Polly in New York

to be a Chorus of six girls, and a Ballet, besides the principals who also acted the drama to follow. Consequently the

the scholars filed in and took their seats. As the hall was generally used for other purposes, the floor was not graded, and t

l formed the orchestra, and their opening numbe

THE DOOR CARRYING ELI

stood in the entrance door: "Maybe the friends

sted in watching their own girls in the troupe. The Chorus did very well, and the Ballet danced as gracefully as w

She managed to keep in the lime-light even when she was not speaking, or acting a par

I wonder the other girls stood for it

sure. Marion King told me all about it

ll Estelle that her mother was going to a fashionable ball, and, of cours

orry for the girl, "she must have

folks lived there. No one knows who her mother was, so she hasn't a

so poorly acted, even for amateurs. Mrs. Wellington felt deeply hurt when she found

the ankles and very low about the neck. It was too daring, even for a young girl acting a part. The gown ha

h, and wished, more than once, that she had taken more time to rev

, with a kitchen at the back. The second was a billiard parlor for the use of private clubs. The third floor was

laced at the doors, closed them to shut out the talking and laughing in the bi

of confusion coming from downstairs. But they merely exchanged gl

and Polly jumped up quickly to investigate. The moment she opened a door, however, a thick cl

c might have followed, had not Anne imme

the only danger. We can all get out safe

an to do the same with Anne and Polly. But there was such a dense mob at the only exit doors, that i

creamed, the girls ran back and forth, and the men were venting their fears in cal

the school entertainment was being given, but these were now jammed with women who sought that way to gain a breath of air, but were too timid to jump out to the street; and there were no fire-escapes to be found. The hallways and se

he hurried to the door back of the stage. It had escaped the frightened eyes of others. Having learned that this door opened upon an entry that ran to a rear window, he n

e-everyone!" he sho

o assist the ladies out to the iron-slatted platform, and then to st

Anne followed after her mother in climbing through the window, and Mr. Maynard followed her. The two girls were about to

olly turned and ran back. Eleanor followe

se-use your chiffon scarf," commanded Polly,

me to the dressing-room back of the stage. This was comparatively clear from smoke, and there the girls saw

ying to carry the girl up the steep ladder-way flashed across her mind onl

had a rope!"

might find a back-stairway. Most city houses have

his door to keep out smoke

tied over the girls' mouths and noses. Then both girls bega

and but few remembered to seek for a back exit. And these had speedily found a way do

ell her to come this way, with us. I'll lift Elizabeth over my

leanor was running for the rear window to advise Anne. But she

where's

ight-c

-they are safe on t

eached the entry, Polly staggered out of the stage-doo

rry her!" cried Anne, in a smot

as a reward for trying to speak, but she reached the stairs first and rushed on down to see if ther

. Once down on the ground floor they found the rear of the place quite free from smoke, but it might only be becau

get out of this

go's, I'll show you. There must be a

anor tried different doors but found that they opened into passages leading to closets or

it is, but I don't

to trust to good fortune to come out somewhere, in safety. Down several stone steps, and

?" she yelled desperately, beatin

re hysterical!" cried Anne, swiftly p

this weight a minute longer

In a second she had shot it backwards, and the heavy d

vy burden upon a grass strip which edged the curb. Eleanor sobbed

p, in front. Have a care for Elizabe

e, and in another moment she was gone after her friend, le

there was a deafening mixture of cries and shouts from every direction. Some were crying for lost friends, some wailed for help because of injuries inflicted by the stampede; firemen signaled their associates; t

dows, but the scaling ladders had not yet arrived, and the firemen were striving

the roofs and work downwards from that vantage spot. But th

e the flames, Polly hastily dropped the clinging skirt of her evening dress. Having already removed the silk sash while in the Hall, she now dipp

ough the staring men. Before anyone dreamed of her plan, or the firemen could restrain her she had re

b up almost perpendicular cliffs, or along dizzy peaks, this ascent seemed like play to the mountain girl. But the onlookers were thrilled to silence as they watched her climb to the roof, and then

d to the street. The Chief saw the purpose, at once, and signaling back to the girl who was leaning over the edge of the ro

ween the bricks, or on the steel bands that held the metal pipe to its moorings, she also ran across the street, and attempted t

best friend!" cried Eleanor, whe

o the Chief and called hurriedly: "Send some men with me-I'll show them the cel

pment and follow this girl to a

or the area door. She flew past Anne who was holding Elizabeth's head upon her lap, but forgot

mit anyone to enter a bur

roof! The only reason I showed you

rize medals, Miss, if I broke rules. Yo

front of the house. There she saw that the firemen had climbed the ladder and were stationed on the r

d to another thrill. The strand of rope Polly had taken with her, was now used by her for d

in the crowd. The Chief called imperative orders to his men waiting with him, and the moment he had

's courage, the firemen now kept steady streams of water playing through the open windows upon the fire

from that side, and soon the whole second and third floors became a

the "smoker" to friends, had been careless of butt

ire, took Polly in charge, and kept away the mob of cur

ept indoors when others on the outside might need ass

g like this?" she cried, blushing furiously an

ightest thought to your bloomers. But now you shall have one