Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-16
A Mug S Game
To-day's Complete Short Story.

NEW commercial enterprises in
! London could claim for their
counting house scene Of
greater activity than Messrs. bod
son, Finch & Dodson; but. unfortu-
nately, that activity was not always
| confined to counting" or the other
/ Legitimate functions of the depart
ment
Discussions and differences arose
| constantly over matters a trife re-
moved from silks and satins.
I "Tottenham Hotspur." said Junior
Clerk Jones, pugnaciously, could eat
Chelsea! So now"
AT which Assistant Clerk Brown
/ bridled and drew on the resources Of
/ official prestige
Look here, Jones'" he said shortly,
| get on with your work! I haven't
got time to listen to your football
/ claptrap. | want that ledger bal
anCed by lunch time or you'll explain
| to Mr.. Coates!"
| NJ Jones leaned over the ponder
! Gus ledger on his desk, and addressed
! himself in tones happily inaudible.
THAT was Brown all over. Couldn't
| nave a decent. sensible discussion
without losing his temper and turn
/ ing on shop" He wouldn't get any
! ledger balanced by lunch time. He'd
/ watch it. Explain to Coates? Rats!
An Inspiration.
Mr.. Jones by a spasmodic species
| Of logic ultimately came to the con-
| clusion-not altogether unique-that
| Brown was a fool.
That being so, il became the jun
| ior's overwhelming desire to take his
| confrere down a peg
How, he had yet to decide.
Half an hour later the junior
clerk had occasion to traverse the
| corridor that led to the buying de-
partment. As he did so his eye
caught the gate Of the automatic
| elf-operating lift. II was a more o.
| less prosaic object for an eye TO
catch, but it flashed to the nimbe
| brain of Mr.. Jones an inspiration Of
the first water. He chuckled.
Properly to appreciate Mr.. Jones
attitude a short description Of the lift
| is necessary. 1t was one of that or
der which, when you have gained the
interior and securely closed the
gates proceeds TO the desired floor
upon the pressure of a numbered but
ton To avoid accident, the lift in
geniOuslv refuses to move an inch
unless the gates on each floor are Se-
curely fastened. 1t is plain, there
fore that if one of the gates be forCi-
bly, WrenChed open ever so slightly
while the lift is in motion, the lift is
automatically stopped, and If THE
phenomenon occurs while the eleya-
tor is between the floors. the unfor
tunate occupant is Gagged in Ike
prize rabbit until such time as the
offending gate becomes adjusted,
1t was this knowledge that in
spired Mr.. Jores with the aforemen
toned inspiration.
Everyone went out to lunch at I
o'clock except Mr.. Brown, whO-fTOm
extra zeal, let MS say-stayed almost
invarid bly, till a quarter past. Also
the assistant senior clerk was i'm the
habit Of descending by the automatic
lift
This Mr.. Jones also remembered.
At two or three minutes to 1 the bus
tie and activity Of the Dodson- Finch
Establishment became alarmingly ac-
centuated. Everyone seemed excess
sively impatient to leave the prem
ises-that is, with the exception Of
Mr. Browns usual, and also Mr..
Jones. strange to say.
The Trap.
The former glanced up at his con-
frerc and smiled Evidently Jones
had taken him seriously and intended
to complete the ledger before going
out. At ton minutes past ! Jones got
mp and. getting on his coat and hat.
went out He descended TO the first
floor which was deserted Here ne
took up station by the gates of the
automatic lift
Presently. just about a quarter past
the lift began to descend. Quickly
and quietly Jones eXerted his strength
and Wrenchad open the gate. The lift
stopped. Then the Junior clerk stole,
Chuckling, out to lunch.
At ten minutes past / that after
noon Todbury Finch. Esq, junior
partner of the firm. was seated i'm his
sanCtum on the third floor when there
came ring on the telephone.
Hello" he said. who's that? on. /
hello. George! How are you? What's
that2 Got something good for the I
o'clock Buebel. 100 to 8. What's
that2 Back heavy It's cert, then |
Put II on AT once Yes. I VIII Thanks
for the tip, old man. Good bye"
He PIT up the receiver and looked
hurredly at his watch. Just on q
quarter past 1, BY Jove. he'd have
to act quickly. He grabbed his hat
and hurried into the lift. Pressed the .
button and began to descend Sud /
denly between the second and third /
floors it stopped. What was up? He (
pressed all the buttons vigorously. re
slammed the gate fumed and pottered 4
for five minutes
Then he called out:
Hi. Shut that gate there, Hi"
The Wrong One.
The reply came back in angry
tones.
-"Gate there, Hi"
TOdburg Finch simply frothed with
rage. Il would be too late TO put any
s,1or.,- ON tho . Drrrgofr 'TI. itYrf,,,