, Walter shouting in advance. They thought Nan was coming, too.

Nan was dreadfully tempted to run. She was as frightened as she could be.
She had a great terror of fire; ever since her experience with Cousin Tom
in the forest fire, she had shuddered at the very thought of flames.

And here the heat of them almost overwhelmed her. The shrieks of the
frantic throng at the main door of the theatre died away. She heard
the shouted commands of the police and firemen--then the swish of
water from the first pipe brought to play upon the flames. But they
were all outside.

There was nobody near to help Nan Sherwood. She might easily have escaped
by herself; but to leave this helpless girl whom Linda Riggs had
abandoned--

Nan could not do that. She seized Pearl Graves by the shoulders and
strove to drag her out of that row of seats and into the next. Although
the main aide was now clear, she dared not try that way. Fire was raining
down from the balcony into the back of the house.

Pearl was a larger and heavier girl than Nan. Strong as the latter was,
and well developed from her athletic training, the older girl would have
been a heavy charge for Nan at best. Now, with the smoke half smothering
her, and Pearl a dead weight in her arms, Nan could scarcely drag her
burden to the opening in the row of seats.

She struggled t