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

much steam!, ST. S5-e,3s - II -, w.
For a moment I didn't quite catch
the Significance; then / faltered with
sudden weakness.
Hawkins, you said that this plate
correspondent to the cylinder-head of
an engine? Then the tube beneath us
is full OF steam?''
Yes, yes
"And if we get too much steam-as
we seem to be getting twill the plate
blow off?'
"Yes-no-yes-no,o of course not"
answered Hawkins, family. Its bolt
ed down WITH
But II it Should" said, dashing the
steamlng perspiration from my eyes
for another look at the accursed plate.
1T Should" the inventor admit
ted, wed either go up to Heaven on
it, Or we'd stay here and drop!"
"Halp!" I screamed.
= Look out! Look out! Hug the
WALL" Hawkins shrieked.
! A mighty spasm shook the Hydro-
,,Vapo- Lift. fell fiat and rolled in
stlnctiEely to one side. Then, ere nv
beWildered senses could grasp what
was occurring my ears were split by a
terrific roar.
The roof OF the car disappeared as
II by magic, and through the opening
shot that huge, round plate of iron.
seemingly waited upon cloud of
dense white vapOr. Then the steam
obscured all else, and 1 felt that we
were falling
Yes, for an instant the car seemed TO
snudder uncertainty - then she Drop
ped!
L can hardly say more OF our de-
scent from the fatal thirteenth story.
In one second-not more, l am GER
tain-12 spots of light, representing IL
floors, whizzed past u.s.
recall very definite impression
that the Blank building was making
an outrageous trip straight upward
from New York; and wondered how
the occupants were going to return
and whether they would sue the build
ing people for detention from business.
But just as was debating this in
teresting point, earthly concerns
seemed to cease.
In the cellar Of the Blank building
annex pile of excelsior and bagging
and ether refuse packing materials
protruded into the shaft where once
had been the Hawkins Hydro Vapor
Lift. That fact, 1 suppose, saved US
from eternal smash.
At any rate, I realized after time
that my life had been spared, and
sat up on the cement flooring of the
cellar
Hawkins was standing by steel
pillar smiling blankly Steam, by the
cubic mile, I think, was pouring from
the flooring of the Hydro-Vapor Lift
and whirling up the shaft.
I struggled to my feet and tried to
walk-and succeeded, very much to my
own establishment. Shaken and bruised
and half dead from, the shock I GER
tainly was, but could still travel.
I picked up. my coat and turned to
Hawkins.
IL think I'll go home" he said.
weakly. I'm not well, Griggs."
We assembled the winding stair and
passed through door at the top, and
instead of reaching the annex we
stepped into the lower hall of tho
Blank building itself.
The place was full of steam. Peo-
pie were tearing around and yelling
'*Fire!" at the top of their lungs.
Women were screaming Clerks were
racing back and forth with big books,
Older men appeared here and there,
hurriedly making their exit with cash
boxes and bundles of documents. There
was an exodus to jig-time going on
in the Blank building.
Above it ALL a certain man, his face
convulsed with anger, shouted at the
crowd that there was no danger-no
fire. Hawkins shrank as his eyes fell
upon this parsonage.
Lord! That's one Of the owners!:"
he said. I'm going!"
We, too, made for the door, and
had almost attained it when a heavy
hand fell upon the shoulder of Haw-
kins.
you're the, man I'm looking for!"
said the hard, angry tones OF the pro-
prietor. You come back with me!
Dye know what you've done? Hey?
Dye know that you've ruined that ele-
vator shaft? Dye know that thou
sand-pound casting dropped on our
roof and smashed it and wrecked two
Offices? OH you won't slip out like
that" He frightened his grip on Hawk
ms shoulder. you've. got a little set
Ting to do with me, Mr.. Hawkins.
And 1 want that mann who was with
you, too, for
That meant mel "A sudden swirl OF
steam enveloped my person. When it
had lifted, was invisible.
For my only course had seemed to
fold my tents like the Arabs, and as
silently steal away; only T am GER
tain that no Arab ever did it with
greater expedition and less ostenta-
ttoD than used OF that particular oc-
easron. l.
Copyright, 1906, by w. G. chapman>
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