Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1915-06-10
TURNED UPSIDE DOWN
tcopyrIEht, lbs, BY W. 0. chapman.,
ny FRANK FILsoN.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Copyright. 1915. by W. q. chapmanO
A sudden Jar; the elevator stopped
and Cyrus Hodgson found himself
resting at the top OF the cage. among
a miscellaneous company, which In
cluded his stenographer, Miss Perkins,
three business men, two ladies. tout
q peddler and much surprised eleva'
tor man.
From the adjoining elevators came
shouts and cries. Nobody knew what
had happened for a while; then It was
seen that the elevators were upside
down.
Something gone wrong with the
machinery" demanded Hodgson.
Fortunately the elevator had
stopped almost on the level Of floor.
With a little difficulty the passengers
scrambled out.
The strangest thing met their eyes.
Everything was upside down; In fact.
they were walking on the ceiling.
Six feet ebove his head Hodgson
saw the handle OF a door, on which
was painted, upside down, the name
Zones & Co., Patent Attorneys"
IF you'll lend me your shoulders,
I'll climb up and get into that room"
volunteered Hodgson to a stout man
who stood beside him.
The stout man consenting, Hodgson
clambered up and opened the door.
He entered a business office. There
was nothing remarkable about Il, ex-
cept that the desk, safe, table and
chairs, together with couple Of type
writer's and a number OF papers, rest
ed on the ceiling.
Hodgson opened the window and
looked out down Broadway. Then he
realized the situation. BY some unac-
countable mischance every building
in broadway was resting upside down,
including the city hall and the trees
around It. The street cars were up
side down upon the tracks. Groups
of wayfarers we're clustered together,
apparently dazed; they stood and
pointed aimlessly about them.
20 Mr.. Hodgson, what has hap
pened?" exclaimed a voice behind
him.
Cyrus Hodgson, turning, beheld
Miss Perkins, pretty, and twenty
three, gazing at him in hnutterable
woe.
Il don't know what this means" she
cried, "but l promised mother not to
be late, and | was so glad you didn't
keep me this afternoon. And now
how am l going to get home to Brook
lyn?"
Cyrus Hodgson had been aware for
some weeks that he loved his stenog-
rapher. but, being nearly forty, he had
thought himself too old to think OF
marriage with her. Now something
in the way she leaned on him gave
him new courage. Almost he pro-
posed to her. However, just as the
words were trembling on his lips
they reached-the top Of the Plat
building!
They were alone. for none had fol.
lowed them in that long journey. They
stood side by side beneath the noble
stairway, which lowered and wound
above them to dizzy height. Under
their feet, some thirty feet, perhaps,
lay the magnificent dome. And far
overhead they saw the level Of Broad
way.
The Plat building was resting on
Its dome, and there was no egress.
1t had occurred to nobody to cut a
door in the dome. because such con-
tingency had occurred to nobody.
20 Cyrus, how ever am l going to
get home to BROOKLYN" Miss Perkins
interrupted tearfully.
Admirable girl! thought Hodgson
as he gazed on her. Even this catas-
trOphe had failed to move her from
her sense of the home duties.
"Cheer up, Miss Perkins," said
Hodgson, slipping his arm about her
waist. There's no doubt a feet Of
aeroplanes will be organized to take
US from the upper levels. At present
we are simply of our bases"
Miss Perkins head went down on
Cyrus Hodgson's shoulder. The sensa-
ton Of that wealth Of hair against his
cheek threw the mans prudence to
the winds.
miss Perkins--Ada, I love you" he
cried. Il love you, but l thought I
was too old for you. Now I can re-
strain myself no longer. ! want to
be your husband, to pass through life
with you-yes, even II our lives are to
be in the Plat building for ever and
sver."
This is so unezpected-so sudden,
Mr.. Hodgson," faltered Miss Perkins.
But my answer-may / answer you
when It is more private?"
OF a sudden Cyrus Hodgson per
,eived that they were alone no long
sr. They were in the elevator, but
light side up, and q sympathetic
,rowd surrounded them. He was ly-
ng on his back and Miss Perkins
vas bending over him.
sfIaatv Ear vou cot Mr.. HodRaon."