Between exclamations he bent over toward the orchestra leader.
ORCHESTRA PLAYS IN FACE OF DEATH.
"Start an overture!" he commanded. "Start anything. For God's sake play, play, play, and keep on playing."
The brave words were as bravely answered. Gillea raised his wand, and the musicians began to play. Better than any one in the theater they knew their peril. They could look slantingly up and see that the 300 sets of the "Bluebeard" scenery all were ablaze. Their faces were white, their hands trembled, but they played, and played.
Foy still stood there, alternately urging the frightened people to avoid a panic and spurring the orchestra on. One by one the musicians dropped fiddle, horn, and other instruments and stole away.
"CLOWN" PROVES A HERO.
Finally the leader and Foy were left alone. Foy gave one glance upward and saw the scenery all aflame. Dropping brands fell around him, and then he fled—just in time to save his own life. The "clown" had proved himself a hero.
The curtain started to come down. It stopped, it swayed as from a heavy wind, and then it "buckled" near the center.
ALL HOPE LOST FOR GALLERY.