The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-07-17
HER SHAKEN NERVES
STORY or THE WAYS or THE
MODERN WOMAN.
Shocks That Would Seem Calculated
TO Disturb Pass Comparatively
Unnoticed, While Smaller
Thing Causes Trouble.

Mrs. Preston put on her wraps and
stepped into the elevator of the apart
ment house. On the way down to
the ground floor the green elevator
boy reversed the lever by accident
and the sensation was startling. Mrs.
Preston smiled at the fright Of the
elevator boy.
On the way out one Of the employees
who was cleaning the entrance hall
dropped mammoth incandescent bulb
which shattered with a report like
that Of . young cannon when it struck
the tesselated floor.
'Too bad, Tony: they'll probably
take that out of your wages she said
to the cleaner.
As she made her way downtown she
stopped to chat with friend at cor
ner where a building was going up.
Automatic riveters made the air hid
eous as they tapped bolt heads into
steel Orders, but Mrs. Preston and
her friend pitched their voices little
higher and continued their CONVERSE
ton.
Later as she passed beneath the ele-
waited structure one of the trains thun-
dering, grooming, shrieking around the
curve made short circuit, whereupon
vivid blue flashes filed the air and
loud reports brought crowds. Mrs.
Preston watched it with interest for Q
few moments and then passed on.
As she was crossing q street she
stepped back out Of the way OF an
electric truck just In time to prevent
being run down. As she stood there
the truck. apparently beyond control,
dashed into the side Of a crosstown
car. The air was filed with shattered
glass and shrieks OF frightened pas
sengers
1.-THE driver OF that car was Ger
tainly careless" murmured Mrs. Pres
ton as she went on.
A policeman stepped forward and
held up a warning hand to her Just as
several pieces of fire apparatus came
swinging around the corner in wide
half-skidded arc, the gongs Changing
and sirens bowling.
els the fire near here, oficer?" she
asked. The policeman did not know.
Just as she was entering q depart
ment store a woman pushed her hur-
riedly aside and tried to get through
the door.
stop her!" yelled several voices.
Two salesgirls grabbed Mrs. Pres
ton. but a third came running up, cry
ing that she was not the woman. Mrs.
Preston went along to the glove coun-
ter, and as she made her purchases
she remarked:
Wasn't that some shoplifter trying
to get out?"
The girl at the glove counter ad-
mitted that 1t was.
How interesting" commented Mrs.
Preston.
The hour was late and she took q
taxi to her home. On the way up the
avenue there was loud report The
inner tube had suffered blowout and
Mrs. Preston laughingly got into an
other taxi.
At home that evening In her apart
ment all was quiet and comfortable.
In the adjoining room her maid. while
passing through. accidentally knocked
small book from the table and 1t fell
to the floor with sharp little slap.
"Good heavens. what was that?"
screamed Mrs. Preston, turning pale
and clasping her hands to her heart.
Mrs. Preston scolded the maid
roundly and then sent for physician.
'Oh, dear. doctor" she said when
that gentleman arrived you positive
ly must do something for me at once.
l assure you my nerves are absolutely
wrecked