The Parker post., 1911-09-09
Storms and the
Storm Door

ness that caused MIN TO stumble
against the glass plate before him,
Then he shook the door, pushed 1t,
pulled it and pushed again, but to no
avail. 1t was characteristic of Storms
that he did not swear at it.
1t was one of those revolving storm
doors and in some way one of the
leaves had become Wedged. He
raped on the glass to attract the at
tentiOn of the porter standing by the
entrance. and that served to draw a
crowd which stared curiously at him
through the glass sides, much as they
would regard some interesting exhibit.
The porter hustled about import
antly, now shaking the door, now
peering through the glass. At last he
gave an exclamation of triumph. The
door revolved within the two seq
ments of a circle and in the compart-
ment across from Storms someone
had dropped a soft cigar case. This
had wedged the doors tight and it
was impossible to move the door.
The porter shouted these facts
through the glass. Storms groaned.
Jessie Ostrom was leaving for three
months visit If he got to the train,
there might be a chance to say what
mad been trembling on his lips that
last half year If there was much
delay, she would be gone before he
could reach the station. He held up
a S. bill against the glass but the por-
ter shook his head.
But these doors fold up" called
Storms 1--WE seen it done. They fold
fat
I'D have to squeeze you in," ex-
planned the porter. That's the only
way they fold. If you were between
the other leaves" Storms gritted
his teeth at that eff"
A newsboy outside, moved to action
by the sight of the bill sought to push
the obstacle free with a bit of stick.
The stick broke off and the door was
doubly wedged He started to try it
again but a policeman interfered.
Smash the glass" called Storms.
'1'll pay for it,
Wont do any good" was the dis
heartening reply We've sent to the
makers for a man. He'll be along in
a minute" Storms looked longingly
at the glass but he could see that the
chances Of breaking the thick plate
without being severely cut were not
good, and he looked for the porter
Tell the man to take an automo-
bile and hurry" he called. II must
get out of here I'm suffOcating"
The porter nodded intelligently. The
door was padded top. side and bot
tom with heavy rubber strips to keep
out draughts. Storms was in what
was practically an air tight chamber
and he had already exhausted the Vi
tally of the air. The porter reached
down and ripped off the rubber from
the bottom OF the door and motioned
Storms to do the same with his side.
The thin stream of cold air was de-
licious, and Storms settled himself to
wait, though over and over came the
thought that by now Jessie's train was
out Of the station and pulling across
the meadows Perhaps she was won
dering why he had not been there
hurt, perhaps, at his Indifference. To
explain would only render him ridicu-
lOus
Then there was a cOmmOtiOn in the
press. A man in overal1s pushed his
way through the crowd. For moment
he worked with a screwdriver. then
swung the imprisOning leaf back
ctn ha or
a bill into the workman's hand he
glanced at the clock. Already it was
10 minutes past train time. There was
no hope now He might as we'll go to
the office.
He was still surrounded by curious
crowd and he turned to make his way
down the street when a newsboy
tugged at his coat.
Say. boss" he piped. "Th' dame
tole me to give you this"
He held up grimy card and Storms
took it. Come over to the Chaplain
for some lunch" 1t ran. 'YOu will need
1t after your Imprisonment"
He did not need to turn the card
over to learn the name, though why
Jessie should be lunch1ng there when
she was supposed to be on her way
was a mystery
Still attended by his escort, he
crossed the street to the restaurant
The crowd dropped off at the door
and he entered alone His quick eye
caught sight Of Jessie and Mrs Os-
from over in corner. and he made
his way to them.
II thought you had gone. he cried
as he greeted them.
Il found at the last moment that
there was no through sleeper. On the
other line l can go through without
change. l am leaving tonight instead
We were driving back from the station
when we say your predicament. We
had intended to- go to the hotel for
lunch. but when we saw the crowd we
changed our minds and came over here
How did 1t happen?"
Briefly he sketched the chain of in