The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-04-14

barrow here as in the Atlas building.
Visual causes were not producing
their wonted aural effect.
on the street corner peanut
bravely its jet OF steam; the bells on
a ragpicker's cart swung merrily back
and forth on their strap; big truck.
whose driver was either undaunted or
drunk. banged and clattered and rat
tied over the rough cobbles OF side
street-but no sound came from any
one OF them.
This complete severance OF one
cause and effect was sufficient TO dis
credit all natural laws No other
cause and effect was certain. Every
where people were touching things 10
see II they were solid, or wet. or soft,
or hard, as the case might be. Even
barrow felt, absurdly enough, that II
would not be greatly serious 10 jump
of the top Of any building into the
street.
barrow swung confidently enough
down the street. He was the only
person. with the exception Of the
drunken truck driver, who moved for
ward at a natural and easy gait. The
effect was startling. barrow seemed
TO be the only real human being OF
the lot. All the rest were phantas-
magoric.
But as he proceeded downtown the
spell was beginning 10 break. People
were communicating with one another
by means OF pencil and paper. OAR
row was amused on crossing the
park, &c see against the lighted WIN
dows on Newspaper Row the silhouet-
ted forms OF activity. Evidently, the
newspaper men were already at work
on this fresh story.
Near the corner OF the park Darrow
saw standing a policeman or his
varied acquaintance. The scientist
walked up 10 this man. who was
standing in the typical vacant uncer-
tainty, smiled agreeably, clapped him
on the back, and shook his hand. The
patrolman grasped Darrows hand. but
the look OF cropping uncertainty deep
ened on his face
barrow Slipped hrs notebook from
his pocket, and scrubbed few lines,
which he showed to the otficer. The
latter read. inwardly digested for
moment, and smiled
Keep your hair on ran Darrow's
screed. This will pass in few min
utes. and ii won't hurt you, anyway
Don't leek Hike All these other drbs.
He stood there cOmpanionably by
the patrolman. They looked about
them. All at once, with this touch OF
normal. unafraid. human companion
ship, the weird horror OF the situation
fell away. barrow and his companion
were seeing humanity disjointed from
it's accustomed habit, as one looks on
stage full OF men hypnotized into
belief Of an aOsurdity.
Where the blotting out Of electricity
had been tragic. this, as soon as its
utter harmlessness was realized. be-
came comic All about through the
park mon we're meeting the situation
according 10 the limited ideas devel-
epei by crustacean life OF absolute
dependence on the shell or artificial
environment considerable number
OF all sorts had fallen on their knees
and were praying one fat man In
evening dress, with a silk hat and
large diamond stud showing between
the lapes of a fur-lined coat was par
t!culariy fervent BY force or habit
Darrow remarked on this individual.
'Ill bet he hasn't been TO church
since he was a kid he observed. or
course lnaudibly
The policeman caught the direction
~ his took. however. and Prinned with
understanding
Some stood frozen TO one spot. their
| faces agonZed. as man would stand
! still were the earth likely 10 yawn
anywhere barrow would have liked
| ia reassure these for their eyes eX-
pressed a frantic terror. one red-faced
Individual with white side.whiskers,
! Hooking exactly like the comic-papcr
caricatures % the trusts. had evident
! !, refused 10 accent any arbitrary die
! tates OF natural forces, Probably he
| had never accepted any dictates OF
any kind Hen was going from one
/ taxicab 10 another trying TO command
! driver 10 take him somewhere. talk
! ing vehemently and aGthOritatively
| his face getting more and more pur-
ule with anger The tlxicab drivers
merely stared az him stupidity.
"That old BOYS kept his nerve. g"
/ barrow remarked. % course inaudiblv
/ 20 his companion Bat he'll die OF
lapnplexY II he doesn't watch ont -
Again the policeman caught the
+ direction OF Darrow's glance. aud grin
red I'm understandings He reached his
/ huge glnved hand for tho Young mans
: pencil and paper. on whicb he wrote
I tho name OF a man high in railvoa1
circles and grinned again with evi.
dent relish.
! (continued)