Show A complex problem by C E mccormack copyright TUB HE night was cold bleak and dark ugh I 1 what a beastly night to start on a long journey lour ncy said bald a traveler but it cannot be postponed the busness business in hand will drook brook no delay lie he shivered in his fur coat as the he high wind sent win scudding studding scud ding along at it a rapid pace to the railway station a miserable little place its as cold and cheerless as the night one passenger n a pretty young woman sat on a dilapidated bench and looked about her in ili fear and trepidation as though site she feared some monster loyld would pounce upon cef and devour her apparently she had never traveled rae led alone before in about ten minutes the train pulled into the station and both travelers got on and went into tile the satine same car the woman sat in front of the roan man ile he gazed at tier her for a moment then forgot all aut about her so absorbed was lie he in thinking of the business in hand presently however lie he became painfully conscious that something was wrong when ft hen lie he heard a half stifled cry and looking at the woman SUIT saw that she was sobbing what shall I 1 do he thought she Is in fit great distress I 1 may or I 1 may not be able to help her lie he hesitated to speak to her thinking she might resent what she considered impudent interference As he oat bat pondering tile the matter wondering what to to do the train suddenly stopped with a great jolt and the woman affrighted jumped up and screamed there I 1 I 1 knew it would happen weve wee jumped the lie track 1 and slie site continued to scream and scream scharn the few passengers in the car mostly men joked tit at tier lier and one of then them laughed stop that lint laughing commanded another one OIK jumping up tit or ill break every even bono bone in your lour body oli oil imi will will yu you snarled the hing lunching hing one well come on just you jou try 1 I said if you did not stop it I 1 would pining during tills this melee tie lie woman kept screaming nil it I 1 knew it would happen I 1 knew it why hy did they in upon ill on my taking tills this journey Jou imy tile the traveler tn neler hoping to quell what promised to t ile 1 it riot cried out st sl lenco lence gentlemen I 1 bog beg of you until we find out what la Is tile lie mutter matter with this huh 1 mind your hiir own bustness I 1 it they 1 ey shouted 1 tile I lip indy doubt doubtless lesl Is en ca pablp of ni minding luding liers and they continued to argue the battle of words was distracting tills this noise must be stopped cried the lie trav pier at that moment the lights light went out this hall had tit the contrary conti nry effect to what lie he expected they lit ly stopped screaming and the men stopped talk ing after a few moments of intense silence the lights flashed on again agnin and the train started the traveler tra eler looked at the lady now slip was composed and tranquil the men likewise what a curious psychological problem has presented itself for or my observation tonight was the thought that flushed flashed through his mind why did th that atlady lady scream and take on so when there was no reason apparently and when there was why was slie she composed 1 for the moment this problem drove all thought of his business out olit of hla his mind abd in trying to solve it lie he sat deep in thought then Bu eureka reka I 1 have it the lady no doubt has been rending reading something that made so 90 deep nn fin impression on tier her mind that it became almost an obsession causing tier her much mental anxiety the thought of the possible danger if the train did jump the track assumed such gigantic proportions in her mind that all other matter was relegated to second place sa hi naturally when she was obliged to set out alone on a journey site she im mediately edia tely bi b gan to conjure up all sorts of dire happenings that was why site glie cried and when tile the train stopped suddenly with a jolt abich Is a common occurrence when traveling h her e r mind was so overwrought she immediately imagined the worst and began to scream but when the light went out which was an occurrence that eliat might justifiably have caused fearful forebodings site she paid no attention to it when the real cause for mental anxiety presented itself the lie unreal cause became apparent at one once e and she saw how fool lIll she bid bad been at this moment the lady was making desperate efforts to control her hut but to no avail after a short sniggle it had its way and a merry laugh rang out in which everybody juned J dined whereupon site he said fellow passengers lus I 1 owe you an apology for musing causing so BO much disturbance but I 1 mish to sound this note of warning dont ever cier rend read a book like this and lie ile held it up before starting on a 8 long journey if you are sensitive it may inny have the some same effect on you ou that it 11 t id on oil me it Is responsible for blat hat might have been a grout great misfortune but bap happily lilly turned ou out I 1 all bight all the tins engers crowded around hr to sec ee the lie book it was wag entitled ilie 1 lie railroad Hall road wreck ac tin the car re sounded with will hearty laughter and now cornea conics the most interesting pirt part p of tills this story stor As a result ren lt of that chance encounter the lady indy and the traveler blake esq come cama to the wise con conclusion clurion that ti tills I 1 7 we wor id d aou would ld be a dreary old place to 11 alit in if they did not share one joys and sorrows |