"Thanks, very much, old man!" exclaimed the chap whose impulsive act had
so nearly caused a tragedy. "It was mighty fine of you to do that. I had
heart failure when I saw her on fire."

"You couldn't help it," replied Andy. "They ought not to allow smoking
in places like this."

"That's right. Next time I throw a rose at a girl I'll look to see
what's going to happen."

The theatre was almost deserted by now. All that remained to tell of the
accident was the smell of smoke, and a few bits of charred cloth on the
stage.

A man came out in front of the curtain.

"Miss Fuller wants to see the young fellow who put out the fire," he
announced.

"That's you, Andy!" cried his chums.

"Aw, I'm not going back there."

"Yes, she would like to see you. She wants to thank you," put in the
stage manager. "Come along."

Rather bashfully Andy went back. He found the singer--a mere
girl--propped up on a couch. Her arms and hands were in bandages, but
she did not seem to have been much burned.

"I'm sorry I can't shake hands with you," she said, with a smile. She
was pale, for the "make-up" had been washed from her face.

"Oh, that's all right," responded Andy, a bit embarrassed.

"It was awfully good and brave of you," she went on, with a catch in her
voice. "I don't--I don't know how to thank you. I--I just couldn't seem
to do anything for myself. It was--awful," and her voice broke.

"Oh, it might have been worse," spoke Andy, and he knew that it wasn't
just the thing to say. But, for the life of him, he could not fit proper
words together. "I'm glad you're all right, Miss Fuller," he said. He
had seen her name on the bills--Mazie Fuller. He wondered whether it was
her right one, or a stage cognomen. At any rate, he decided from a
casual glance, she was very pretty.

"You must give me your address," the girl went on. "I want to pay for
the coat you spoiled on my account."

"Oh, that's all right," and Andy was conscious that he was blushing. "It
isn't hurt a bit. I'll have to be going now."

"Oh, you must let me have your name and address," the girl went on.

"Oh, all right," and Andy pulled out a card. "I'm at Milton Prep.," he
added, thinking in a flash that he would not be there much longer. But
then he did not want her to send him a new coat.

"I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave now," said the doctor kindly.
"She has had quite a shock, and I want her to be quiet."

"Sure," assented Andy, rather glad