South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-22
WHAT HAPPEN ED WHEN
MADGE WAS LEFT ALONE IN
THE SURGING MOB

7 MADGE WAS LEFT ALONE IN
TILE SURGING MOB.
Never in all my life shall 1 forget
the feeling Of awful helpless terror
that swept over me when / realized
that 1 was alone in the JOstling mob
before the doors of Madison Square
Garden on the night shortly before
detection when the president of the
United states was TO speak there.
And with my terror was mingled
a deep burning resentment against
Dicky for leaving me in such pre-
ldicament OF course, 1 realized tnat
he had done the manly, in fact, the
only thing, in responding to the cry
Of the girl who had lost her footing
in the crowd. the girl art student
from Virginia. who, 1 had gathered
from Dicky's description was, with
her sister. a studio pet Of the circle.
But / reasoned that he could have
looked after me, too. if thoughts of
me. his wife, had been uppermost
lin his mind, as they should have
been.
1 wondered what 1 had better do
if the crowd finally reached the
doors toward which they were prog
iressing at such a snail's pace. How
thankful l was that on Dicky's re-
lquesting me to leave my handbag
at home I had put bill inside my
waist an6 a coin in each glove. L
tried to put my hand up to see if 1
Icould feel the rustic of the money,
land to my horror discovered that I
lcould not raise my arms, SO tightly
I-r-re .. hnHH
A tall, brOad-shOuldered man was
standing directly in front Of me. 1
think he must have felt the at
tempted movement Of my arms. for
Inc squared his big bulk around,
forcing a tiny bit OF leeway for me,
land said kindly:
II think if I stand this way it will
be better for you. Now bring your
arms up. fold them across your
chest, and keep them there. II will
be better So"
"Oh. thank you!' I said. You
are very kind"
a Whim of Chance.
At the sound Of my voice a man,
standing a few feet in front of me,
turned his head and looked squarely
at me with an expression Of sur
prise upon his face. 1 was so dazei
and worried that for a moment 1
did not realize that I was looking
into the keen, gray eyes Of DR.. Petit,
me young physician who had at
tended my mother~in-law through
her dangerous illness. ana whose
frankly expressed interest in me
Iafterward had aroused Dicky's re
sentiment.
When at last I recognized him
and returned his reassuring smile
I could have fallen on hts neck for
VERY joy The weight Of terror
: which / had felt since Dicky's dis
appearance in the crowd while aid
, ing the girl from Virginia melted
away like the first snowfall IN the
sun. I knew that nothing very bad
could happen TO me with DR.. Petit
3 on the job.
1t was but a few minutes before
DR.. Petit had wormed his way TO
my side
b, What in the world is the meaning
of your being in this mob alone, he
Idemanded. and I saw the broad
ishouldered man in front Of me look
lat the tall physician curiously, then
turn his back toward me again, evil
IDENTITY content 10 relinquish the care
of me 10 DR.. Petit
"DiCky got separated from me n
few minutes ago" I explained lame
Z Ily enough. I could feel the young
physicians eyes searching my face.
Separated from YOU" The in
tonation conveyed the idea that
nothing but death should take any
one who cared for me from my side
lin a dangerous position such as
mine At another time I would have
resented the insinuation against
: Dicky hotly. but I was so angry and
: Inundated at the position in which
found myself that DR.. Pettit's i'm
Fl, pulsive words soothed me unac-
countabIy
1T Does Not Matter"
1T really was quite unavoidable, %
I I said rather shortly. but it does not
matter now-you are here
+, The words were out before
thought how they would sound. As
g they left my lips i saw DR.. Petit
Z start and a glow suffuse his face
r. He caught my hand in the shelter Of
S the broad back OF the man in front
p of me and gave IL a tender pressure.
you need not be afraid any
. more" he said and there was in
l. finite understanding IN his voice OF
d the terror that had been mine.
4 would YOU like 20 try TO gel out OF
b this. or would you prefer 20 go on
e into the Garden? I do not think