Evening star., 1934-04-22
An elevator staNs---
and five lives suddenly
change their courses
By NARD JONES

sP WENT Car 6, zooming easily
along its vertical channel
looming. until, quite suddenly. It
stopped dead between the twentieth
n and twenty-fir floors
The five passengers in Pete's
tailed car were considerably astonished. Pete
Nook them in quickly when he glanced around
and said (from Rules for Elevator Operators
in the Timpkins Building: Don't be alarmed
Our signal has gone in. and we'll be here
only q moment"
Then Pete turned to his buttons again, but
with the completeness of seasoned sage pilot
he had a mental picture of every one of his
five passengers
There was young Mr. Franklin, from the
big law Offices on the twenty-fourth floor.
There was a rather heavy woman who had
been pretty once and who, with hearty make
up. was still trying to be pretty. Pete had
never seen her before. he was sure.
Another stranger was the tall. cadaverous-
looking man whose cigaret was smoking up the
!. car in thorough fashion despite the sign which
pleaded mo Smoking. Please"
The fourth passenger was Mr.. Middleton
Marshall. very imposing. and one OF Pete's
heroes. Mr.. Middleton Marshall was the big
gest in the big Timpkins Building. But it
was curious he hadn't wanted to be let OF at his
offices which occupied the entire second floor
The image of the fifth stuck easily in Pete's
mind as it might in the mind Of any healthy.
normal male. slender young woman with
one of those absurd little hats which sat back
of her smooth forehead and revealed corn
colOred hair which somehow reminded Pete OF
years ago when he'd been a kid on the farm
DUT this sudden, inexplicable nostalgia was
~ not the reason Pete rubbed his nose. The
cigaret smoke getting bit thick in Car
6. Pete turned: Might I ask you to put
out the cigaret, sir? The air"
Alright" 1t was almost snarl. Come
on, get this thing going. will you?"
Something in the mans voice electrified
things in the stalled car. Something in it
created quick tension, which Mr. Middleton
Marshall broke with his easy laugh
"Odd." he said to nobody in particular. "how
we're amazed when an elevator stalls An
automobile, yes But an elevator-day after
day it takes us up and down, with never a
thing out of the way and pretty soon We
60 Jake it for granted"
Pete shot Mr.. Middleton Marshall grateful
look. That's sure right, sir.
you know" went on the fnancier, sits
the old man from the hills who has the proper
attitude about elevators. If he had his way
he'd leg it-but he's herded in with the rest
of the crowd. He wouldn't be astonshed If
the thing shot through the roof. So if it
stops between floors he's not bit surprised"
The cadaverous-looking man grunted. Lets
get going," he said. II didn't get in here to
listen to no monologue. What's wrong with
this thing, and how long are we here for?"
The implication of his words brought tiny,
uneasy exclamation from the girl Its all
right, miss" Pete said. "Just jiffy now
Nothin' to get excited about. This happens"
he finished, without much regard for absolute
truth. "every once in a while"
IF it does" laughed young Mr.. Franklin
good humoredly, you ought to have benches
and bridge table in here!"
Pete laughed, too That's the stuff" he
thought That big woman was going to get
else would try something funny. But just then
his fear was realized and the painted dame
burst out "Is there enough air in here? I can't
bear to be shut up. and feel funny. Are you
sure there's enough air in here?"
"Of course, madam" soothed Mr.. Middleton
Marshall. Right above you there are ventila-
tors. Plenty Of air, even II we had to stay
here indefinitely"
!, "Indefnitely?" screamed the woman. "I tell
you can't bear to be shut up"
well, I'll shut you up," mentioned the
cadaverous trouble-maker, III you don't quit
that screaming" Then to Pete he said, "How
long you been runnin' elevators In this
building?"
Eighteen years." said Pete coldly. i've
seen three different kinds Of cages come and
60 In here"
"Well, see II you can make this one come
and 60. will you?" The speaker looked around
>grimly as If for appreciation Of his humor.
He stretched out hand toward Petes controls
whats that red button for9"