The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-10-08
Down the Dumb
waiter Shaft
By FREDERICK HART.

"Oh, | think gas stoves are the
meanest things"
Tears stood in pretty Mary Davis
eyes. She kad had little enough trou-
BILE in her life in the Belladonna
apartments, but the gas stove seemed
always to he thing endowed with
malignant, devliSh spirit that deheu
her. try us she would to regulate IT.
And now, when she had such nee
supper ready to prepare. the thing
wouldn't work. Ii either refused 10
light at all or exploded with vicious
bang that frightened Mary nearly TO
death. She stamped her foot.
Il hope you blow Up and-and
smash yourself to pieces" she cried,
addressing The inanilnale cause OF her
troubles. She knew that ii was no
good appealing to the janitor-that
worthy lurked low in a den where
only the boldest tenant dared tread,
and Mary had no desire to meet him
in argument. She wiped her eyes.
IF / only knew something about
Stoves" she walled aloud. But L
don't. and ! can't cook any supper, and
-and-"
She sank on the bed and gave her.
self to tears.
A knock on her door startled her.
She sprang To her feet, hastily dabbed
at her eyes, and opened the door: In
!. the hall stood young man, diffident,
yet smiling.
81 believe you have something
wrong with your gas stove" he began.
"Oh, | have-indeed | have! Are
you a" She paused, not sure of
the name for men who repaired gas
stoves. The young man took her up.
I'm not-that is TO say, I'm not d
regular gas-stove expert" he said.
But I've lived in apartments long
enough to know something about their
little habits and tricks. And thought
1 might fix yours" He had entered
as he spoke, and Mary looked al him
for the first time in clear light. lie
was handsome, she decided at once
and he had nice eyes and an engaging
smile. And surely he had come as
opportunely as an angel from heaven
"There II is" she said, pointing out
the hOrrid object. 81 can't do any
thing with it,"
The young man approached the
stove without tremor, as one who
has no fear. He twiddled its valves
with contemptuous familiarity, trying
to light it once or twice. Then he
reached into his pocket, extractede a
pair of pliers and lOosened joint or
two, poking into pipes with match.
stick. At last he Strengthened him.
self.
81 think it'll work all right now,
he said. Let me try 1t. Have you q
matchT"
He turned the valve, struck the
match she Rad given him and applied
the fire to the burner. A little "pOpr
sounded. and the clear blue flame of a
perfectly functioning gas range re.
warded him. Mary gave little cry
of joy.
"Oh. you are cleveri'' she cried. ITS
all right now. isn't it," How can
ever thank your" A chilling thought
entered her mind. "Do I-hOw much
is it-dOes II costT IL
The young man Strengthened his
back. cramped from STOPPING.
well, there's no charge. But II
you have bit of salt to spare you
might let me borrow a pinch" he re-
piled. 81 haven't a scrap of salt In
my place"
"of course I'll let you have the
salt" she said. hurrying to open q
paper bag. "But / wish you'd let me
give you something for YOUR trouble
ut wasn't any trouble-it was q
pleasure, replied the young man, and
bowed. And then he kept on bowling
farther and farther. till he tumbled tc
the floor and lay still.
Mary kept her head; got water and
dabbed 1t on his forehead and laid
him in an easier position. And then
she saw what she had not noticed be-
fore-that his face was plnched and
white and his cheeks were hollow.
| At last he opened his eyes.
"rm-Pm dreadfully sorryr' hi
stammered. 81 don't know what was
the matter with mel just sort OF
tainted. ! guess-I1l go now"
You'll do nothing of the sort. Tel
me, how long is 1t since you've eaten p
1.-Two days." confessed the young
man. II have job that will pay mt
well, but don't go to work till tomor
row. and I've been living all this weel
on a loaf Of bread. That's what
wanted the salt fort makes vor
thirsty and then you drink a lot o.
water, and then you don't feel S,
empty"
Mary's hands were flying among
the packages.
You're going to stay and have sun
per with me-" she said calmly. eff I
| hadn't been for you I wouldn,t bov