In one corner of the auditorium there was a gaping hole in the roof, where the top part of the tower had crashed through. The floor in that section was covered with bricks and mortar, and several seats were crushed, but the audience had crowded up front and no one was hurt.
A moment later some of those in charge of the entertainment hurried to the platform and made an announcement.
A hasty investigation showed, it was said, that the tower had fallen mostly outward instead of toward the school, which accounted for only a small part of it hitting the roof. Had the entire pile of masonry toppled over on the auditorium there might have been a great loss of life. As it was the main school was in no danger, but, for fear the structure might have been weakened it was decided best to dismiss the audience at once.
“That wind must be pretty strong,” observed Bart as he and his chums, with Alice, Jennie, and some of the other girls, got outside.
“Oh! It certainly is!” cried Jennie as she stepped from the doorway. “I’m being blown away.”
The wind had caught her long cloak and whipped it up around her shoulders so that it acted like a sail. Jennie was being fairly carried along the street.
“There’s your chance, Fenn!” cried Frank. “Rescue a maiden in distress.”
Fenn did not stop to reply to his tormenter but caught Jennie by the arm and helped her to straighten her garment.
“Noble youth!” exclaimed Bart. “You shall be suitably rewarded.”
They all laughed, rather hysterically, it is true, at the nonsense talk, but it was a relief to their over-strained nerves for the shock of the accident had been a severe one.