n his quick eye caught
sight of something that made the flush fade from his face and his heart
lose a beat.

From the wing at the left of the stage _a tiny wisp of smoke was
stealing_.

Like lightning, his quick brain sensed the situation. The house was old
and would burn like tinder. There were only the two exits--one on each
side of the hall. And the place was crowded--and his mother was there--and
Clara!

His plan was formed in an instant. He must reach a narrow corridor, by
which, out of sight of the audience, he could gain the back of the stage
and stamp out whatever it was that was making that smoke.

He rose to slip out, but at that moment a big bulk of a man sitting two
seats ahead of him jumped to his feet with a yell.

"Fire! Fire!" he shouted wildly. "The house is on fire!"

CHAPTER II

QUICK AS LIGHTNING

For one awful instant the crowd sat as though paralyzed.

But in that instant Joe acted.

With one powerful leap he reached the frenzied shouter, his fist shot out,
and the man went down as though hit with an axe.

Up the aisle Joe went like a flash, cleared the orchestra rail at a bound,
and with one more jump was on the stage.

The audience had risen now and was crowding toward the aisles. Women
screamed, some fainted, and all the conditions were ripe for a panic.

Above the hubbub, Joe's voice rang out like a trumpet.

"Keep your seats!" he shouted. "There's no danger. I tell you to keep your
seats."

The crowd halted uncertainly, fearfully, and Joe took instant advantage of
the hesitation.

"You know me," he cried. "I tell you there's no danger. Haven't you ever
smelled cigar smoke before?"

The suggestion was a happy one, and the crowd began to quiet down,
regaining their courage at the sight of that indomitable figure on the
stage.

Jim had been only two jumps behind Joe in his rush to the front, and while
Joe was calming the crowd Jim had rushed into the wing and dragged down
some draperies that had caught fire from a gas jet. In a moment he had
trampled them underfoot and the danger was over.

The orchestra had seemed to keep its wits better than the rest of the
throng, and Joe signaled to the leader to strike up a tune. The next
instant the musicians swung into a popular air, and completely reassured,
the people settled down into their seats.

And while Joe stands there, exulting in his triumph over the panic, it may
be well for the sake of those who have not read