They had just heard the welcome sounds of Mr. Alexander’s voice, when another tremor shook the city so that the girls clung to each other in support. Instantly a man’s genial voice called: “Well, I’ll be gol-durned if I had to come all the way to Rome to get an earthquake! We can get these sort nearer Denver, without charge.”
In spite of their fear everyone smiled at the little man who could joke in the face of such disasters. But he created the effect of releasing the tension, and thus destroying much of the fear.
Mr. Alexander directed the Fabian party to their cars, and when they had climbed in and wished the tourists who crowded around, a safe escape from the city, the two drivers started away.
They had not gone more than a mile, when another very severe shock seemed to move the ground from under the cars. The screams from the crowded city streets could be heard at this distance from the scene, and Polly said: “It makes me feel like a criminal to run away and leave all those people to their doom.”
“It’s better for as many to get out of the city as can go, unless they are trained to help in this emergency,” said Mrs. Fabian.
Mrs. Alexander had calmed down considerably when she was seated in the car, and now she began to question her husband.
“Ebeneezer, did you bring my travelling bag?”
“I dun’no. I grabbed up everything in sight, from my old razor strop to my scarf-pin,” returned her spouse, jovially.
“My bag held that new evening coat,” cried Mrs. Alexander.
“Never mind a little thing like that!” advised her lord.