The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-12-23
A HEROIC KNITTER.
No Yarns Of Danger Could Deter This
Placid Old Lady.

Placid Old Lady.
Coming up from Washington to New
York one day, n woman was seen To
make herself comfortable in one of tho
big chairs In the parlor car, and when
the train was we'll under way she pro.
ceeded to take out some pretty silk
knitting work, which would seem an
ideal occupation for a journey OF
few hours, rs 1t involves no eye strain
and gives one n joyous sense of time
we'll spent. But she had accomplished
only few rows when the porter
walked through the car. lie looked al
the woman knitting, paused, hesitatCd
moment as If he wanted to say sOmC-
thing, then changed his mind and went
on.
But in few minutes he returned
with the conductor, who walked direct
ly TO the chair Of the busy one and
without the least hesitation said:
beg pardon. madam, but that, yon
know, Is against the rules"
"I don't understand. What is it
that's against the rules"
knitting" replied the conductor
briefly.
She laughed. then looked apprchcn-
slve and uncertain as to the next moyc
OF this seemingly harmless lmatic who
presumed to tell her that knitting was
against the rules. But she decided to
humor him.
"But why knitting?" she asked AZ
am allowed to read. | believe. and TO
play solitaire. Why this restriction OH
knitting?'
The conductor spoke again.
Perhaps ! should not have said it
was against the rules" he said. :" hat
was putting it too strongly. But we
never allow a passenger TO knit with
out Il warning. Have you ever thought
how dangerous those steel knitting ncc-
dies would he in case of an Nccidcnt?'
The woman mcditatcd. This man
TGa possibly not MS mad as he seemed.
"Isnt it rather fnrfetchcl" she
asked. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ones don't
happen very often. and If one should 4
little matter Of knitting needle or so
wouldn't make much difference,
should think"
The entire car was listening now,
Pnd the conductor told OF a wrecked
rrnn from which tho body of woman
nUu tpcll tilNtll nero WIS no tl ''t.-
ent cause for her death. She hal lccn
taken out of mass of wrcckagr
which had formed sort of roof over
her, leaving her little or no space in
which to move. but quite safe from
everything lQlt the possibility Of fire,
which had. however been avertcd.
The surgeons had been Mt a loss to nc.
count for her death till one OF thcm
discovered that she had been stabbed
through the heart by sharp steel knit.
ting needle out OF the work which was
still In her hands.
"rhcrC was another case too" con-
tnucd the conductor "In one of my
trains several years ago there was Il
passenger who insisted on knitting
after had warned her, ana went
away. An hour or so artcrward the
car gave sudden lurch. That woman
happened TO be STOPPING over her work
to pick up stitch or something. SHE
said later, and in some way or other
one Of her knitting needles pierced h2r
eye. She never recovered the sight OF
it,"
The passengers all wondered what
the woman with the knitting needle
would do. They thought sho would
stop. But she didn't. She only sighed
well, I've got to finish this FOR
Johns blrthday-Monday- | guess
I'll take the risk" and placidy took up
her knitting.
And the conductor walked away.
looking volumes that might have bccn
condensed into one sentence, "Wouldu't
that lar yOuE' ana liS1Dpclrr1