Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1907-06-27
A ROMANCE In
AIN ELEVATOR

Grace left the dinner table and the
guests with little sigh OF Impotence
The elevator was waiting. and she was
at the telephone booth on the first floor
In minute.
The call was from Ethel, the ire,
sponsible one.
Il am Ill and cannot come to your
aunts dinner" said Ethel. but have
sent my cousin Robert. who has just
come from Denver. He did not want
! to go, of course-said II was cheeky OF
him to call that way upon strangers
But | made him go. The big goose
doesn't know how to deny me any
thing, You must receive him with a
welcome. Isn't it joker"
How like Ethel that was? or course
| the western cousin would be late and
embarrassed and uncomfortable. Well
no matter, thought Grace as she hur
ried back to the elevator. Ii served
him right for being big goose and
letting Ethel boss him about.
Going up!' shouted voice in the
hall just as the elevator boy closed
the door of his little cage. The boy
opened the door again and waited, and
tall young man rushed into the car.
"Ethels cousin" thought Grace, for
she had seen his photograph often, but
she said nothing. The young man
took off his hat, and Ethel admired his
strong, clean face. The elevator
started upward with jerk, and then
stopped with jerk between floors
The boy pulled at the lever, but the
machinery failed to work. The eleva
tor would not go up; 1t would not 60
| down
What's the matter?" asked the
young man.
Stuck" said the boy. He proved
1t by throwing the lever first back,
ward, then forward.
Il hope you're not frightened" said
the young man, turning to Grace, with
a smile.
OF course not" she assured him.
| The janitor came and managed to
pry open the gates on the second floor.
| There was space of about foot
there, and the boy climbed up and
wriggled out like an eel, regardless
of the janitor's rough remonstraaces.
She sat down on the boys stool and
| tried to look cheerful.
Are you in Mrs. Curriers' party?'
he asked
II am Mrs. Curriers' niece. And
you are Ethel's cousin?" she ventured
Yes; Robert Murchison. Shall we
call it an Introduction, Miss Mendon p
How did you know my name?"
Ethel told me. | had just been
looking at your photograph"
Then the elevator dropped into the
basement well with chug that caused
a scream from the women who were
waiting for the rescue of Grace
Then the lights went out. The base
ment was dark save for the distant
glow of the furnace doors that threw
red glare across the top of the car.
Are you all right?" asked the en-.
gineer from above. BE patient Wen
have you out pretty soon"
How many matches have you got?'
asked Grace.
-Four" said he.
Then give me two Of them" she
commanded.
He gave them to her, and did nSt
release her hand, but pressed 1t reas-
suringly.
You are the bravest girl Il ever
saw"
II am trying to be brave, thank
you" she said But which photograph
did you seer
She lighted match and held 1t be.
| fore his face as II she wanted to see
| the answer as well as hear II.
"The one you had taken for Turner"
he said.
She blew the match out hastily
How extTavagant you are!" he ex.
claimed. 1T was not half burned up"
What did Ethel tell you ab:ut
him."
"That he was the fifth" he replied,
gravely.
Il will pay her for that"
"She doesn't charge anything" said
Ethels cousin. by the way, is there
a SIXTH"
Have you had sixth??" she asked
and one could imagine that she was
smiling.
"Only first" he said fervently.
Tell me about her. That is so In
teresting."
Il love her." he began.
And she?"
Il do not know" sadly. Il hardly
dare to hope. You see, l have known
her only an hour.
You are ridiculous" she said
softly.
81 am in earnest. May hope to be
the SIXTH"
There will be no SIXTH" she whis-
pered. There will be only a first.
The other five do not count"
1.-The machinery is fixed again."
bawled the engineer from above. IF
you will move the lever over little
Just a little-the car will rise"
THE boy may have been right" he
said, gravely. In case we should go
up to the roof-and beyond-tell me,
dear one, before we start, do you think
II should attempt to kiss you that
would be taking an undue advantage
of your helpless position? Tell me?"
She shook her head automatically.
The car began to move slowly up
ward.
Quick" she whispered. Kiss me
before we reach the light"
Theater Managers Economy.
A former manager of the old Ninth
Street theater in Kansas City was as