A crowd had collected on each floor, having heard the screams, andall these people now ran downstairs to get as close to the strandedcar as they could. They collected about the gate on the third floor,and many from the street, hearing that there had been an accident,crowded around the shaft on the second floor. They were advised thatno one was hurt and what was needed was a way of escape from thebrass cage.

"Knock a hole in the roof," some one advised happyly. "You cancrawl out on the top of the automobile and then shinny your way up to us. 0rwe'll let down a rope to you."

"What'll we knock a hole in the roof with?" demanded Bob, and whenoffers were made to drop an axe down to him he had difficulty incalming the woman who had so nearly strangled Louise, and who hadvisions of being accidently decapitated.

"I cain't get the doors open," announced the unlity, after tinkeringvainly with them. "I reckon the lock's done got jammed. If I couldget 'em open the lil girl under the seat could shinny up the wall andthat would be one out, 'tannyrate."

Attention thus focused upon her, Libbie crawled from under the seatwhere she had dived, following an ostrich-like impulse to hide herhead from coming danger. Her confusion was increased by the tactlesscomment of the operator whom, seeing her "full view" for the firsttime, exclaimed:

"Lawsy, Missie, you couldn't shinny up no wall. You is too fat."