The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1915-12-02
CHAPTER xII-continued.


CHAPTER xli-continued.
Out In the open, where the sun
paled the electric lights OF the car
into sickly yellow, up into the air,
peering into third-story tenements and
down narrow alleys, aflutter with
countless tapping pieces Of laundry
work. then suddenly into the darkness
of the tunnel again. then out, on the
surface of country fields, and dreary
winter landscape, to the terminal. 1t
was more coy in the tunnel. and they
returned there for lunch.
Suddenly there came a dull, muf11ed
report. like the distant firing of a
cannon then an interval of silence.
an infinitesimal one, in which the car
ran smoothly on, and, half rising. they
looked at each other In startled ques-
tioning. Then, ali at once. came a
split asunder, jolting and perking.
headlOng stoppage, gathering, and
slapping and crashing and grinding.
deafening in its volume, and with 1t
all, darkness; blackness so intense
that 1t seemed almost palpable to the
touch!
There was single shrek, and a
nervous laugh verging on hysteria.
The shrek was from Arly, and the
laugh from Lucille. There was a cry
from the forward end of the car, as of
someone in pain. A mans yell OF
fright; Gregory the general man.
ager. A strong hand clutched Calls
in the darkness. firm, reassuring. The
rector.
Don't novel" 1t was the voice Of
Allison, crisp. harsh, commanding.
Anybody hurt?" Tim German, the
voice OF age. but otherwise steady.
tits me" called Tom, the motor
man. "Head cut little, arm bruised
Nothing bad"
"GaIl?" Allison again.
yes" Clear voiced. with the cour-
age which has no sex.
MRS. Teasdale? Mrs. Fosland :?
Ted? Doctor Boyd?" and so through
the list. Everybody safe.
"It is an accidental blast" said the
voice Of Allison. He had figured that
a concise statement of just what had
happened might expedite organiza-
ton. 1--WE are below the Paramount
ridge. over hundred feet deep. and
the tube has cayed iR-on us. There
must be no waste of exertion. Don't
move until find what electrical dam
gers there are"
A match fared up, and showed the
pale face OF the engineer bending
over.
mo matches" ordered Allison. I'VE
may need the oxygen"
He and the engineer made their
way back into the parlor compart-
ment. They took up the door of the
motor well In the floor, and In a few
minutes they replaced 1t. From the
sounds they seemed remarkably
clumsy.
THAT much Is lucky" commented
Allison. 1.-THE next thing is to dig. !"
SIN front or behind?" wondered the
engineer.
I'm 'front.'" decided Allison. THE ex-
pfosion came from that direction, and
has probably shaken down more of
the soil there than behind. but it's
solid clay in the rear. and further out !"
Gail felt the rector's hand suddenly
leave her own. 1t had been wonder
fully comforting there In the dark:
so firm and warm and steady. He had
not talked much to her, just a few
reassuring words, in that low, melo-
dious voice, which thrilled her as did
occasionally the touch of Allison's
hand, as did the eyes of Dick Rodley.
But she had received more strength
from the voice of Allison. He was
big, Allison, a power, force, a spirit
of command. She began. for the f1rst
time. to comprehend his magnitude.
What have we to dig WITH" The
voice of Rev. Smith Boyd, and there
was a note of eagerness In 1t.
"The benches up in front here, "
yelled Mccarthy, and there was rip
ming sound as he tore the seat from
one of them.
Pardon me-" 1t was the voice OF
the rector. up in front
4The balance of you sit down. and
keen rested" ordered Allison. now
also IN in front Mccarthy. Boyd
and go first"
The long struggle began. The girls
grouped together In the back OF the