Evening star., 1934-04-22

QuIe tn0t screaming.
Pete held his arm. "In do the runnin' Of
this car, you don't mind"
IT WAS queer they didn't seem to get his
] signal downstairs. Usually they'd have had
somebody upstairs by this time, even If they
couldn't get the emergency line onto the shaft.
That was the trouble with these tangled
inclosed cars You couldn't yell to the next
car as it sped by. Unless Jim got the signal
downstairs they might be there several minutes.
skinny guy was getting troublesome and might
need a poke in the nose. And the f1ashy dame
was liable to pull faint any minute now.
Pete felt 10 times worse about II because
there was nothing he could do. If he was in
a ship now, or an airplane, he could be q sort
of a hero even If he had to die or something.
But plotting cage you just had to sit and take
it. And when it was working-which
was $4,000 times out Of million-you Just
stood there like dummy. taking people up and
down. Not chance to see anything or get
in on the excitement Of life at all. much less
be hero and save anybody or anything.
But Pete's hurried thoughts were interrupted
at them buttons, will you? don't think you
know what you're doing"
Better let Pete handle it." said young Mr.
Franklin. After all what's a minute or two?"
He looked down at the girl, and Pete saw that
she had showed up closer to him.
Who's shown an oar In thiS?" growled
the pale man.
said Mr.. Franklin, looking at him eoolly
The other stood stock still a moment, grow
ing family pink. He seemed to be trying to
decide whether to deal with Mr.. Franklin
or ignore him. and then, very suddenly. he
made his decision. Without warning he struck
out at the yOlIn0 attOrney'S law Telling him
instantly.
Then Pete did singular thing Singular
that is, for Pete. While the tall man stood
over Franklin with fists clenched Pete slid
from its rest the operators stool which was
folded against the wall Of the car. He
brought it down slowly but very effectively on
the ruffians skull.
As he stepped to one side to let the limp
form sink to the floor the big woman screamed
and the girl lifted Mr.. Franklin's head in her
arms and cried, "Oh, darling, darling are
you hurt?" While Mr.. Middleton Marshall
tried to placate the hysterical woman Pete
mopped his brow and wished nightly tEat he
were out of that cage.
I'm suffocating!" the big woman yelled
"It's Gods punishment for what was going
to dol"
Nonsense, my good woman" soothed Mr.
Middleton Marshall. There's nothing wrong
with you. and you must be quiet"
eyes,
shaking her head slowly.
II tell you this Is Gods punishment-and
all Of you will die here because of me-"
Lady" pleaded Pete, "the only danger in
here is that you might burst blood-vessel
screaming 50 loud"
do you know what was going to do?" she
asked. turning to Pete suddenly "I was going
to kill q man in this building, that's what
was going to do." From her bag she tore out
a small black revolver. "See this? was going
to kill him. I was going to kill Jime Blake
because he"
Pete grabbed the revolver. and the woman
sank down onto the floor, weeping hysterically
The next minute she was praying forgiveness
and for the life she felt sure was slipping away
from her there in the elevator cage. Pete
looked at Mr. Middleton Marshall and shook
his head sadly. It was as II to say, What
carful to get stuck with!"
QUT the great man was looking curiously
thoughtful Somehow, as he looked down
ct the weeping woman. the unconscious ruff
nan and the two young people. Mr.. Middleton
Marshall seemed more kindly and thoughtful
than Pete had ever seen him.
A buzzer sounded loudly at Petes elbow, and
he almost shouted. There she Isl"
The passengers looked at him, eyes staring
all, that is. except Mr.. Franklin, who stin lay