The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-24
TIE EVENING STORY
When the Flood Came.


Jennings sprang forward as the pas
sengers entered at the Fulton street
station. In the drst moment OF glad
ness at seeing Nell Preston again, he
did not even recall that his letters had
been returned without explanation
three months before, and that since
then his communications had been re-
turned unread.
Nell passed him without a glance Of
recognition and as he followed her
down the car q hand shot out and
caught his collar. See here, you dude,
abjured a husky Irish voice You
can't do any MASKING in this car. You
keep away from that lady"
Jennings cast q look Of appeal at the
girl, but she gazed at him with a polite
but inpersonal interest Clearly she
the charge, and he sank back into a
corner OF the car and sought to shield
himself with a newspaper from the tit
tiers of the crowd.
The car filled at the Bridge stop, and
this helped little, but he felt as
though those already in the car were
telling the new arrivals OF his conduct,
and he read on steadily.
In his confusion he did not notice
that the train was slowing down until,
with jolt, it came to q dead stop.
Then he glanced out Of the window,
but to his surprise, there was only the
blank wall, so he settled himself more
comfortably in his seat and resumed
MS pretense of reading.
He did not see the printed page; he
nad not read line since he opened
the paper His mind was busy with
schemes for inducing Nell to listen to
him. If she went back to San Fran
cisco he could not hope to reopen cor
respondenee and he could not endeavor
to speak to her again with that husky
Knight Errant keeping guard across
the aisle,
If he only knew how he had angered
her he might be able to explain, but
rrrH1 a. 1t
now He did not know where she was
staying, or how long she would be in
town. His only hope lay in following
her and endeavoring to outWit the self
constituted champion
His mind was still busy with the prob
lem, when ne became aware Of trouble
IN the car The press around the door
was heavy, and now he caught the voice
of the guard raised in protest.
Il tell you" he protested, I'VE can't
run on to the station or back down to
Worth street. We amt got the power"
The lights are lit. There must be
power" argued the spokesman.
That comes from overhead. The con-
tact rail is cut off. II 1t wasn't, the
whole tunnel would be filed with cleo
trieity. The waters more than two feet
Deep
Jennings looked up In establishment. He
had been so oblivious to the affairs in
the car that he had not realized that
the stop in theNhot tunnel had been I'M
duly long Now he was conscious of the
faint roar of falling water and he
sprang to his feet. Instinctively he
about the door would not permit him
to make any Roadway toward her. He
could catch an occasional glimpse of
the fair head and could see that she
was sitting in her place, white faced
but calm
The argument with the guard was
increasing in heat, and at last one of
the leaders jerked at the lever until
the door opened, and then he swung
himself off. There was splash that
announced his landing and the next
moment a shout announced that the
water was not deep
The men crowded to the narrow en-
trance until there were left in the car
only half a dozen women and two
or three men. The husky man across
the aisle was the last to go, and as he
turned to the door, he stepped back
into the car.
IF you're waiting to speak to the
lady you'd better drop off" he de-
clared "I told the guard to keep an
eye on you. He's a wise boy all right:
Now you behave. Gussie, or someone Il
spank you"
The burly form swung down of the
car. Deprived Of the protection of
most of the men, the women left in
the car grew nervous and most Of them
crowded about the guard asking ques-
tons.
with growing irritability, he explain
ed that something had broken and had
flooded the Subway but he did not
know what It was or how long it would
last.
Nell sitting unnoticed in the center
of the ear. grew more and more neFy-
Gus. Most of the women who had con-
gregated about the guard settled them
selves near the door It appeared TO
give them a feeling of greater security
to be close to the exit. Occasionally
one would slip out to the doorway and,
returning, report the increase of the
with each returning report Nell
grew more restless, and at last she
came forward uncertainty and sat be-
side the others. They ignored her
completely in their excitement. and so
she turned to the guard.
His patience already sorely tried,
gave way and with a curt remark that
! If she had been listening, she was al
ready in possession OF all the 1nforma-
ton he possessed, he turned into the
other car.
Tremblingly she turned back, and as
she passed him Jennings sprang up.
"Don't be alarmed" he said. II don't
sn1pDose that there is anything much
the, matter. They have been opening
the sides OF the Subway along here
+ for ventilatOrs and suppose that the
rain has softened the dirt and caused
a water main to snap. If there was
any real danger they would probably
come after US. I suppose It merely
means q vexatious delay
Mother will be so worried" she
said plaintively. 81 went down town
to see about some business for her.
We were to have started home to-
night
Il am afraid you will have to wait
over until tomorrow" he said quietly.
! ssThey will have to bring down pumps
from the yards at the other end Of the
t line It will take some time to clear
the tunnel. If you want me to. think
I can fix it
Jennings stepped into the next car.
(which is the nearest station 20 he
asked worth or CanaI2"
worth, I guess was the noncom-