The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-09-06

sT first he did not know what had awak-
hluh ened him Then as the ragged flament
Vs/XR of dream of home was fully washed
from his mind he stared at the open win
dow in amazement He had been aroused by the
silence. His watch had stopped, but the sun, to his
further surprise. had passed the meridian; yet no
runbling rush of the Second Avenue Elevated
reached him His hrse tangible thought was tina.
the lul was an abnormal incident in the city's Mf.
But it lasted! 1t endured. Even when he leaned
from his window he could hear nothing. And he
within block of Broadway!
Hurriedfy dressing and disturbed by an emotion
he could not anayze he descended the street and
walked to Broadway. He could see no moving life,
not even after turning into the main thoroughfa-e.
No stores were open, vehicles
ing. Nothing but mighty silence, the like of which
he had conceived Of before. It was the abso-
lutte quiet of eternal space, unruffled by breeze
bird. The very sunlight felt dead Bewldered, yet
not fully able to appreciate this prototype of death,
he turned his course toward Madison Square He
empty cab. His rural training at once led him to
observe that the traces had been cut. But why?
And where the driver and the horse?
fastening on he found the square silent the
street. A source of wonder found in the
patches of tall grass and several mildewed newspa
pers. bearing the date of yesterday. He gazed
pidy at the grass and then stumbled to the small
building in tse center of the square and slumped
down the steps. He would wait until
passed that way. Two hours went by and he
as much alone as ever. No sound, no moving OBJ
ject; nothing but stiff buildings that reminded him
of sentinels in cemetery
At last he remembered he had eaten nothing that
day, and as one in trance he made his way to the
hostelry 1t silent and through the open
doors looked empty. He entered the cafe and curl
ously contemplated some silver coins the bar
beside an overturned glass. Now timidly,
he slowly became aware he wandering alone in
The midst of some awful metamorphosis he tip-toed
through after the ground floor. On
every side and at his feet was disorder, if the
hand-baggage were scattered thickly about, while
tables were cluttered with remnants of interrupted
feasting He rubbed his head with both hands and
threw away his hat. Then, wildeyed, stretched his
arms to the silent walls and cried, "God!'
Che sound of his voice had peculiarly terri
flying effect. 1t only echoed and re-echoed
throughout the building. but it seemed to 6nd the
open, and sweep in strained whisper through every
street and alley. He must not speak aloud again. he
told himself, and he pressed his hand against his
s;ue to still the dull thud. thud of his pumping
heart
Blu, what did he fear? What was the danger his
inner self told him to dread and avoid? 1t could
appropriate loaded revolver his feet. Yet there
something; something that had caused luxury
and poverty youth and sgc and the riotous and
drunken to Ace the place. Then faint hope stirred
him; perhaps it only local. and downtown there
companionship. There smoke noise
20 support this suggestion. however.
But the shadows of the deserted hote! oppressed
h.m and rushing softfooted to the buffet he picked
up loaf of bread and some cheese and bottle OF
beer and hurried to the street. In dull way he
surprised find the bread dry and the beer so
warm and fiat; yet he ate little .. he moved south.
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