wild, she
was too used to having her own way to obey now. And, besides, in her own
queer, half-tamed way, she loved Nan Sherwood.

Being so tiny, Inez was less affected by the smoke than those who were
taller. The blundering policeman who essayed to follow her into the
doorway, came staggering back, choking and blinded. Walter himself,
springing forward when he thought the way was clear, was met by the
rolling volume of pungent smoke, which filled his lungs and stifled him.

"Come back! Come back, Walter!" wailed his sister.

With smarting throat and tearful eyes the boy obeyed--not because he
wanted to. The heat and smoke overpowered him. The policeman was still
choking and gasping.

Then, of a sudden, Bess Harley emitted an excited cheer. "Here they are!
Hooray!" she shrieked.

Out of the doorway plunged little Inez, one arm over her eyes to defend
them from the stinging smoke; one hand pulling at Nan's jacket, to guide
her; for Nan came stumbling backward from the burning theatre, dragging
Pearl Graves with her.

Both girls fell on the flagging as they reached the alley. The policeman
and Walter raised Nan quickly. She did not lose consciousness; but she
was scorched and breathless. Pearl, however, had not recovered her senses
at all from the moment the shock had made her faint.

"She's--she's safe!" gasped Nan. "I covered her face so she should not
breathe the smoke."

"And you're safe--you dear!" cried Bess, hugging her.

"And what a little trump that kid is," cried Walter, taking Inez by the
shoulders and lifting her suddenly into his arms. He implanted a kiss on
the child's smooched face, and put Inez down, laughing, when she
struggled and cried out.

"Say, you're too fresh, you are," declared Inez. "Who told you you could
kiss me? I don't like boys--much--anyway."

This made the other girls laugh. Walter aided Nan out of the alley. The
policeman carried Pearl out into the back street and to the nearest drug
store. There she was revived, and Linda telephoned for a taxi-cab to
take them both home.

The rich girl had little to say to the Masons, or Nan and Bess. And
certainly the four friends said nothing to her. They were convinced that
there would have been no panic in the theatre had it not been for Linda
Riggs; and her treatment of her own cousin had disgusted them all.

When Pearl had revived, being still very sick, the druggist gave her some
medicine and then Linda took her home in the cab. Pe