The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-05-26
Caught
ID a Trap.

alnlaDle frame OF MIND as ne pressed the
button on his office floor in the Clinton
building to summop the elevator about 5
p. nj. He had quarreled with Mabel Hill
man, his fiancee, the preceding evening,
and she had returned him his engagement
ring and told him s'You1l be no husband
Of miner
The elevator rapidly appeared. and Scott
stepped in. Just as the boy pulled the
lever forward to go down the bell rang
for a call to the ninth floor. With a swift
interrogative look the boy glanced at
Scott as if to ask him if he were in a
hurry. "Oh, go ahead upi" he snapped.
"I'm in no hurry!''
Up went the elevator to the call, and
the boy swung back the door to let in
Mabel Hilllnan.
Scott stared. Miss Hillman saw him
and paused for a moment, half in, half
out, as if uncertain what to do. Then,
bowling frigidly, which bow Scott as icily
returned, walked in and stood in the OPP
posite corner. Back swung the door, and
the boy pulled the lever quickly. But the
elevator did not respond as promptly as
usual. 1t started down slowly and then
jerkily, finally stopping about midway be-
tween the fourth and fifth floors. Miss
Hillman and the boy locked scared. Scott,
who had been closely watching his late
fiancee for any further sign or token OF
recognition, awoke to the situation and
sharply demanded of the boy, "What is
the matter?"
II don't know, sir" said he, "unless
the steam has given out. You see, being
Saturday, l stop running at 5 O'Clock, and
I was just closing III when you rang the
bell, so / thought l would answer the call,
and the engineer has probably shut off the
steam, and SO we are stuck"
sob, it won't drop, will it?" said Miss
Hillman, who appeared to be getting
more and more alarmed. "What shall I
dor And m waiting for me in
Downing's!"
Scott looked round the elevator and, To-
eating it's exact position, found that by
climbing on the boys stool he could just
open the door of the fifth 1oor by putting
his arm between the roof of the Cage
and the door itself. He lifted the latch
and, pushing the door back, exposed an
opening about two feet wide, thus making
some sort of an outlet.
Charlie" he said, turning to the boy,
v OGhi SAAiA4O tAAON6A O4lC4O Il L BtioAA
you up, can't you? Then go down and
find the engineer and tell him how we are
situated and that he must get us out
The boy willingly acquiesced and, with
out a great deal of effort, was pushed
through and started down stairs.
Scott got off the stool, brushed himself
where the boys shoes had marked his
clothes and then looked furtively toward
Miss Hillman, who now, at the prospect
of a near exit, had recovered somewhat
from the alarm she had felt and stood
eoldly, silently waiting, looking out on
tho side farthest away from Scott.
They both stood silent for a few min
utes; then Scott, suddenly realizing that
as time was precious he must act at once
if he was to gain anything by this advan-
tage fate had thus given him, said in a
low Voice, Miss Hillman-Mabel!"
She took no notice, but beat a soft tattoo
on tho bars, as though to drown the sound
OF his voice. This made him feel desper-
ate, and, nerving himself once more to
the attack, he spoke louder and in a tono
which she could not fail to hear, Miss
Hillman-Mabel, Mabell'
She turned ON him sharply. "Why do
you address me, Mr.. Todd? l did not
speak to you, and it is an impertinence
on your part to speak to me. And my
name is not Mabel" she flashed out at
him, 'sbut~ Miss Hillmanl"
Poor Scott gasped with dismay, and
then, looking very contrite, stepped over
toward her and said very quietly, looking
her full in the eyts, "But it is-Mabel-
and, Mabel, won't you''-
"No, l WON'T" and she pushed him
back from her. "And I won't listen to
you either"
must this last vebeInently. ssDo you
suppose will let you wreck your happiness
and mine, for you do love me, whatever
you may say now to the contrary, for the
sake of a few paltry words and because I
made a fool of myself? No, don't speak. y
he continued. II was too quick and had
no right to speak to you as 1 did, and
oh, Mabel, please forgive mel" And he
seized her hand and looked i1nploringly up
in her face.
"But you had no right to be jealous Of
my ~brotherl"
tsYour ~brother!"
Eyes, my brother; you knew I had
out west. He surprised us yesterday morn
ing; was going to New York on business
last ulSHU ehlu WAS hlSSlIS ul0 SOOuuy
when you saw him. WANTED to introd ucs
you to him, out he was in a hurry and went
out the one door as you stood in the other,
and then you turned on me, as you had no
right to do, before l could explain" And
the last words quivered on her lips, and
the tears came into her eyes.
"What a brute l have been, Mabel
Don't say I have sinned past forgiveness
And what q hasty fool, too; why, | might
have guessed it. When will he be back?"
And, manlike, he tried to pass it off and
make her forget the poor light he had
shown himself in.
s'That's all you care" she said. "And
now you think / have forgotten and for
given it all and will again"
mo- he said gravely. mo, Mabel,
but it has taught me to appreciate you the
better and to know that a man may, for
the most trivial cause and sometimes I'M
agination alone, lose a woman who is
everything to him, but who may not be
so forgiving and tolerant as YOU" And he
kissed her. She smiled sweetly, and then,
looking around, said. 'Oh, Scott, can't
we get out now?"
"NowS'' he said. "Now?" smi1ingly
accounting the word. "Well, I am willing
to now" Stepping over to the lever, he
gently reversed it, and the elevator, to
their mutual satisfaction, Immediately
started down. Just as they reached the
ground floor the boy and the engineer