Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-05-22
Of the lot. All the rest were phan,

OF the lou. All the rest were pndH-
tasmagoric.
But as he proceeded downtown the
spell was beginning to break. People
were communicating with one another
by means of pencil and paper. OAR
row was amused. on crossing the park,
to see against the lighted windows on
-wpaper Row the silhouetted forms
of activity. Evidently, the newspaper
men were already at work on this
fresh story.
Near the corner of the park Darrow
saw standing policeman Of his varied
acquaintance. This scientist walked
up to this man, who was standing in
the typical vacant uncertainty, smiled
agreeably, clapped him on the back,
and shook his hand. The patrolman
grasped Darrow's hand, but the look Of
cropping uncertainty deepened on his
face.
barrow slipped his notebook from
his pocket, and scrubbed few lines,
whic, he showed to the officer. The lat
ter read, inwardly digested for mo-
ment, and smiled.
screed. "This will pass in few min
utes, and it won't hurt you, anyway.
Don't look like all these other dubs."
He stood there companionably by
the patrolman. They looked about
them. All at once, with his touch Of
normal. unafraid. human companion
ship, the weird horror Of the situation
fell away barrow and his companion
were seeing humanity disjointed from
its accustomed habit, as one looks on
a stage full of men hypnotized into be-
lief of an absurdity.
Where the plotting out Of electric
tty had been tragic, this, as soon AZ
Its utter harmlessness was realized,
became comic. All about through the
park men were meeting the situation
according to the limited ideas devel-
oped by crustacean life Of absolute
dependence on the shell Of artificial
environment. A considerable number
of all sorts had fallen on their knees
and we're praying. One fat man in
evening dress, with a silk hat and a
large diamond stud showing between
the lapels of a fur-lined coat, was
particularly fervent. BY force of habit
barrow remarked on this individual.
"1'll bet he hasn't been to church
SllSC llC ~do q nlu, AO oOoSA va
of course inaudibly. e..
The policeman caught the direction
of his look, however, and grinned
with understanding
Some stood frozen to one spot,
their faces agonized as man would
stand still were the earth likely to
yawn anywhere. barrow would like
to reassure these, for their eyes ex-
pressed frantic terror. One red-faced
individual with white side-whiskers.
looking exactly like the comic-paper
caricatures of the trusts, had evident
ly refused to accept any arbitrary
dictates of natural forces. Probably
he had never accepted any dictates
of any kind. He was going from ono
taxicab to another, trying to COM
mand q driver to take him some.
where, talking vehemently and au'
thoritatively, his face getting more
and more purple with anger. The tax
icab drivers merely stared at him
stupidity.
"That old boys kept his nerve
barrow remarked, OF course maud.
bly,, to his companion. but he'll die
OF apoplexy II he doesn't watch out !
Again the policeman caught the d.
rection Of Darrow's glance and grin.
ned In understanding. He reached his
huge gloved hand for the young mans
pencil and paper. on which he wrote
the name Of a man high in railroad
circles, and grinned again with evi.
dent relish.
At this moment an entirely SELL
possessed young man swung across
the street. He surveyed the two men
sharply q moment, then approached,
produced a sheaf Of yellow paper as
he did 80.
professor Darrow?" he wrote.
barrow nodded.
The youn man pointed to himself
then to the Despatch building.
"Cause?" he wrote, and waved his
hand.
barrow shook his head.
"Dangerous?"
barrow shook his head again.
The reporter was about to add an
other question when Darrow reached
for the paper. It was thrust eagerly
into his hand. barrow consulted his
watch. .a.
"If," he wrote, "you will wait here
four minutes, I'll give you an inter-
view"
The reporter read this, and nod
ded.
you're on" he added to the writ
ten dialogue. Then he produced a
cigarette, lighted 1t, and Joined the
other two men in their amused sur
vey Of the public's performance.
During the four minutes that en-
sued barrow examined the reporter
speculatively. Finally his eye lighted
up with recollection.
.. CHAPTER K.
The spell lifted The city broke
into roar. People sprang into rapid
and violent motion, as though re-
leased from a physical lethargy.
"All over?" asked the reporter. He
asked it in loud shout.
"All over" replied Darrow. "You
don't need to yell. I'm not deaf"
The reporter grinned
II guess that's what everybody
else in town is doing he surmised
Certainly this remark was justified
by the sample in the square. Every
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