The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1906-12-28

AAOAC otodm: UdW1eu f1aWklnS, QrOWu-
ing my voice. IT.. 3 & ~ HI
"Morc steam?'' said the person
above. More steam an an az, is
it?''
Z Mono ak. Tell him I want more
steam, and I want it quick! He's got
so little pressure that we're stuck!"
We heard the echo Of departing foot
steps.
Nov, you'd have made a nice mud
die, wouldn't you?" snarled the invent
or. WED have made nice sight
clambering out through a hole in the
top Of this carl" t.&z
There are tfmes,'' said, when APP
pearances don't count for MUCH" n
well, this isn't one Of them" re-
Joined the inventor, sourly. ~ = y
I did not reply. There was nothing
that occurred to me that wouldn't have
offended Hawkins, so I kept silence. 49,
We stood there for period of min
utes, tut the Hydro-Vapor Lift seemed
disinclined to move either up or
down.
Once or twice Hawkins gave push
at his lever; but that part of the appa-
ratus seemed permanently to have re-
tired from active business.
"Shall we move soon?" inquired.
when the stiffness became oppressive.
presently" growled Hawkins.
Another long pause, and I hazard
ed again:
Isn't it growing warm?"
Il cont feel it,
"Weii, it is! All! The heat is COM
ing from that plate!" exclaimed, as
1t dawned upon me that the big iron
thing was radiating warm waves
through the stuffy little car. "Your
Hydro-Vapor Lift will be pleasant to
ride in when the thermometer runs up
in August, won't it?'
Hawkins did not deign to reply, and
l fell to examining the plate.
Look said, isn't that steam?"
isn't what steam?"
Down there" I replied, pointing to
the plate.
A fine jet of vapor was curling from
one point at its edge-a thin spout of
hot steam!
That's nothing, said Hawkins.
Little leak-nothing more"
But there's another now!"
positively, Griggs, think you have
the most active imagination T ever
knew in an Otherwise
use your eyes," I said, uneasi1y.
''There's another-and still another!r
Hawkins bent over the plate as
much to hide the concern which an
peared upon his face as for any other
reason, think.
WELL" he said, she's leaking a
trite.'
But why?"
1.-THE plate isn't steam-tight. of
course; and the engineers sending us
more pressure
His composure had returned by this
time, and he regarded me with such
contemplate eyes that could find no
answer.
But Hawkins contempt couldn't shut
off The steam. 1t blew out harder and
harder from the leaky spots. The little
car began to fill, and the temperature
rose steadily.
From comfortable warmth it IN
creased to an uncomfortable warmth:
then to a positively intolerable,. reek-
ing wet heat.
I removed my coat, and little later
my vest. Hawkins did likewise. We
both found some difficulty in breath
ing.
The steam grew thicker, the car hot
ter and hotter. Perspiration was ooz-
ing from every pore in my body. Spark
ling little rivulets coursed down Hawk
ins' countenance.
Hawkins" I said, IF you'd called
this thing the Hydro-Vapor Bath, in
stead OF Lift"
Don't be witty" Hawkins said,
coldly.
Never mind. It may be bit I'M
reliable as an elevator, but you can
let it out for steam-baths cents a
ticket, you know, until you've made up
whatever the thing cost"
BzzzzZzzzzz! said the steam.
I'm going to shout for that ak
again." I said, determinedly. Ten
minutes more of this and Well be
cooked alIve!''
Now" began the inventor.
"Hawkins,' decline to- be- convert
ed into stew simply to save your van
ity. He"
''Hey!" shouted Hawkins, dancing
away from his lever into a corner of
the car and regarding the iron plate
with round eyes.
What is it, now?" I asked breath
lessly.
A queer roaring noise was coming
from somewhere. The Hydro-Vapor
affair executed a series of blood-curd-
ling shakes: From the edges of the
plate the steam Kissed spitefully and
with new vfgor. -
''Thai-that jackass of an engineer!"