Frank’s first entrance was carefully worked up to in the play, and he was astounded when he came laughing and singing onto the stage, to be greeted by a perfect whirlwind of applause. Nor did the applause cease till he had recognized it by bowing.
Then, as everything quieted down and the play was about to move on again, there came a terrible cry that rang through the house:
“Fire!”
Frank understood in a twinkling that it was a false alarm, given for the purpose of producing a stampede and raising the performance.
After that cry for a moment everybody sat as if turned to stone. It was the calm before the panic.
Then Frank’s voice rang out clear as a bell:
“There is no fire! Keep your seats!”
Some had sprung up, but his clear voice reached every part of the house, and it checked the movement.
“Fire! fire!”
Shrill and piercing was the cry, in the voice of a woman.