SCARED TO LIFE 



of the sudden recession of all the tides of life in 

 a storm. I must have been pretty thoroughly 

 frightened. Some glimmering recollection there 

 is of somebody accosting me by name and jocu 

 larly asking me if I was sunstruck and then pass 

 ing on in the human flux. By some phantasmal 

 and quick prescience, I saw the Secretary mount 

 ing the rostrum in the Exchange ; there was a 

 picture of momentary hush ; all hats came off, 

 and I heard my name called. It was coupled 

 with the word &quot;Suddenly.&quot; Then back went 

 the hats again, the roar began, and I was dis 

 posed of. 



However, the mysterious organ, of which I had 

 hitherto been profoundly ignorant, made a spas 

 modic jump or two, and concluded to resume 

 business, with what I thought was a staggering 

 protest, and I found myself in my office, wonder 

 ing for the first time in my life at the unnecessary 

 headlong nature of messengers and typewriters, 

 and showing that a good scare makes a man 

 incoherent, by replying to the startled girl who 

 asked me if anybody was dead, &quot;Yes ; I am.&quot; 



Then I was rattling up Broadway in a cab, say 

 ing to myself with consummate imbecility, &quot; Keep 

 cool, for heaven s sake don t excite yourself.&quot; 

 But by the time I had put my smoking-jacket on 

 in my bachelor quarters, and had sent a messenger 

 for the doctor, I had recovered a little of my 

 routine indifference. When the dear old man s 

 knuckles struck my door and he pushed it open, 

 I was walking the floor, smoking ; whereupon he 



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