Women shouted and children cried!
The lights went out, and with them seemed to go whatever amount of common sense the audience might have been expected to have held in reserve.
“Keep your seats! Keep your seats!” shouted the manager. “There is nothing at all the matter!”
The frightened and panic-stricken assemblage would not listen to the assurance, but, instead, fought their way toward the doors, until the real danger, that of being crushed to death, was evident to those who had not taken fright with the others.
“Don’t move!” Jack commanded his party, in the most emphatic tone. “Keep your seats, and don’t stir!”
But Belle was almost fainting with fear, and she begged to be allowed to get out.
“What for?” asked Ed. “There is absolutely nothing the matter. The lights have gone out and the motion picture machine went up, but what harm is that? Stay where you are, Belle,” and he grasped her firmly by the arm. “I wouldn’t risk my—new shoes in that mob.”
This quieted the girl, and she sank back against Cora, who was almost laughing at the situation.
Presently, the manager, realizing that he could not stop the crowd with his voice, called for music and ordered the other part of the performance to go on.
“Work slow!” he commanded, and then the old rusty piano “took up” something—just what it was would be hard to say.