The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-09-03
1 WHO WAS ALONE

Downtown was his objective point, but he could not bring himself to any distances by leaving the shelter of the buildings. Now he was obsessed by the fear that he was being watched He could not decide from what point of espial unseen eyes were following him; from any of the innumerable windows it might be- So strongly did the unwhole- deep doorway to be out of the range of all those sinister orbs while he finished his bread and cheese The beer-bottle he about to throw away but fearful of the tinkng of the broken glass; and left it carefully in the doorway
 Once, just beyond the hotel, when he thought he heard the sound of stealthy footsteps he paused midway in the street and peered anxiously about him. Only hatconvinced that it was but the echo his own steps he resumed his flight. moving more softly. In passing the entrance of the Flatiron Building his eyes dstended at behoIding several @spider1webs Blocking the doorway. It was ncred- ible, terrifying, and his soul shivered
 Where were the crowds? The dull. the intent, the l'stless the hopeless ard the ambitious faced peo- pie; where they? Sympathy? What rocked that now. Companionship! Companonship of his fellow-men, of dog, of anything, was what he hungered for. Simply the companionship of a pass ing presence
 The glare of the countless windows had by this Metropolitan building decided him on a new course He would take to the Subway. With this thought came hope and he thrilled with high expectation The people, of course, fearing some calamity, had tion Else how could entire city empty itself in single night completely as to leave not single individual behind? But the horses? Where were the horses? Bus and dray, private equipage and eross-own horse car stood abandoned all along his way But the horses, like the drivers had vanished Then he remembered the spder-webs and wondered if they could have been spun in single night lie was still debating these two points when he reached a Subway entrance near Union Square As he clattered down the steps, he mechanically pro- duced coin and showed it in the small window But
 
 ticket-chopper waited expectant-the Subway was as deserted and quiet as the upstairs world A downtown express stood empty beside local, and wall of blackness forbade his passing beyond the rim of nlurky light Altering down the stairway
 He crept back his distorted face rehectng the torture of his soul Outside he crouched against a building and gnawed his fingers. Should he go square, surrounded by leering, staring windows also the stealthy footsteps behind him, decided him to risk the unknown and try for Brooklyn.
 He dimly conscious of being uncomfortable from the heat, and without bothesing to remove his pocket book he threw away his coat The sun on his bare head made him feel faint at times and this terrified him anew He must keep up till he reached the bridge. For now, he reasoned the people had crossed into Brooklyn But what about the webs on the Flatiron?
 Then he paused inspiration came to him. Why had he forgotten the newspaper offices? Had he turned north to Herald Square and the Times Building he would have ascertained by this time what had eliminated the life of the great city
 Newspaper Row. he muInbled; and then afraid of open speech he sought to condone the eternal silence by repeating the words in whisper