The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-01

sound. And in that unusual hush often
for the first time man becomes acute
ly aware of the singing of the blood
in his ears.
But this silence was absolute. All
these minor sounds had been elm
mated.
For a moment Boss Mccarthy
stared; then showed back his chair
with violent motion, and rose. He
was like shadow on screen The
7 hlching from the world of one cle-
ment ofSits everyday life had unex-
pectedly rendered it all phan,asma-
goric.
AcMcCarthy shouted, and no sound
came: as he moved from behind his
desk, and no jar accompanied his heavy
football. he appeared to lose blood
and substance, to become unreal. As
no sound issued from his contorted
face, so it seemed that no force would
follow his blow, were he to deliver
one.
He stumbled forward, dazed> and
groping as though he were in the
dark. instead of merely in silence; a
striking example in the uncertainty OF
his movements of how closely our
senses depend on one another.
Jack spoke twice, then closed his lips
in a grim straight line. He had his
elbows close to his sides. and looked
ready for anything.
A look of mild triumph illumined
Percy Darrow's usually languid coun-
tenancc. He stepped quickly to the
II L. L,,sS IS tH&
candescent globe. The light instantly
glowed. At this he nodded twice
more From his pocket he drew .
note book and pencil, wrote in It a
few words, and handed it to the
dared and uncertain boss
Il was right" barrow had scrawled.
This proves it. It's by no means the
end. Better be good"
McCarthy's bulldog courage had re-
covered from its first daze He began
10 see that this visitation was not en-
tirely personal, but extended also to
his two companions. This relieved his
mind, for he had suspected some
strange new apoplexy.
did you expect this?" he wrote.
barrow nodded.
Together the three ghosts left the
phantom Office, and glided down the
phantom halls. Other ghosts in va
rious stages of alarm were already
making their way down the stairs.
Some of them spoke, but no sound
came. One woman, her eyes fright
ened, reached but furtiyely TO touch
her neighbor. apparently to assure her
self of his reality. Urged by an un-
Iah IL tGt hae
hand through the ground glass of an
office door. The glass shiyered, and
crashed to the tile floor. The pieces
broke-silently. II was as though the
man had been the figure in cinema,o-
graph illusion. He started at his cut
and bleeding hand. The woman who
had touched the man suddenly threw
back her head and screamed. They
could see her eyes roll back, her face
change color, could discern the strain
ing of her throat. No sound came
At this a panic seized them They
rushed down the stairs, clambering
over one another, pushing. scrambling,
falling A mob of hundred men
fought for precedence. Blows were
struck No faintest murmur of tumult
came from their futile heat It might
have been the riot of a wax-works in
vacuum.
They fell into the lower hallway,
and fought their way to the street. and
stood there dazed and staring,
strange. wild-eyed, white-faced, bloody
crew. The hurrying avenue stopped
to gaze on them curiously, gathering
compact in a mob that blocked all
traffic. Policemen pushed their way
in and began roughly to question-and
to question in real audible words.
But for the space of a full minute
these people stood there staring up
ward. drinking in the blessed sound
that poured in on them lavishly from
the life of the street; drinking deep
gulps of air. as though air had lacked.
barrow, and with him Jack War
ford, had descended more leisurely.
Before leaving the building barrow
placed the fat of his hands over his
ears. and motioned Jack to do the
same. Thus they missed the stunning
effect of receiving the world of noise
all at once; as man goes to a bright
light from a dark room. Furthermore,
Darrow returned several times from
the sound TO the silence, trying to de-
termine where the line of demarcation
was drawn. Then. nothing to Jack
he began methodically to make his
way through the crowd.
This proved to be by no means an
easy task. Rumors of all sorts were
afoot. Some bold spirits were testing
a new sensation by venturing into the
corridor of the building. The police
were undecided as to what should be
done. One or two reporters were al
ready at hand. investigating. Nc
Carthy, his assurance returned, was
conversing earnestly with a police cap
tain.
Percy barrow, closely followed by
Jack, managed to worm his way
through the crowd, and finally de-
bouched on Broadway.
%What was it1 What struck us"
demanded. Jack. do you know?"
Il can guess; in essence said Percy.
81 was pretty sure after last evenings
trouble; but this underscores it, proves
it. Also, it opens the way"
What do you meanl"
Along the lines of these phenomena
there are two more things possible.
Possible, | say. They might be called
certain, were we dealing only with
theory; but there is still some doubts
how the practical side of it may work
ont "