The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1915-12-30
CHAPTER xl.-contlnued.


Out in the o9en. where the sun
paled the electric lights Of the car
into siekly 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
or the tunnel again. then out, on the
surface OF country fields, and dreary
winter landscape, to the terminal. It
was more coy in the tunnel, and they
returned there for lunch.
Suddenly there came dull. mufIied
report. like the distant firing Of a
cannon; then an interval of silence.
an infnitesimal one, in which the car
ran smoothly on, and. half rising, they
looked at each other in startled ques-
tioning. Then, all at once, came a
stupendous roar as IL the world had
split asunder. jolting and perking, a
headlong stoppage. a Gathering. and
slapplng and crashing and grinding
deafening in its volume, and with 1t
all, darkness; blackness so intense
that It seemed almost palpable to the
touchl
There was a 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 move," It was the voice Of
Allison, crisp, harsh. commanding.
Anybody hurt?" Tim German, the
voice Of age. but otherwise steady.
ITS me-" called Tom, the motor
man. Head cut a little, arm bruised.
Nothing bad"
CALI" Allison again.
Yes" Clear voiced, with the cour.
age which has no sex.
Mrs. Teasdale? Mrs. Fosland? g?
Ted? Doctor Boyd?" and so through
the list Everybody safe.
1T is an accidental blast" said the
voice Of Allison. He had figured that
"A concise statement Of just what had
happened might expedite organiza-
tion. we are below the Farmount
ridge, over a hundred feet deep, and
The tube has caved in on us. There
must be no waste OF exertion. Don't
move until find what electrical dan
gers there are"
match hared up, and showed the
pale face Of the engineer bending
over.
"No 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 it. From the
sounds they seemed remarkably
clumsy.
THAT much IS lucky" commented
Allison. THE next thing is to dig"
In front or behindg wondered the
engineer.
In front" decided Allison. "The ex.
plosion 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. II had been wonder
fully comforting there in the dark:
so firm and warm and steady. He had
not talked much to her, just few
reassuriRg 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
frcm the voice Of Allison. He was
big, Allison, a power, a force, spirit
Of command. She began. for the first