The citizen., 1901-02-22
fes!" cried Jim. HW6at Is itr'

Don't get discouraged. We are doing
our best to make you safe. 1t may take
some time. Perhaps it would be better
to keep as quiet as possible. Somebody
/ will be here on guard. If you want any
thing, call out"
Il understand" said Jim. when you
are ready to take us out, have carriage
for the lady and an ambulance and
stretcher for the boy"
"1es. yes; everything will be looked
after
For Miss Merriam" shrilled boys
/ voice. Something attached to a string
bobbed in front of the cage. jim drew
1t in. 1t was little bunch of flowers
He handed it to the girl
That was Joes voice." she said. Joe.
as Jim remem bered. was the lame boy.
Then Jim lowered his six feet Of stat
/ ure to the floor beside the girl and sat Mt
her feet.
1--WE might as well make ourselves
comfortable" he said. Il fancy we are
in for quite a siege of it,"
The boy moaned and feebly tossed, but
the girls soothing hand quoted him.
A dull clang, clang. from distant
gong reached them in the silence
Must be calling out the fire depart
ment," said Jim Grigsby. I'VE are evil
! dently creating quite a sensation"
Il don't like that" said the girl
1T will all be an old story in a day or
| two" he laughed.
How can YOU laugh?" she asked.
"Why not?" he asked. ITS all can
do. If there was anything else l
shouldn't be lounSing here. l wish |
could make you more comfortable. I'm
! afraid | seem to you a little hardened
and thoughtlcss, but it's all the fault of
my early experiences. I've gone through
something like this before. was once
locked up in mine for six hungry days.
Do you mind having me talk"
I'm glad to hear YOU" she said sim
ply.
Before he could speak again the eleva-
tor swayed little. settled slightly,
caught again, there was a hoarse shout
from both above and below, and then all
was still again. At the first movement
she had caught at his hand with her
trembling fingers. He took them in his
firm clasp and did not let them so.
You are cold. he quietly said and fell
to softly chatting her hands. Then as if
there had been no interruption he went
on to tell her the story of the mine He
talked simply and well. 1t was a graphic
tale, and made her forget for the mo-
ment their own perilous situation. Then
he went on to other adventures and final
ly drifting back told her of his early life.
of the mother he had lost when boy. Of
his flight from cruel relatives. of his
struggle for bread in the rugged western
country. Then he told how step by step
he had climbed upward to independence.
He talked of himself freely, of his hopes.
of his ambitions, of his long deferred
plans for happiness. She felt the pressure
tighten on her hands Then he suddenly
stopped short.
Hold on" he said brusquely; I'm
tiring you. And, see here, you mustn't
let yourself get cramped. Try and shift
the boys head Il little, Swing your arms
and move your feet. Have some
brandy?"
mo" she said. thank you: I'm quite
comfortable. How long have we been
here?"
He held his watch to the dim light.
by George" he cried. ''its three hours
and ten minutcs What a talker am.
But that's what it is to pass ones time
in good company" and he laughed like a
boy.
Il don't know what should have done
if it hadn't been for YOU" she almost
whimpered, and put her hand to her eyes.
Here" he quickly said, give me your
handkerchief" He took it and holding
the light close to her face carefully wiped
it. "A little sanguinary in spots" he said.
with quiet laugh. Don't put your
fingers to your face again. There. now
your hat is straight. We must look our
best when we face the big reception COM
mittee that is pretty sure to be await
ing us"
For the life of her she couldn't help
smiling at the contrast between his lively
air and his sorry appearance.
Hello. below there came the muffled
voice from above.
"Hellon answered Jim.
"All right?"
'No change" said Jim.
1--WE have rugged temporary cable and
some graphing lines and are going to let
you down. Don't be alarmed"
"Go ahead" said Jim.
There was creaking of blocks and
many hoarse orders. and somebody was
lowered to the roof of the car. There
were sounds. too, from below-murmurs
and sharp cries of warning. The car rose
a little and then began its slow descent
AS it neared the ground floor Jim gently
picked up the boy and Jane spread the
coat carefully over the quiet form.
"Tete-a-tete is over" said Jim.
The gate was pushed back and Jim
stepped out. There were policemen and
hremen and ambulance men, and back OF
them many people waiting in the lobby
and a mufiled cheer arose as they step.
ped out.
Clear the way to the ambulance" said
Jim sharply to the police sergeant, and
the stretcher men and the surgeon fell in
behind him as he stalked to the street.
He was a sorry looking fellow, hatless,
coatless and blood stained, but as he
laid the lad on the mattress and stepped
aside the great crowd that had been pa
tiently waiting in the street for the rescue
gave him a rousing cheer. He hurried
back into the lobby, but Jane had been
spirited away.
1t was just week later that Lame Joe
becSoned to the elevator starter
"Hear about Miss Merriam?" he con-
fidentially asked.
NO" said the starter. Moving out,
amt she?'
yep" said Joe. Coin to marry that
Mr.. Grigsby Coin to live out west too.
He's got mines out there to burn. Says
hen look around an See if there amt
some kind o. chance for me too"
'That's good" said the starter. with
laugh. Guess that match must have
| hnan Inndn in tho alpvotorv -