The Yale expositor., 1909-09-24

and turned to give profane welcome TO
the policeman who had noticed the
cab at Twenty-third street and who
now painted in, blown and perspiring.
Much to his disgust he found himself
assigned to stand guard over the base
ment exits, and waddled forth again
into the street.
Meanwhile the first officer to arrive
upon the scene was taking his turn at
agltating the button and shaking the
gates; and with no more profit of his
undertaking than Hickey. After
minute or two of II he acknowledged
defeat with an oath, and turned away
to browbeat the struggling vanguard
OF belated wayfarers-messenge
boys, slatternly drabs, hackmen, loaf
ers, and one or two plain citizens con-
spicuously out of their reputable
grooves-who were drifting in at the
entrance to line the lobby walls with
blank, curious faces. Forerunners of
that mysterious rabble which is APP
parently precipitated out of the very
air by any extraordinary happening in
city streets, if allowed to remain they
would in five minutes have waxed in
numbers TO the proportions of an un-
manageable mob; and the policeman,
knowing this, set about di-pc-sing
them with perhaps greater d erection
than consideration.
They wavered and fell back, grum-
bling discontentedly; and Maitland,
his anxiety temporarily distracted by
the noise they made, looked round to
find his erstwhile cabby at his elbow.
OF whom the sight was inspiration.
Ever thoughtful, never unmindful of
her whose influence held him in this
coil, he laid an arresting hand on the
mans sleeve.
You've got your cab"
"Yissir, right houtside"
Drive round the corner, away from
the crowd, and wait for me. If She
the young lady-comes without me,
drive her anywhere she tells you and
come 10 my rooms tomorrow morning
for your pay"
"rhankee, sir"
Maitland turned back, to find the
situation round the elevator shaft in
statu quo. Nothing had happened, save
that Hickey's rage and vexation had
increased nightly.
But why don't you so up after
him?"
How n blazes can II" exploded the
detective. He's got tn night car. F
| takes the stairs, he comes down by
tn shaft, nd how'm | tub trust this
here mutt?" He indicated his associ-
ate but humber custodian of the peace
with disguised gesture.
Perhaps bne of the othar cars will
run" Maitland suggested.
"Ah, they're all dead ones" Hickey
disagreed with disdain as the young
man moved down the row of gates, try
ing one after another. "Yeh're only
wastin'-"
He broke off with a snort as Matt
land, somewhat to his own surprise,
to move the gate of the
third shaft from the night elevator, !
stepped into the darkened car and !
CROPPED for the controller Presently
his fingers encountered it, and he |
moved ii cautiously to one side A !
vicious blue spark leaped Kissing from ]
the controller-box and the cage
bounded up dozen feet, and was only /,
from it's ambition to soar
skywards by an instantaneous release |
Of the lever.
BY discreet manipulation Maitland |
hn cow - h.. |
floor again, and Hickey, with a grunt
hat might be interpreted as an apol-
by for his incredulity, jumped in.
Let 'er rip" he cried, exultantly.
Fan them folks out intuh tn Street !
Bergen, nd watch ow-ut!"
Maitland was pressing the lever
slowly wide of its catch, and the
lighted lobby dropped out of sight
While the detective was still shouting
to the police below Grad
Tally gaining momentum the car began
o shoot smoothly up into the black
hess, safety chains clanking beneath
he floor. Hickey fumbled for the
electric light switch but, finding it., i'm
nediately shut the glare off again and
eft the car in darkness.
Safer" he explained, sententious.
'Anisty II shoot, nd they says he
shoots straight"
Floor after floor in ghostly strata
slipped silently down before their
yes. Halfway to the top, approx
nately, Hickey's voice rang sharply
n the volunteer operators ear.
stop 'er! Hold 'er steady. T'other's
omin' down"
Maitland obeyed, managing the cay
With greater ease and less jerkily as
le began to understand the principle
# the lever. The cage paused in the
lack shaft, and he looked upward.
Down the third shaft over, the otho
age was dropping like a plummet,
lock Of golden light walled in by
lack filigree-work and bisected verti-
ally by the black line of the guide
all.