The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-04-30

my surprise that Chandos was quite scrf-
Gus. He was rather a character. this man,
and a word about him may not be amss.
particularly as he happens to be the hero
of this tale. He was an international
water-poloist and a fair ail-round ath-
lete. All his accomplishments were pnysi-
CAL but his interests were mainly literary
and speculative. He read little, but loved
to hear books and notions discussed;
sporting talk bored him invariably. He
should by rights have been alert and hard
headed; instead, he was absent-minded
and dreamy to a degree. This, combined
with the fact that he possessed a marvel
Gus memory Che had, for example. the To-
cal time table by heart). made some think
that In him a successful literary man had
been spoiled. l walked home that night
with Chandos, and got nearer TO knowing
him than I had done before. On one sub
ject that of his own physical courage, l
found him morbidly seif-introspective. He
was more afraid of fear than any man l
had ever met His selfsrespect, which
was considerable, seemed entirely tenta-
tive. 1t rested on the assumption that he
was brave, a point which he admitted had
never been brought TO the test. He asked
for my opinion. i answered truthfully
that believed him 10 possess quite cred
liable share of pluck
$50 / think" he replied simply, 'or l
don't know that ] should care to walk
about. When ! read of men proving them
selves worthless in times of stress. of their
leaving women and even small children to
fend for themselves, / cannot help, how
ever. putting myself in their shoes ! pic
ture their feelings the day afterward.
Think what 1t must be TO discover not only
that you are coward, but that you have
been one all your life. What arrears of
self-contempt would have to be made up!
There was nothing like that, you know, in
the old times. II a man was coward he
knew it, had learned the truth by degrees,
and had become used to it. Nowadays the
information comes in one hideous flash.
and finds you with the mental habits OF a
brave man. Your attitude toward yourself
then is that OF a hero regarding a pol
troon."
las but very inconsiderable minority
are ever put to these fearful tests said
I. why trouble about the NATTER"
VERY few" said Chandos. lose their
lives by falling from great heights, yet
thousands are hssnted by the dread of 1t
all their days.
What was said tonight" he continued.
gives me hope that the modern man is
not such a funk as he seems, only more
stupid. He gets furried and cannot think
of simple things. l swear il ever I get
into mass. | will rack my brain until |
| can think of something utterly common
| place"
"A Knight of the Obvious" / replied
little thinking how soon my companion
would be given a chance OF winning his
spurs.
II came about in this wise. Chandos
| travels to town every day by the West
London Railway, whose line, as everyone
knows. runs through the Bell Tunnel
which Is nearly two miles long. 1t is per-
| haps the darkest tunnel in England, the
| line making curve so sharp that daylight
| is lost sight of Immediately. There are but
two lines of metals, and the place. despite
| its darkness, should be as safe as any two
| miles in the railway system. Nevertheless