"If this goes on much longer
we'll be floated out on a river of salt tears. It's all right, Madam,
they are not going to send any axes down."
The women continued to sob violently for a time, but at last they
got her quieted and were free to consider other ways and means of
escape.
Pat Kelly, the genial engineer of the building, was sent down to the
basement to see what he could do with the refractory machinery, for
although the elevator people had been telephoned to, their men had not
yet put in an appearance. Pat's contribution was to create a horrible
din by hammering on every pipe he came to, stopping at three-minute
intervals to yell, "Can ye be moving now?"
"Call that man off!" shouted the younger of the two men passengers.
"What do you think this is--a boiler factory? About all the good
he'll do will be to dislodge the car, and we'll fall the rest of the
way."
This was a bad suggestion, and only by hard work were two more cases
of hysterics averted.
"I think what we need is a drink of water," declared Betty timidly.
"Do you think they could get some down to us? And, Bob, why don't
they send for the fire department?"
"I suppose because we are not on fire," answered Bob seriously.
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