The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-08-31
To The Twelfth Floor QnQ Book.

~ WV IL VhItH 1VVl N1tN DNVus
Tine Atlantis was not large building
1t was tall and very narrow. and con-
tanned but forty business tenants Ill
told. Among the occupants was George
Francis Garvin, whose bright new
door sign appeared facing the soil
taiy elevator shaft on the eleventh floor
he WAS IL broker. Int there was little
proof Of the fact beside the sign. His
office furniture and rugs were painfully
new, his new typewriter had scarcely
been ont OF its metal covering and the
handsome file ra>eS about his desk We're
as empty as when they left the cabinets
maker.
The fact is. George Francis Garvin,
aged 70. had just settled down to
business. and was now in the expectant
and receptive stage. He was not look
ing for business with any great amount
OF zeal. but his door was open and he
was ON hand. prepared to answer all de-
lnan,lS.
This particular morning he reached the
Atlantis bright and early.
"'iood mornin'. SIR said Jamie
Doyle. the elevator boy. as George
stepped into the waiting car.
"t1nou morning. .JAnit. said the brOl-
or in his pleasant voice. He had Il Won
d,rful way with him with children and
dogs. and something in his tones cncour-
"We'rr havin' lot of trouble at homo.
SIR ht said. 'Fa1hrr'S off again. an
was lookin' for him half the night.
Id |" lookin for him now if it wasn't
for lo>in me- job. TIL longer he stays
away the worse he gets. An mothers
sick a.hed: an Kati''s just gcttin' over a
fever. lie ended his dismal statcmrn1
with little sniff.
''Th3t'S had :" >,i,1 (xnrcn Co,,.,,
"tan't You find IL suh<titi1,r::' -
dare to. MIR. .\hhott'> down on me now
for hrin' late twice on fathers account.
Ii he saw strange boy here in my place
he Il tlrc me sure.
They had reached the eleventh floor.
Here: said George. Il guess Ill go
down with YOU again" He looked at
the boy as they descended. He was a
neat boy and 4 clean Onc. He was pale
and haggard this morning and his ewes
were red: and his hands tremblcd.
How long do YOU think it will take
you to lind Your estimablc parent?"
no time at all" said the boy eagerly.
''Iherc amt but Il few more places to
look
"Go and look for him." said George:
"Tll take your place.
"You!'' cried the boy. But Mr.. Alb
bott?''
I'll attend to him. too,' said GEORGE
Don't worry about that. Run along:''
Are you sure YOU know how ?''oueried
the boy anXiously.
: Route snre.' said George.
1t wasn't difficult to run the Atlantis
elevator. You waited just two minutes
by the big clock over the entrance, on
the ground floor. and then made the as
cent to the twelfth floor. At the twelfth
YOU made no wait, but at once returned
George knew the time table and handled
the car skilfully.
When the tenants began to come in he
eXertcd himself to catch the directions
they gave him. They stared hard at the
perfectly dressed summer young man,
but he was a newcomer and nobody
seemed to know him. When he descend
ed to the ground floor he found the agent
of the building waiting to take the up
ward journey. The agent stared at him.
"HoW's this:' he asked. "Where's the
boy"
Cant say. I'm sure" replied George
with much calmneS>. He was called
away by a sudden domestic attlction.
Going up?'
The agent stepped into the car and the
iron door clicked behind him. He was
a short man and quite stout and he had
a red face. His face grew rcdder as he
stared AT george.
See here" he said, this won't do.
You are Mr.. Garvin, aren't you?'
''Twelfth floor, said George: "all out
agent. Going DOWN. he asked, and
pulled the descending rope.
Mr.. Garvin." said the agent. "you
ought to understand that we can't have
our employees intcrfcred with in this
manner. You are evidently trying to
l. :.,I1 ~. T. Il T 49, T.:
that the next time he absented himself
from his post he would be discharged
without further notice. BY Your ill-con
Sidcred action YOU have simply helped to
deprive him of his position.'
''Ground floor" announced George; "all
out" He unattached the iron door and
pushed it open. Going up!'' he asked,
as he turned and glanced at the agent.
eex s@a tfe must later req w
you to leave this building when your
month is up. / will gladly refund the
rent you have advanced if you will leave
at once.'
"Couldn't think of it, said George.
Not even to oblige YOU, Mr.. Abbott. No,
mean to stay-and the boy will stay,
too: Twelfth floor; Going down.,
agent, you talk as if you owned this
building!''
Why not?' asked George, the imper-
turbable.
The agent stared at him and drew
back a little. "What do you mean!" he
cried.
You get your authority here from At
torney Jethro Browning,' said George,
without looking at him. "And Attorney
Browning acts as trustee for the Francis
estate''
Yes" said the agent sharply. ''What
Of that?''
II am the Francis estate said George
Francis. Garvin mildly. Ground floor,
all OUT
This time the agent needed the an
rouncement and stepped from the car.
His ford face was pale.
The boy stays?' asked George, with
the slightest interrogative infection.
The boy stays,'' replied the agent.
"Good morning" said George, politely.
AS the discounted official passed
through the outer door radiant vision
entered. 1t was Miss Mary Armstrong
in her new summer attire. and Miss
Mary was lovely girl and her attire
was decidedly fetching.
AS George saw her coming in he stood
a little str3ighter.
Fourth hoor, please she said, as she
tripped into the car. Then she looked up
and recognized the new elevator man
with little gasp.
But he paid no attention to her as he