Part 26 (1/2)
”So he is, I believe, on his way back fro fire test I am to wait for hi, or all the bargains will be taken Is there any word you want to send to Uncle Barton?”
”No,” answered Mrs Blake ”Though youfun at your Uncle Jasper for having investedon your Uncle Jasper's nerves,” she added
”Uncle Barton never can give up a joke, once he thinks he has one,”
said Mary ”But I'll tell hied Mary's aunt, and then the girl left
Mary's uncle, Barton Keith, ho the undersea search, had offices in the Land suburb
The girl was pleased with the results of her shopping, and at the close of the afternoon she stopped at the Land shot up in the elevator to the floor where Barton Keith had his offices
Though Mr Keith had refrained frohed at Mary's Uncle Jasper for having done so, this did not prevent hi structure which, as we already knoned in large part by Field and Melling
”Ah, Mary! Co Tom Swift's sweetheart ”It is so late I was afraid you weren't coo hoain sales for ”
”No, I still had a few things to do One was to write a letter to your Uncle Jasper, telling him I had heard of another fire trap that was open to investors”
”Oh, and that reminds me I must tell you not to push Uncle Jasper too far!” warned Mary
”Ha! Ha!” laughed Uncle Barton ”Heon the undersea search with Toood on that, and that'sdeal!”
”But don't exasperate hi to this building? I see the stairways and soto make it fireproof,” answered her uncle ”It's rather late to try that now, but they've got either to do it or stand a big increase in insurance rates I'lad I'm out of it But now, Mary, take an easy chair until I finish some work, and then I'll walk out with you”
Mary took a seat near one of the front hence she could look down into the now fast-darkening streets She could see the supper crowds hurrying ho skyscraper could be heard the banging of elevator doors as the office tenants, one after another, left for the day
Suddenly there was lass Then ca to her feet with a gasp of alar into the hall outside his offices As he opened the door a cloud of sasp
Mr Keith closed the door a ain the smoke in the hall seeht blaze a,” he said ”Co shut the door of his heavy safe and to stuff some valuable papers into his pocket, Mr Keith advanced and, taking Mary by the arain, and distant shouts and cries could be heard,the elevator buzzer several times, but when no car came up the shaft in response to his summons he turned to his niece and said:
”We'll try the stairs It's only ten stories down, and going down isn't anything like co up”
”Oh, indeed I can walk!” said Mary ”Let's hurry out!”
They turned toward the stairhich wound around the elevator shafts, but such a cloud of hot, stifling s for breath
And then, as they stood there, up the elevator shafts, which were veritable chiled with sparks of fire
”Trapped!” gasped Mr Keith, and he pulled Mary back toward his offices to get away fro smoke ”We're trapped!”