River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-10-14
CHAPTER xlI-continued.

CHAPTER Xll-contnued.
Out I'D the open, where the sun
aaied the electric lights of the car
into sickIy yellow, up into the air,
sseerinG into third-story tenements and
Gown narrow alleys, ahutter with
countless tapping pieces of laundry
work, then suddenly into the darkness
~ the tunnel again, then out, on the
aarlace OF country fields, and dreary
winter landscape. to the terminal 1t
SaG more coy i'll the tunnel, and they
returned there for lunch.
Suddenly there came q duh, muffled
report, like the distant firing Of a
cannon; then an interval of silence.
"a infinitesimal one, in which the car
rAn smoothly on. and, half rising. they
gpohed at each other in startled ques-
asoning. Then. all at once, came a
sS9upendoUs roar. as if the world had
Split asunder. o jolting and perking, a
aeadlong stoppage, gathering. and
s3apping and crashing and grinding.
Seafening in its volume, and with it
a5a, darkness; blackness SO intense
tbat il seemed almost palpable to the
i0uch!
There was a single shrek. and q
nervOus laugh verging on hysteria
The shrek was from Arly, and the
31ugh from Lucille. There was cry
from the forward end OF the car as of
someone in pain. A mans yell OF
bright; Gregory the general man
ager. A strong hand clutched Calls
ta 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.
IT'S me-" called Tom, the motor
@aan. Head cut little. arm bruised
Nothing bad"
"Gan?' Allison again.
Yes" Clear voiced, with the cour-
age which has no sex.
Mrs. Teasdale? Mrs. Fosland?
Eed? Doctor Boyd?" and so through
Ee list. Everybody safe.
a. 10 dA dC1AuGuIdl DldSLs EUlu the
Seoice OF Allison. He had figured that
d concise statement Of just what had
happened might expedite organiza-
ion. We are below the Paramount
ta6Se, over a hundred feet deep, and
j0e tube has caved in on us. There
Eaust be no waste Of exertion. Don't
move until find what electrical dan
Eexs there are"
A match Jared up, and showed the
saIe face OF the engineer bending
0yer.
mo matches" ordered Allison. I'VE
aaay need the oxygen"
lie and the engineer made their
way back into the parlor compart-
waent. They took UP the door of the
y4otor well in the floor, and in few
sainutes they replaced it. From the
sounds they seemed remarkably
Iumsy.
That much is lucky" commented
Allison. The next thing is to dig"
In front or behind?" wondered the
engineer.
In front, decided Allison. "The ex.
plosion came from that direction. and
has probably shaken down more If
she 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
gully comforting there in the dark:
80 firm and warm and steady He had
not talked much to her, just a few
xeaSsuring words, in that low, meIo
zaious 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, spirit
OF command. She began, for the first
time, to comprehend his magnitude.
What have we to dig with?" The
voice of Rev. Smith Boyd, and there
was note OF eagerness In it.
THE benches up in front here"
yelled Mccarthy. and there was rip
ping sound as he tore the seat from
one of them.
Pardon me-" 1t was the voice Of
the rector, up In front
''The balance Of you sit down, and
geep rested" ordered Allison, now
also uu in front MCCARTHY, Boyd
and go first"
The long struggle began. The girls
.press.ned together In the back of the