Evening journal., 1918-02-22

pear daily in this city exclusively in
THE EVENING JOURNAL.
held the decanter in mid-air the young
English officer who had been lighting
cigarette as he. told a story 90 a
mighty pretty girl, let the match burn
out In his fingers, while the girl
stopped in the very midst OF a silvery
laugh, with a curious effect Of an IN
audible echo; the American contrac-
tor who was laying out a railroad
construction campaign with matches
FOR the~instruction Of the two French
officers who were his hosts, held
river IN one hand and a mountain In
the other while he listened; the large,
prosperous looking French gentleman
who was dining alone-a banker, il
our Judgment as to the length of his
,vhiskers was accurate-had his spoon
in the midst OF his dessert, and left
it there; we, discussing ways and
means to make a French oyster
taste like an American one. had
turned toward each other and con
finued TO look each other flxedly IN
the eye.
1T WAS THE VOICE OF THE sIRENi
Time was. when the rise and fan Of
that piercing whistle would bring
back a favorte picture Of crack
hook-and-ladder company racing 10
fire. with three beautiful prancing
horses dashing proudly down the mid
die Of Fifth-av, and the trafllc spread
ing quickly to the curbs. and a black
and white coach dog. with his mouth
wide open, and his eyes bulging. and
his ears flying straight back, and his
tall stiff as a poker running like mad
ahead OF the horses, barking with
every lung in his body, and thinking
that he was responsible for the whole
thing.
siren win never mean merely
that to us again.
This time it was like the raising OF
q curtain on a far different scene.
We were IN London.
Il was five o'clock in the morning.
and we were asleep IA one Of the
big Piccadilly hotels.
/ didn't hear the siren.
Whep / awoke, the big guns were
booming everywhere
BANGi
BANG. BANGi
BOOM
listened aitentlvely, and made an
accurate guess.
"Kiddyw
Yes" came a quiet voice out Of the
dense darkness.
"oh you're awake. Well, here It
NO.
"Yes it Isl It's the zepsr
Reallyw A soft hand slipped over
from the next bed and met mine half
way What do we do9"
II don't know"
silence for a moment, while we
considered that delicate question;
that Is, silence on our part, though
outside the mighty fusilade increased,
and a sharp, whizzing shrek in the
air. followed by an explosion, told Of
a descending bomb near by.
10 was a curious sensation. that OF
lying in a snug bed IN the dark with
a bomb likely to pop in on one at amy
instant
Il was going back TO sleep" came
the quiet voice out Of the darkness. !
my lrst thought was that n might
b6 the Zeppelins, but wouldn't be-
lieve it We're so used TO subway
blasts at home, you know"
7 laughed as I got out Of bed.
10 does sound natural" ! comment I
ed but I'm sure this Is an air raid.
Don't show a light" threw on robe
and went TO the door. The hall was
dimly Illuminated as usual, and two
young women with robes over their
lighl attire. hurried along the corri-
ior and into their room.
They were gieglingl
Bang, bang, bang, bang, boom. boom.
hoomi went the big guns; whizz went
tho bombs came inside and turned
on the lights; and was met with the
natural question.
What do we do about itg Any
ihingg"
Il don't know ] puzzled, listening
- the echoes Of an explosion which
was louder and closer than any Of the
others. We looked toward the win
COWS longingly. It was against the law
TO open curtains or shutters, even so
much as a crack.
Il think-pl ask the clerk about lt,"
decided, and took up the phone
Very wei, sir" came a bored voice
over the wire
"What does one do in the case OF an
cir rad7n.I inquired Were strangers
here"
"Ow yes, sir" he drawled. in tone
which was totally disinterested. Il
was Just about calling you, sir, TO say
that, since you're on the top floor, you
might as weil come down, if you
Ike
We looked at each other thought
fully, and in The minds Of both Of us
there was again the lively knowledge
that at any moment a bomb might
come crashing straight down through
our room. lt was an indescribable feel
Ing. that tremendous imminence of an
unseen danger and ] will noe say that
there was no such thing as fear in
either one OF US. / do know. however,
that there was an instant bracing Of
the spirit TO meet that fear, SO that
IL should not degrade us, nor shame
rs ia our own eyes, nor hamper our
actions. And It did not. / am trying to
set down as correctly as possible the
workings Of a normal mind under un-
usual conditions.
Wen dress. ! suppose observed
the quiet voice. and the possessor OF 1t
was already lacing her shoes.
~ .hsnk so" l replied. l was max
fng sure Of passports and letters Of
credit and money. in case anything
should happen to the room while we
should be gone.
We dressed completely went INTO
the hall and rang for the elevator,
IA hrA an