The Press., 1906-02-21

at once unburdening herSelf or ner
troubles than with an attempt at pune
tuality. AS she turned up Sixth ave-
nue. she was surprised to notice a
dense crowd gathered at the terminus
of the elevated structure. But, follow
ing their uplifted gaze, her pulses halt
ed tensely at the sight that met her
eyes. Slanted toboggan fashion from
the terminus of the Fifty eighth street
track the wreck of what had been the
rear car of the shuttle train topped
perilously in midair prevented from
plunging into the thoroughfare below
by the weight of the other cars that
still held it to the track.
The wreck of the large frame bump
er at the end of the line lay strewn
along the trolley tracks below, and I'M
der the suspended peril 500 yelling, ex-
cited people surged and clamored. For
one moment Miss Rowan did not grasp
the significance of the scene.
But the next, the hour, the possible
significance of the event to her smote
her with sudden alarm. What if John
Cleverley had been on board that
train? No thought of any other victim
Of the wreck marred the pure selfish
ness of the sudden fierce awakening of
love in her heart. With blanched face
and wide, excited eyes she rushed into
the crowd.
"What is the matter? When did it
happen?" she gasped at the first curl
GUS onlooker that barred her progress.
"Train jumped the track. Shot past
the station. Broke over the bumper.
Fifty people injured. Roosevelt hos
pital," he explained, with terse impor
lance.
''What timer"
"Oh. around five minutes to 3
O'clock"
And thus was the last doubt in the
young woman's excited mind dispelled.
The image of Cleverley injured.
bleeding-dead, perhaps-rose sudden
" and was as suddenly blurred by the
quick binding rush of tears. Scarcely
knowing what she did, she jumped into
hanson and gave brief direction to
Roosevelt hospital.
Then, leaning back against the cush-
ions, wholly oblivious of the frankly
SLdEluR
the newly awakened emotions of her
nature found their outlet in passionate
| sobbing What happened in the next
hour, thronged with visits to hospitals
| and police stations, with frantic tele-
phone calls to Cleverley's hotel and to
his address in a downtown office, Miss
Rowan does not remember to this day.
| for at the end Of the search, when she
| thought that only the morgue lay I'M
explored and she plunged despairing
up the five long flights that led to her
studio, it was all blotted out by one
luminous incident-the opening Of the
studio door by Cleverley himself.
Even Cleverley admits that what she
said then doesn't matter. 1t is doubt
| full if she knows, but he had never eX-
planned anything to Madge Rowan,
| with her two arms about his neck and
her cheek warm and wet against his
own, before, and his remembrance is
naturally blurred.
"Why, of course was on that train,"
he explained. but I got off at Fifty
| eighth street station with all the other
| passengers. 1t was only in switching
| for the downtown trip that the rear car
backed against the bumper and the rot
ten wood gave way and toppled the car
over. Some of the train hands were
hurt, but-why, you dear little girl, you
poor little girl-don't!" For Madge was
sobbing passionate relief upon his
shoulder,
Then quietly. when he had Gained
her, she told him the story of the after
noon, beginning with the lost necklace
and ending with her wild ride in search
of him, and at the end she said shyly,
humbly:
"You didn't know was such little
fool, did your
And Cleverley, bending over her, kiss
ed the warm tears from her dropping
lashes.
81 always hoped you were" he muir
INJURED.