“There is no danger,” he shouted—“just a broken pane of glass of two.”
Then he had resumed his seat and dashed off into a lively tune. People could see now that they were in no immediate peril and could easily get out. The dripping rain, however, dampered their amusement ardor. There was a movement for the exit and the last film was left unfinished.
Frank had got to Randy as soon as he could. He did not wish the report to get out that the Wonderland was in any way unsafe, or have anyone leave the place feeling that he had not got his full money’s worth. He summoned Pep to his assistance after giving Randy a quick direction. The latter immediately proceeded to stamp the date and the seal of the Wonderland across some blank cards. Then he came out into the entrance archway with the others.
“Here you are!” shouted the lively Pep. “Everybody entitled to a free ticket. Good any night this week on account of to-night’s storm. Let no guilty man escape!”
“Ha! ha! very good.”
“This is liberal.”
The crowd was put in rare good humor by Frank’s happy thought. The doors were left open and those who did not wish to go out into the pelting storm, were told they were welcome to linger in the entrance and among the rear seats until the rain let up. Meantime, however, Jolly and Vincent were not idle. While their young friends were coaxing the audience into good humor, the former had found a ladder, of which there were several about the place. Vincent mounted it and got at the skylight.
It was pretty well broken and the wind threatened still further damage. Jolly remembered a large canvas tarpaulin in the cellar that had been used by the painters. By the time the front of the place was cleared of the people he and Vincent had the skylight well battened down and protected.
“We’re going to have a bad night,” he reported as he came down the ladder dripping. “A view of the beach from that roof to-night would make a great moving picture.”
“I hope the storm won’t move us, Mr. Jolly,” said Frank a trifle uneasily, as a fierce blast shook the building.