The performance had begun. It was funny to hear a boy sing a comical song that was intended to be pathetic, and to see the illustrative pictures flashed on the big muslin. The song was all about a little girl who wanted a mamma, and who said so to a lady who knew the child's widowed father, and who finally took pity on the child and married the parent, thus affording a ready-made mamma for the little girl on the canvas. And then they were all so happy! The intensely amateurish effect put the number beyond criticism, and the Chelton young folks applauded it vigorously. The small boy who sang was very much surprised at the applause--and so were many others in the playhouse. But the motor boys and girls kept it up, until the little fellow was compelled to come out front and bow. Then they let him go. A wonderful story of rustic love and its "terrible" consequences was told in the regulation motion pictures, the motion of which seemed to have a very bad spell of ague. Bess was compelled to clap her hand over her eyes occasionally, but the others stood the strain wonderfully, although Cora declared she hadn't a wink left for the rest of her natural life. Another picture story was attempted when, suddenly, there was a loud hissing sound that was followed by a roar! Instantly the place was in confusion! 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. To the alleged tune a song was started. It was perfectly dark in the place, no substitute lights having been provided, and when the voice of a young girl trembled above the din and racket of the people fighting for the open air, it seemed almost ridiculous.