New Britain herald., 1922-03-02
What "Ncryes" Brought to Madgc

What "Ncrycs" Brought to Madgc
 Never have l felt so oVcrweening an impulse to shriek aloud as when the lights were suddenly plotted out from the train which had unac- countably stopped in the tunnel be- meath the East River, And when n scream of terror did cut through the darkness l was for shamcd second or two almost ohsesscd into believing that I really had lost control of my self.
 Then as l heard mans voice In half-tendcr, half-scoldinG rcassurinG accents. l realized that the scream had come from another woman in the chair car, and that her escort was talk ing care of her,
 l clutched the arms of my chair and Aricd to stare into the darkness which was like mufflng garment settling around my head. l knew that the chairs next to me on either side were not occupied, and the knowledge made me feel doubly deserted and alone. How l longed for Dicky!
 My imagination suddenly pictured Dicky--sitting in the next chair lean- ing toward me with rcassuring words, putting his hand protectively over mine, l gulped back the sob that rose to my lips at the picture, gripped the arms of my chair the tighter and listened tensely to the more or less audible conversation in the car.
 With the exception Of the woman who had screamed. my fellow-trave CTS appeared to be poised men and women, who, whatever their secret apprehensons, were not betraying any discomposure. There was but one un- easy question, that of a child about Marions age, whom had noticed sitting with middle-aged woman evidently her mother, not far from me.
 What Is the matter with the train Mother?" she asked, and though her words and manner were composed, detected childish tremor in her voice, and instinctively knew that she was sharing my terror. And I felt IT, diculously treasured at the mothers calm, matter fact answer, although I knew that she could have no more knowledge than I, and that she was no doubt stif1ing her own fears to keep her child from fright.
 Madgc is Frightened
 Probably the power is off" she said carelessly. Listen :" as chugging noise made itself audible. "They are trying to start the motor just as we do in our automobile"
 Tt will be harder to crank if the starter doesn't work, won't it. Moth er?" the little girl returned with an amused chuckle, and I heard several Answering chuckles from the Hnseen passengers near me.
 4Hold up your wrist watch, dear, her mother commanded in a low voice, which, however. was distinctly audihl. to nc, and after a second or two which l guessed was spent in an ii;- spection of an Illuminated surface "Lets have guessing game as tc how long it will take to start the train, and how' many separate time S they do this chugging.'
 The ruse. transparent enough to me and l guessed to the rest of the adult passengers, was eminently successful OU-H-. ylOlIlel I1OW SC1 ous :" the little girl caroled, "Pll tell you--let's do this way. 1 have these chocolates, and you have pennies ir your purse. I know. If guess near est the time, you must give me q penny and if you guess nearest, l give you bit of chocolate"
 "No, we'll pretend that we each have pennies" the mother said de- cidedly. Tt will be good arithmetic problem for you. for I fancy they're going to make a number of attempts to start the motor. And l do not care for chocolate today"
 There was a subtle undertone in her voice that made me start with a new thought. Did, perhaps, this woman fear that we might be in for an in terminable stay lNder the river, and that her child might become hungry and need the chocolate before we were cXtricated? The thought was sufficient to send my imagination journeying through many wild fancies
 "Do Not Be Alarmed"
 I thought that we were directly underneath the East river. Suppose that while we were held here there should spring a leak in the mass ot masonry over our heads. Though | knew how utterly prcpostorous the idea was, yet my fancy clung to it from all angles, and for an awful second or two l imagined ] heard d trickling of water. then rushing was the sea water above us really coming into the car?
 No sooner had l shaken myself free from this obsession than another came. The lights were out in the car suppose they were out all over the train, at the beginning and the end What was to prevent other trains from crashing into us? The reasoning that if something were the matter with the power the other trains would also be incapable Of movement did not occur 10 mo until l had felt the cold