Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-28

ton round the elevator shaft in statu
quo Nothing mad happened, save that
Hickey's rage and vexation had increas-
ed nightly.
But why don't you go up after him?"
Flown blazes can II" exploded the de-
tective. He's got tn night car F
takes the stairs, he comes down by tn
shoft, nd how'm I tub trust this
here mutt?" He indicated his associate
but humber custodian of the peace with
disguised gesture.
Perhaps one of the other cars will run
-" Maitland suggested.
"Ah, they're all dead ones" Hickey dis
agreed with disdain as the young man
moved down the row of gates, trying one
after another. ''Yeh're only wastin'-
| He broke off with snort as Maitland,
somewhat to his own surprise managing
to move the gate of the third shaft from
| the night elevator. stepped into the dark
ened car and CROPPED for the controller.
Presently his fingers encountered it. and
he moved it cautiously to one side. A
vicious blue spark leaped kissing from
the controller box and the cage bounded
up a dozen feet and was only restrained
from its ambition to soar skyward by an
instantaneous release of the lever.
By discreet manipulation Maitland
worked the car down to the street floor
again, and Hickey, with grunt that
might be interpreted an apology 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 it's catch. and the lighted lobby
dropped out of sight while the detective
was still shouting admonitions to the po-
lice below. Gradually gaining in mo-
mentum the car began to shoot smoothly
up into the blackness, safety chains clank-
ing beneath the floor. Hickey fumbled
for the electric light switch but, finding it,
Immediately shut the glare off again and
left the car in darkness.
Safer" he explained. sententious.
"Anisty IL shoot, nd they says he shoots
straight.
Floor after floor in ghostly strata
slipped silently down before their eyes
Halfway to the top, approximately,
Hickey's voice rang sharply in the vol
urteer operators ear.
'"stop 'er! Hold 'er steady. T'other's
comm down"
Maitland obeyed, managing the
car with greater ease and less jerk
lily as he began to understand the
principle of the lever. The cage paused
in the black shaft, and he looked upward
Down the third shaft over, the other
cage was dropping like a plummet, q
block of golden light walled in by black
fligree-work and bisected vertically by
the black line of the guide rail-.
stop that there carr
Hickey's stantorian command had no
effect the block of light continued to
fall with unabated speed.
The detective wasted no more breath.
AS the other car swept past. Maitland
was shocked by report and Hash beside
him. Hickey was using ms revolver.
The defamation was answered by a cry.
a scream of pain, from the lighted cage.
1t paused on the instant, like a bird
stricken awning, some four floors below,
but at once resumed its downward
swoop.
Down. down! After emf" Hickey
beloved Il dropped one, by God!
T. other can't"
How many in the carr" interrupted
Maitland, opening the lever with a firm
and careful hand.
"Only two, same's us. 1 hit tn Teller
what was runnin' it"
Steady" continued Maitland, de-
creasing the speed. as the car approach
ed thS lower floor.
The other had beaten them down; but
it, arrival at the street level was greeted
by a short chorus of mad yells, brief
fusillade of shots-perhaps five in all
and the clang of the gate. Then, like
ball rebounding, the cage swung upwards
again. hurting at full speed.
Continued in Next Issue.