The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1892-02-26
A MAD RIDE.

Well will tell you now, though for
year after the event occurred which caused
it, ! would not mention the subject under
any consideration
One bright autumn afternoon dressed
myself with unusual care to make a call
on Mrs Mark Doliber, whose husband
was in close business relations with mine
went to the - hotel where she was
laying. and on sending up my card was
sts5R the lady was not feeling very we'll,
but would like to see me if ! 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 a gentleman already in the
elevator. and while waiting to see If no
one else cared to be taken up had good
look at him He was a very large, finely
proportional man. with a singularly at
tractive face He did not seem inclined
to be seated, but walked from the elevator
into the hall and back. and then from one
side to another (for it was a large, square.
very showily furnished apartment) appar
emily DESTROYS 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.
ton as to the running of his car, and had
been delighted at the impression this
knowledge seemed to make on the stranger
At the third floor we stopped, the ele-
victor man evidently expecting some one.
He stepped into the hall to take a survey,
,-,-Nsn like fash the door shut to and the
cST started up The gentleman turned to
me with the calmest, most benignant
smile
Madame. he said. II knew you would
much Ter to be served by gentleman
of qua than by that clown. Where
can ID your"
Stop the elevator man, implore
of you, cried. you do not understand
managing the machinery
Indeed madame. you injure my feel
ings very much Just as though | had
not manipulated the elevator for his high
ness the shah of Persia. as well as fol
the emperor and empress Of China, and
the great mogul of lndial"
please leave me at the sixth floor"
answered meelkly too much disconnected
to reflect that there were only one story
buildings in any of the countries he haC
enumerated
Certainly, you shall be left at the six
teenth floor. he replied, as we passed
the door where fain would have entered
II said sixth door, rejoined will
some asperity
"Oh. pardon me, ever fairest if no
dearest You do not mind if | wait unit
the return trip before leaving your"
Something was not right with the man
that was certain He was silly. senti
m@Afal, light headed. and he was als
vigAant and on the alert He would no
let me come near the door or the operatin,
IL, tiIl xKya abo,
the top ! was in hopes he would not b
able to start the machine down again, ant
| called to passing domestic open tn
door for me, quick But it was of n
use. we had started down and the woma
called after me The doors only ope
from the elevator. ma am
When glanced at my companion face
after this appeal to the servant | saw
had undergone a change Instead of tn
bright, bemgnant expression, with tn
cheerful smile coming and going ther
was a dark, angry scowl. and his hanC
some eyes. that had rested on me in &C
miration but an instant previous flashe
forth such wrathful glances that fe
they would burn if they did as their owne
wished A chill crept over me as aske
myself the question. Can this man be il
sRnaY
.'Madame. he said fiercely. you hav
grossly trespassed on my forbearance.
would have served you like slave; an
see what a return you makel
With every word he uttered his passio
grew hotter and hotter Instantly | sa
that | must try pacific measures, and wit
a calmness that was far from feeling,
said Sir, did not mean to be ungrat
full, ingratitude is something despis
Let me thank you a thousand times II
yoAr desire TO serve me
a. scowl. the anger, the passion va
ishSd as soon as they had appeared. I
took my hand, and nearly reduciI
it to a shapeless mass by the v
hemence with which he pressed
in his large. powerful palm, he reptile
Madame. don't mention it. felt yol
ingratitude was not premeditated. 1t vi
merely the result Of-of-of-well, pc
haps of indigestion. -..,
i wanted to smile at this suggestio
but felt that it would be dangerous; sc
heaved a deep sigh and tried to look
sad as | could Watching my every e
preston. this sadness brought him on
knees, while he implored me to tell hi
what he could do for me.
Stop on the ground floor, quickly
perhaps too much so for my object-d
manded.
We had arrived at the third floor. al
the door not closing tightly on our ascen
the elevator man stood with 1t opene
ready to spring in. With the nimblene
of a cat my big companion was up on
feet, and he dealt the man such resoHn
ing blow that he toppled over against &
opposite wall of the corridor. his hei
bauoiDg with a crash