"Yes. And I yelled to the crowd that there was no fire and that they must keep cool," added the man who had been operating the moving picture machine.
In the excitement several people had been knocked down, but fortunately nobody had been hurt. A number of articles of wearing apparel had been left in the theater.
"I wish I could get my hat," said the girl named Alice, wistfully. "I don't want to go back to school bareheaded."
"What kind of a hat was it?" questioned Randy, who stood beside her. "Maybe I can get it for you;" and then, after the girl had given him a description of the head covering, he went off to question one of the theater men about it. In a few minutes more he came back with the missing property.
After Randy returned, the boys introduced themselves to the girls, and learned that all of the latter were scholars at Clearwater Hall. The leader of the party was Ruth Stevenson, who had sat next to Jack, while her friends were Annie Larkins, Alice Strobell, Jennie Mason and May Powell.
"I know a fellow named Powell quite well," remarked Jack, as the last-named girl was introduced. "He goes to our school. His name is Dick, but we all call him Spouter."
"Dick Powell is my cousin," answered May. And then she added smilingly: "I've heard of you Rover boys before."
"Yes, and I've heard of you, too," broke in Ruth Stevenson.
"And who told you about us?" questioned Jack.
"Why, a big boy at your school—the head of the football team."