The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-06-29
A MAD RIDE.

Do you ask me the cause of that single
lock OF white hair over my right templef
Well, ! will tell you now though for a !
year after the event occurred which caused !
1t, would not mention the subject under I
any consideration.
One bright autumn afternoon, dressed !
myself with unusual care to make call
on Mrs. Mark Doliber, whose husband
was In close business relations with mine. !.
| went to the - hotel where she was
staying, and on sending up my card was |
told tho lady was not feeling very well, :
but would like to see me IL / would come
to her room.
"Show the lady to $50, sixth floor" said
the man In waiting, with the usual four
ish, to the man In the elevator.
found gentleman already IN the I
elevator, and while waiting to soc II no
one else cared to be taken up had good !
look at him. He was a very large, finely
proportioned man, with q singulnrly at !
tractlve face He did not seem inclined !
to be seated, but walked from the elevator
into the hall and hack, and then from one
side to another (for 1t was large, square,
very showily furnished apartment), appar-
emily desirous Of examining the workman
| ship He entered into conversation with
the man in charge, asking him questions
about the machinery and management,
and before we reached the third floor they
were excellent friends The elevator man
had impaired his entire stock Of informa-
tion as to the running Of his car, and had
been delighted at the impression this
knowledge seemed tor make on the stranger,
AT the third fioor we stopped, the ele- !
| yator man evidently expecting some one,
IIp atannaH into tha bon tn OH
when Ike flash the door shut to and the
car started up. The gentleman turned to
me with the calmest, most benignant
smile
MADAME, no said, Il Knew you would
much prefer to be served by gentleman
OF quality than by that clown. Where
can leave your
stop for the elevator man, implore
OF you, cried; You do not understand
managing the machinery.
indeed madaine, you ln(ure my feel.
lngs very much; just as though ! had
not manipulated the cicvatorfor his high
ness the shah OF Persia as well as for
Ihe emperor ana empress OF ohina' and
the great mogui OF lndia!
Please leave me at the sixth floor, l
answered meeKly, 700 much disconcerted
10 renect thnt there We're only one story
l - --~
ehuileratea'
| 'Certainly, you snail oe LEFT at tho SIX,
teenth moor, ne replied, as we passed
the door where fain would nave entered
salo aslSth noor' re)oined with
some asperity'
| oh, PARDON me, ever 1alrest II not
uearest' lou 40 not ihlnu II walt until
the return trip before leaving your
| -, something was not Tght with the man,
that was certain lie was silly, senti-
| mental, hSht headedi and ne was also
| vlgllhht ana on the aiert. he would not
let me come near the door or the operating
capie' CP' up We "enu, I'LL we reacheu
| the TOP was IN hopes he would not be
| apie 20 start the machine down again. and
| called 10 passing domestic; open the
use; we naa started down. and the woman
| caiIed after me: 'Ihe doors only open
irQm the elevator, ma am
| Wheh glanced at my companlons race.
| aiter TINS appeal 10 the servant, saw II
| had undergone change' instead OF tho
| bright oenignant expression, with the
cheeriui smile coming and gong there
was a dark, angry scowl, ana his hand
some eyes; that had rested on me IN ad,
mlrstloh put an instant previous, flashed
iorth such wrathiui giances that L relt
| my "ouia JUN IL 'iAey uiu uS 'heii o"nei
wished chill crept over me as asked
lpyseii the question: oah this man De IN
saner
Madame he said fiercely, you have
| grossly trespassed on my rorbearance
wou-i nave served you Ike slave; and
see what return you make
| WIN every word ne uttered ms passion
| grew hotter ana hotIer' instantly ! saw
Ihat must Wy Pqcllo measures ana with
GUINNESS that was lar from reeilng,
SAID: 'Sir, did not mean to be migrate
Iul; mgratltude Is something ! despise'
Let me thahK you thousand umes Tor
your desire 70 serve me. ..,-.-..
/ Inc scowi' the anger, the passion van
ishea as soon as they mad appeared. he
ooI my ahanaiosa hano anu ass neariy teaueing tSO
10 shapeiess mass py the We
hemence with winch ne pressed It
IN ms large, powerful PAIN ne rephed;
madame, doht mention II, l ieit your
ihgratitude was not premedisated' IL was
merely the result oi-of--of-wel' per-
maps OF ihalgestlon;
wanted 10 snliie at TINS suggestion,
put ieiV that l. wouiu DC aangerogsi SO
neaVeu ueeP sign ana tired 10 look as
eau as cpulu' Watchihs my every ex'
preston, this saahess brought nun on nis
knees wliie ne iiipiered me 10 teii nm
~nSs mS. he couIa 10 ior ne, s,,,
perhaps too much SO for my object-de.
manded.
We had arrived at the third floor, and
the door not closing tightly on our ascent,
the elevator man stood With it opened,
ready to spring In. With the nimbleness
Of q cat my big companion was up on his
feet, and he dealt the man such aresound-
ing blow that he toppled over against the
opposite wall of the corridor, his head
banging with a crash
Madame. he said, triumphantly,. you
will perceive am n good hand at crncking
cocoanuts." And no began to tell mo the
most ludierous tale Of the number and
size of the human fruit he had broken.
Interrupting him, said; Here is the
ground floor"
1t was dangerous interruption. For q
minute his face was darkened With the
angry scowl, and did not know but my
turn had come for having my cocoanut
cracked. But heexhibited his resentment
only by saying, snappishly: Ground foorl
Of course this Is the ground floor. Where
else would you expect to have 1t? On the
top of the iouses
When the elevator reached the bottom,
the new machinist exhibited the same skill
In starting it up again as he had at the