The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1907-10-11
A ROMANCE In
An ELEVATOR
BY G. j. COOKE.

Miss Mendon is wanted at the tele
phone" said the elevator boy at the
Paradise flats as he stood at the door
of Mrs Curriers' dining-room on the
fourth floor.
Grace left the dinner table and the
guests with little SIGH of impatience
The elevator was waiting. and she was
at the telephone booth on the first floor
in a minute.
The call was from Ethel, the ire
sponsible one.
Il am i'll and cannot come to your
aunt's dinner" said Ethel, but | have
sent my cousin Robert, who has just
come from Denver. He did not want
TO go, of course-said IL was cheeky OF
him to cali 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 IL a joke"
How like Ethel that was? OF course
the western cousin would be late and
embarrassed and uncomfortable Well
no matter, thought Grace as she hur'
ried back te the elevator. 1t served
him right for being a big goose and
letting Ethel boss him about.
Going up" shouted a 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
a tall young man rushed into the car.
"EtheTs 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 a Jo+k between floors
The boy pulled at the lever, but the
machinery failed to work. The eleva
tor would not go up; it would not 90
down.
Whats the matter?" asked the
young man.
Stuck" said the boy. He proved
it 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 a foot
there, and the boy climbed up and
wriggled out like an eel, regardless
of the janitor's rough remonstrances.
She sat down on the boys stool and
tried to look cheerful.
Are you in Mrs. Curriers' party?"
he asked.
Il am Mrs. Curriers' niece. And
you are Ethels cousin?" she ventured.
Yes; Robert Murchison Shall we
call it an introduction, Miss Mendon?"
How did you know my Nance
Ethel told me. l had just been
looking at your photograph.
Then the elevator dropped into the
basement well with a 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
a red glare across the top of the car.
Are you all right?" asked the en-
aineer from above. BE patient. Well
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 nos
release her hand but pressed it reas-
suringly.
You are the bravest girl | ever
saw"
Il am trying to be brave, thank
you" she said. But which photograph
did you see?"
She lighted n match and held it be-
fore his face as if she wanted to see
the answer as well as hear it,
"The one you had taken for Turner"
he said
She blew the match out hastily.
How eXtraVaSant you are! he eX-
claimed. 1T was not half burned up"
What did Ethel tell you about
him?"
THAT he was the fifth" he replied,
giavely.
Il will pay her for that"
She doesn't charge anything" said
EtheTS cousin. "By the way. is there
d SIXTH"
have you had siXth??" she asked
and one could imagine that she was
smiling
only a first" he said fervently.
Tell me about her That is so in
teresting.'
Il love her" he began.
and she?"
l..