Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-06-28
Caught
ID a Trap.


j. Scott Todd was in anything but an
amiable frame of mind as he pressed the
button on his office floor In the Clinton
building to summon the elevator about E
D. m. He had quarreled with Mabel Hill
man, his fiancee, the preceding evening,
and she had returned him his engagement
ring and told him "Youn 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 call to the ninth floor. With swift
interrogative look the boy glanced at
Scott rs If to ask him If he were in a
hurry "Oh, go ahead upP' 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 Hillman
Scott stared. Miss Hillman saw him
and paused for q 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 tho lever quickly. But the
eleNhUOT ulu lOu IcSpOLQ dS ND
usual 1t started down slowly and then
jerkily, finally stopping about midway be-
tween the fourth and fifth floors. Miss
Hillman and the boy looked scared. Scott,
who had been closely watching his late
fancee for any further sign or token Of
recognition. awoke to the situation and
sharply demanded of the boy, "What Is
the NATTER
Cd - caid h<, av.nlaSs
the steam has given out. You see, being
Saturday, l stop running at O'Clock, and
was Just closing up when you rang the
bell, so 1 thought would answer the call,
and the engineer has probably shut of the
steam, and so we are stuck.
| "Oh, it won't drop, will ftf' said Miss
Hillman, who appeared TO be getting
more and more alarmed. "What shall I
dor And mamma waiting for me in
Downing's!"
Scott looked round the elevator and, 10
eating its exact position, found that by
climbing OH the boys stool he could just
open the door of the fifth floor 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 tho boy,
you can climb through there II I push
you up, can't you? Then go down and
situated and that he must get us out "
out great deal of effort, was pushed
through and started down stairs.
Scott got off the stool, brushed himself
| how ho hpxsa chpas had Oh his
clothes and then looked furtively toward
Miss HillmaA, who now, at the prospect
of a near exit, had recovered somewhat
from the alarm she had felt and stood
coldly, silently waiting, looking out on
the side farthest away from Scott.
They both stood silent for 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 q
low voice Miss Hillman-Mabel"
She took no notice, but beat soft tattoo
on the bars, as though to drown the sound
of his voice. This made him feel desper
ate, and, nerving himself once more t.
the attack he spoke louder and In tone
which she could not fail to hear, mis-
Hillman-Mabel, Mabel"
She turned on him sharply. why dc
you address me, Mr.. Todd? I did no
speak to you, and it is an impertinenc'
on your part to speak to me. And my
name Is not Mabel" she flashed out al
him, "but Miss Hillman!"
Poor Scott gasped with dismay, ant
then, looking very contrite, stepped owe
toward her and said very quietly, looking
her full in the eyes, but it is-Mabel-
and Mabel won't you''-
"No, won'tr' and she pushed hin
back from her And won't listen Il
you either"
"But you WILL" he said, land yol
must" this last yehemently. do 20,
suppose will let you wreck your happines
and mine, for you do love me, whateve
you may say now to the contrary, for tn
sake of few paltry words and because
made fool of myself? No, don't speak,
he continued 81 was too quick and ha,
no right to speak to you as / did, and
oh, Mabel, please forgive met" And b
seized her hand and looked imploringly NJ
in her face.
"But you had no right to be jealous O
my brother'
"Your brother!"
EYES, my brother; you knew / had on
out west. He surprised us yesterday morn
. ing; was going to New York on bushes
last night and was kissing me goodb
! when you saw him. WANTED to introduc
, you to him, but he was in a hurry and wen
, out the one door as you stood in the Other
and then you turned on me, as you had N
right to do, before could explain" AM
the lastwords qtivered on her lips, ant
the tears came into her eyes.
"What a brute / have been, Mabel
l Don't say have sinned past forgiveness
| And what hasty fool, too; why, Nigh
; have guessed it, When will he be back?
And, manlike he tried to pass it off an
make her forget the poor light he ha
shown himself in.
, "That's all you care, she said. IAN
! now you think 1 have forgotten and fol
given 1t all and will again"
= "No," he said gravely. "No, Mabel
Z but 1t has taught me to appreciate you tn
better and to know that man may, 70
the most trivial cause and sometimes i'm
agination alone, lose woman who
8 everything TO him, but who may not b
!, SO fopgiving and tolerant as YOU" And h
I kissed her She smiled sweetly, and then
: looking around, said, sob, Scott, can
q we get out nowS"
. "Nows" he said "Now?" smilingl
$ accounting the word. "Well, / am willin
e to now" Stepping over to the lever, h