The Washington herald., 1917-11-05

From a seat across the aisle Heller
watched the deft skill of the col
ored porter as he made down their
berths.
Attaching the wooden sides, shak-
ing out the covers. encasing the pill
lows, and hanging the curtains - II
was all done with swift, mechani-
cal precision.
There's an extra pillow-case for
your hat, ma'am," as he moved on
to the next section.
Behind the protecting green cur
tains, Helen started to undress. She
was brushing her hair by the mar
row mirror between the windows
when Warren came back from the
smoker.
Getting alons?" he peered through
the curtains. where's my bag?"
HE put it up in your berth. Dear,
aren't we going awfully fast?" as the
train swayed with the plunging
speed. -
Yes; they're making good time
along here-we're over an hour
late"
Having kicked off his shoes, with
athletic ease Warren now swung
himself into the upper berth. Helen
watching his stockinged feet disap-
pear, called up solicitous:
Ring for another blanket If you
haven't enough"
A deafening roar and a sooty op-
preston as they thundered through a
tunnel-then the relieving fresh air
as they emerged.
Turning of the light, Helen raised
the shade by her pillow, and gazed
out at the shadowy fields. There was
no moon. The gleam from the train
lit up a stra aggling rail fence, beyond
which stretched a murky darkness.
1t was a chill, frosty night, but the
bleakness without only emphasized her
own luxurious comfort. This was what
Helen always loved-to lie in the warm
security of a berth while she gazed out
at an ever-changing starlit landscape
until the swaying train rocked her to
sleep.
Two shrill blasts as they swept by a
station. A glimpse of dimly lit wait
ing room, rusty stove and man
with lantern on the platform. The
lighted windows of a few isolated
houses and then on again through
dark, rree-shadowed fields.
The throbbing of the train was like
a soothing narcotic. and now nesting
closer under the covers Helen yielded
to delicious, pulsing drowsiness.
A crash! A splintering, grinding
crash, A shiveTing of glass. the
jolt of sudden stop-and
a chorus of shrieks.
A rush of cold air through the win
dow brought Helen to a dazed con-
sciousness. The curtains flung wide,
Warren was bending over her.
"Oh-oh, it's not a wreck?" hysteri-
cally.
"Get on some clothes-be careful of
that glass;" sternly. as the dim light
from the aisle showed the berth strewn
with fragments of the broken win
dows.
In the stiffness of the standing train,
the shouts and cries OF the passengers
came with terrifying distinctness.
Warren was helping her thrust on
her shoes, and now he threw his over
coat over her night dress. His trousers
and coat over his pajamas, he helped
her out of the glass-bristling berth,
down through the crowded confusion
Of the aisle. The gaping curtains
showed already deserted sections or
passengers scrambling into
their clothes.
On the platform Warren swung
Helen down to the graveled track.
With stifled cry she caught his arm,
rs through the gray morning mist they
saw their engine-telescoped into the
rear Of a freight car.
A group of half-clad passengers had
gathered about the wreck.
Others were tumbling out and racing
up the track. Shouted orders and
waving lanterns added to the confu-
sion.
"Oh. isis anyone hurt?" breathed
Helen. shutting along in her unbut-
.oned shoes.
Anybody hurt?" painted a man run
hing past them.
Engineer scratched up a bit-that's
II" some one answered. Sheer luck
We weren't all ditched."
"A case of d. carelessness. Some
'ody ought to be strung up"
All the passengers from that long
inc of sieepers were now out on the
racks. In every stage of dishabille,
hey presented a grotesque spectacle.
Many had only blankets thrown over
heir night clothes. Some were bare
ooted, and a short. tubby man was
ludicrous in pajamas and |
. derby hat.
Everyone was talking to everyone |
Use. asking questions which no one |
How did 1t happen? why
Iadn't they had a clear track? why
vas that freight train ahead? How
ong would they be delayed?
is another train coming for us?
what time viii we get into 81. Louis?
IN hystericai woman elutched the