ous effort
succeeded in carrying her as far as the signal house. She must get into
shelter or perish almost in our streets. The burly signal man saw the
party and opened the door of his round house and took them in. Madam
Urso's hands were stiff and bloodless and in their fright her friends
thought they were forever lost. Even Madam Urso's strong, brave spirit
was utterly broken down over the appalling disaster. Of what use was her
life if the cunning of her fingers was to be thus rudely destroyed. It
is small wonder that the disaster almost crushed her and brought the
bitterest tears to her eyes. The grimy signal man took in the situation
at once and resorted to measures that were at once as effectual as they
were grotesque and amusing. Kneeling down on the floor and taking off
his cap he bid the gentlemen rub her hands in his tangled and matted
hair. It was a most ludicrous remedy but it worked to a charm. The
gentle heat brought the blood slowly back and after half an hour's
rubbing on the man's big head she entirely recovered.

"Thet's the way we always does, mum. Many's the poor brakeman's fingers
I've saved by rubbin 'em in some one's thick head o' hair."

Whatever the philosophy of this wonderful method of treatment, Madam
Urso can give her testimony to its perfect success, and within an hour
she was so far recovered that she could laugh as heartily as any over
the adventure. The concert hour had come and gone while the party were
sheltered in the signal house on the Back Bay and there was no help for
it. She had done her best and even risked her life to fulfill her
engagement. There was nothing more to be done except to reach the city
in safety. The signal man helped the party over the tracks and up the
banks and they set out once more for Boylston Street. After a severe
struggle the party reached the first house but as the cold was intense
they decided to get under shelter as quickly as possible and at once
rang the bell. A woman put a frightened face out the door and gave one
look at the sorry looking party and slammed the door in their faces.
They at once rang the next bell but here the people wouldn't even open
the door though they slyly peeped out the window at the forlorn looking
party on the steps. Madam Urso's hands were again growing intensely cold
in spite of the fur gloves she had accepted from one of the gentlemen;
and his own hands were bare. They must get in somewhere or perish in the
storm. The n