Page:Ned Wilding's Disappearance.djvu/81

Rh In another moment Frank had reached the switch and the place was brilliant with the gleam from scores of incandescent lamps. The rush had been stopped, for, as the crowd looked about, they saw there was no immediate danger.

In one corner of the auditorium there was a gaping hole in the roof, where the top part of the tower had crashed through. The floor in that section was covered with bricks and mortar, and several seats were crushed, but the audience had crowded up front and no one was hurt.

A moment later some of those in charge of the entertainment hurried to the platform and made an announcement.

A hasty investigation showed, it was said, that the tower had fallen mostly outward instead of toward the school, which accounted for only a small part of it hitting the roof. Had the entire pile of masonry toppled over on the auditorium there might have been a great loss of life. As it was the main school was in no danger, but, for fear the structure might have been weakened it was decided best to dismiss the audience at once.

"That wind must be pretty strong," observed Bart as he and his chums, with Alice, Jennie, and some of the other girls, got outside.

"Oh! It certainly is!" cried Jennie as she