The Argosy, June 1904 — page 39: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE HAWKINS HYDRO-VAPOR LIFT. “Yes! Get an ax!” “Phwat?” | “An ax!” I repeated. “Get an ax and chop out the roof of this beastly thing so that we can climb out, and——” Hawkins clapped a hand over my mouth, and his scowl was sinister. “Haven't you a grain of sense left?” he hissed. “Yes, of course I have. That’s why I want an ax to - “Tell that crazy engineer I want more steam!” bawled Hawkins, drown- ing my voice. “More steam?” said the person above. “ More steam an’ an ax, is it?” “No—no ax. Tell him I want more steam, and I want it quick! He’s got so little pressure that we’re stuck!” We heard the echo of departing foot- steps. “ Now, youd have made a nice mud- die, wouldn’t you?” snarled the inven- tor. “We'd have made a nice sight clambering out through a hole in the top of this car!” “here are times,” I said, “when appearance don’t count for much.” “Well, this isn’t one of them,” joined the inventor sourly. I did not reply. There was nothing that occurred to me that wouldn’t have offended Hawkins, so I kept silence. We stood there for a period of min- utes, but the Hydro-Vapor Lift seemed disinclined to move either up or down. Once or twice Hawkins gave a push at his lever; but that part of the appa- ratus seemed permanently to have re- tired from active business. “ Shall we move soon?” I inquired, when the stillness became oppressive. “ Presently,” growled Hawkins. Another pause, and I hazarded again: “Isn't it growing warm? ” “T don’t feel it.” “Well, it is! Ah! The heat is com- ing from that plate!” I exclaimed, as it dawned upon me that the big iron thing was radiating warm waves through the stuffy little car.. “ Your Hydro-Vapor Lift will be pleasant to ride in when the thermometer runs up in August, won't 1¢?” Hawkins did not deign to reply, and I fell to examining the plate. re- PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG CONNMIG 525 “ Look,” I said, “isn’t that steam?” “Isn’t what steam ? ” “ Down there,” I replied, pointing to the plate. A fine jet of vapor was curling from one point at its edge—a thin spout of hot steam! “That’s nothing,” said Hawkins. “ Little leak—nothing more.” “ But there’s another now!” “Positively, Griggs, I think you have the most active imagination I ever knew in an otherwise oe “Use your eyes,’ I said uneasily. “ There’s another—and still another!” Hawkins bent over the plate—as much to hide the concern which ap- peared upon his face as for any other reason, I think. He arose rather suddenly, for a cloud of steam saluted him from a new spot. “Well,” he said, “she’s leaking a trifle.” “But why?” “The plate isw’t steam-tight, of course; and the engineer’s sending us more pressure.” His composure had returned, and he regarded me with such contemptuous eyes that I could find no answer. But Hawkins’ contempt couldn’t shut off the steam. It blew out harder and harder from the leaky spots. The little car began to fill, and the temperature rose steadily, From a comfortable Gamneh it in- creased to an uncomfortable warmth; then to a positively intolerable, reeking, wet heat. I removed my coat, and a little later my vest. Hawkins did likewise. We both found some difficulty in breathing. The steam grew thicker, the car hotter and hotter. Perspiration was oozing from every pore in my body. Sparkling little rivulets coursed down Hawkins’ countenance. “Hawkins,” I said, “if you'd called this thing the Hydro-Vapor Bath in- stead of Lift-——” “Don’t be witty,” Hawkins said coldly. “Never mind. It may be a bit un- reliable as an elevator, but you can let it out for steam-baths—fifty cents a ticket, you know, until youw’ve made up whatever the thing cost.” JOO ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED