South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-17
Revelations "a Vile 64o4a5RsTs5on
WHAT "NERVES" BROUGHT TO
MADGE

WHAT NERVES" BROUGHT TO
MADGE.
Never have felt so overweening
an impulse 10 shrek aloud as when
the lights were suddenly. blotted out
from the train which had unac-
countably STOPPED in the tunnel be
meath the East river And when a
scream OF terror did cut through
the darkness was for a shamed
second or two almost obsessed into
believing that I really had lost con-
troll OF myself.
Then as I heard a mans voice in
half-tender half-scolding reassurins
accents, / realized that the scream
had come from another woman IN
the chair car. and that her escort
was taking care of her.
I clutched the arms OF my chair
and tried 10 stare into the darkness
which was like a muffling garment
setting around my head l knew that
the chairs next 10 me on either side
were not occupied. and the knowl-
edge made me feel doubly deserted
and alone. How I longed for Dicky
Ny Imagination suddenly pictured
Dicky-sitting in the next chair
leaning toward me with reassuring
words putting his hand protectivey
over mine. I gulped back the sob
that rose 10 my lips at the picture
gripped the arms OF my chair the
tighter. and listened tensely 10 the
more or less sudible conversation in
the car.
- With the excertio Of the woman
who had screamed, my fellow
travellers appeared 10 be poised men
and women who, whatever their Sc
cret apprehensions, were not betray-
ing any discomposure. There was
but one uneasy question. that Of a
child about Marion's 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, l detected childish
tremor in her voice and instructive
~ knew that she was sharing my
! terror And I felt ridiculously re-
assured at the mothers calm, mat
! ter of fact answer. although
knew that she could have no more
knowledge than I. and that she was
no doubt sizzling her own fears &c
keep her child from fright.
Madge is Frightened.
Probably the power is off" she
said carelessly. Listen" as a chug-
ging noise made itself audible. They
are trying 70 start the motor just
as we do in our automobile"
''It will be harder 10 crank if the
starter doesn't work. won't II. Moth
err" the little girl returned with an
amused chuckle. and I heard sew
eral answering chuckles from the
unseen passengers near me.
Hold ur your wrist watch, dear
her mother commanded in a low
voice, which. however. was distinct
" audible TO me. and after a second
or two. which I guessed was spent
in an inspection Of an illuminated
surface: Lets have a guessing
game as 70 how long It will take %
start the train, and how many sep
arate times they do this chugging.
The ruse. transparent enough &C
me and l guessed TO the rest Of the
adult passengers. was eminently
successful.
"Oh-h! Mother! How scrumpu
ous," the little girl caroled. "Ill tel
/ you-Iet's do this way I have these
chocolates. and you have pennies II
your purse. now. If I guess near
est the time, you must give me
penny, and II you guess nearest,
give you a bite of chocolate"
mo. we'll pretend that we eacf
have PENNIES" the mother said de
] cidedly. 1T will be a good Arithmetic
, problem for you. for I fancy they'r'
going to make a number of attempts
10 start the motor. And I do no
! care for chocolate today"
There was a subtle undertone IL
her voice that made me start will
a new thought. Did. perhaps. this
woman fear that we might be in 70
! an interminable stay under tn
river, and that her child might be
come hungry. and need the choco
late before we were eXtricated? Th'
thought was sufficient 10 send M
! imagination journeying through
many wild fancies
| do Not BE Alarmed"
| I thought that we were directly
/ underneath the East River Suppos
that while we were held here Their,
should spring a leak in the mass o
masonry over our heads. Though
knew how utterly preposterous tn
idea was. yet my fancy clung TO
fearfully, and considered II from al
I angles. and for an awful second o
two I lima gined I heard a tricklinl
OF water. then a rushing-was tn,
! sea water above us really cominl
into the car?
No sooner had l shaken mysel
free from this obsession than an
other came. The lights were out il
the car-suppose they were out al
over the train. at the beginning an
the end. What was 20 prevent othe
trains from crashing into us? Tn
reasoning that If something wer
the matter with the power the othe
trains would also be incapable o
| movement did not occur 10 me unit
I had felt the cold perspiration O
terror starting out upon my fore
head
At the farther end OF the car
faint dull glow showed fickeringly
That most awful horror Of all-th
danger OF fre-leaped into m
brain. I felt myself give a qui rering
Caerfp- krro4b 49, .-.r-- /,