Like lightning, his quick brain sensed the situation. The house was old and would burn like tinder. There were only the two exits--one on each side of the hall. And the place was crowded--and his mother was there--and Clara! His plan was formed in an instant. He must reach a narrow corridor, by which, out of sight of the audience, he could gain the back of the stage and stamp out whatever it was that was making that smoke. He rose to slip out, but at that moment a big bulk of a man sitting two seats ahead of him jumped to his feet with a yell. "Fire! Fire!" he shouted wildly. "The house is on fire!" CHAPTER II QUICK AS LIGHTNING For one awful instant the crowd sat as though paralyzed. But in that instant Joe acted. With one powerful leap he reached the frenzied shouter, his fist shot out, and the man went down as though hit with an axe. Up the aisle Joe went like a flash, cleared the orchestra rail at a bound, and with one more jump was on the stage. The audience had risen now and was crowding toward the aisles. Women screamed, some fainted, and all the conditions were ripe for a panic. Above the hubbub, Joe's voice rang out like a trumpet. "Keep your seats!" he shouted. "There's no danger. I tell you to keep your seats." The crowd halted uncertainly, fearfully, and Joe took instant advantage of the hesitation. "You know me," he cried. "I tell you there's no danger. Haven't you ever smelled cigar smoke before?" The suggestion was a happy one, and the crowd began to quiet down, regaining their courage at the sight of that indomitable figure on the stage. Jim had been only two jumps behind Joe in his rush to the front, and while Joe was calming the crowd Jim had rushed into the wing and dragged down some draperies that had caught fire from a gas jet. In a moment he had trampled them underfoot and the danger was over. The orchestra had seemed to keep its wits better than the rest of the throng, and Joe signaled to the leader to strike up a tune. The next instant the musicians swung into a popular air, and completely reassured, the people settled down into their seats. And while Joe stands there, exulting in his triumph over the panic, it may be well for the sake of those who have not read the preceding books of this series to sketch something of his life and adventures up to this time. Joe's first experience in the great game in which he was to become so famous was gained on the diamond of his own home town. He did so well there that he soon became known in the towns around as one of the best players in the county. He had many mishaps and difficulties, and how he overcame them is told in the first volume of the series, entitled, "Baseball Joe of the Silver Stars; Or The Rivals of Riverside."