“As soon as it begins to ascend he will jump up and try to force his way out. His excitement increases as he goes up until he is like a crazy man. Of course the women are alarmed, and when the wretched wife shouts that the professor, whose mind is always affected even when ascending an ordinary elevator, has gone crazy and will murder them all, you just bet there’ll be the biggest screaming match the Midway ever heard—old Cairo with its camels won’t be in it.
“Now is my turn, you see. The door of my car is unfastened. I hear the cries for help in the car above as we ascend. What Chicagoan ever heard and did not answer a woman’s appeal. There is deadly danger in it, but I’ve worked on this wheel and ought to know something about it.
“As it stops a minute to take on a fresh load below, I slip out, seize hold of the girders, and climb up to the car above. It seems impossible to do this, and yet I assure you the thing is feasible. All it needs is a strong pair of arms, a quick eye, and a bold heart; and, confound it, I’m afraid I’m lacking in the last! What d’ye think of the scheme, my boy?”
Craig laughs outright.
“Why, it’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in many a day. I feel it my duty to stop it if possible. The door is open; I shall call out to the man below.”
“Nonsense. He wouldn’t pay any attention to you. The chances are my nerve will fail me, anyhow. See here—they are about to enter the car. Notice the girl who steps like a queen, in company with the middle-aged lady in black. That is Dorothy!”
“Dorothy—yes, by Heavens, it is the same!” ejaculates Craig, suddenly fixing his gaze on the face that has haunted his dreams.
“Do you know her?” cries Claude, aghast.
“Yes—yes, that is—this infamous plot must go no further, do you hear?” and the Canadian turns upon his companion savagely.
“So far as I am concerned I confess I’m only too glad to be out of it, my noble duke. But you see, we are in motion—they ascend—the wheel cannot go backward, and I’m really afraid the ladies must be terribly alarmed by the antics of that mad professor, unless some athletic hero like yourself climbs to their rescue. As for me, it’s too much like being suspended by a spider’s web. I admit at the last a yearning for terra firma.”