Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-15
A MUGS GAME Mag page

II London could claim for their
counting house a 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 trifie re-
moved from silks and satins.
''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! ! haven [
| got time to listen to your football!
claptrap! l want that ledger bal
anced by lunch time, or you'll explain
to Mr. Coates!"
M. 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, 1t became the jun
I f~rsz J, oil HpGfra n toxic hi q
| 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
self-operating lift 1t was a more OF
| less prOsaic object for an eye to
catch. but 1t flashed to the nimble
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 umbered but
ton. To avoid accident, the lift in
| geniously refuses to move an inch
unless the gates on each floor are Sc
| 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
I automatically stopped; and II this
| phenomenon occurs while the eleva-
| tor is between the floors, the unfor
| tunate occupant Is Gagged in Ike
prize rabbit untilE 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 l
o'clock except Mr.. Brown, who-from
| extra zeal, let us say-stayed almost
| invariably till a quarter past. Also,
| the assistant senior clerk was in the
| ha bit of descending by the automatic
| lift
This Mr. Jones also remembered.
At two or three minutes to l 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 ten minutes past l Jones got
up and. getting on his coat and hat.
went out. He descended to the first
| floor. which was deserted. Here he
| took up station by the gates of the
| automatic lift.
Presently. just about a quarter past,
I = oil
and quietly Jones exerted his strength
and wrenched open the gate. The lift
stopped. Then the junior clerk stole,
| chuckling. out to lunch.
! At ten minutes past l that after
| noon Todbury Finch, Esq, Junior
partner of the firm, was seated in his
! sanctum on the third floor when there
came a ring on the telephone.
Hello" he said. Who's that? Oh.
| hello. George! How are you? What's
that? Got something good for the
| o'clock? Bluebell, 100 to 8. What's
! that? Back heavy? It's a cert then.
| Put II on at once Yes, I will. Thanks
! for the tip, old man. Good bye"
He put up the receiver and looked
| hurriedly at his watch. Just on 4
! quarter past /. 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