RANSVESTIA

Considering the man's size and his probable state of mind under the circumstances Harry was anxious to avoid a confrontation. The first two burglars he had dealt with had been much closer to Harry's propor- tions, and in spite of his dress Harry had felt on equal terms. As he watched the floor indicator light die out Harry had an inspiration. He ran back to the stairwell and descended to the basement. After fumbling with his keys he finally found the right one and let himself into a small cubicle packed with electrical boxes and other equipment. It was the control center for the store's internal transportation system. Rows of switches comprised the master controls for the elevators and escalators. He opened the box containing controls for the main bank of elevators. There were six elevators in the bank. Floor indicators formed neat rows of lights under a set of switches numbered one through six. Accord- ing to the lights all of the elevators in the main bank were on the first floor. He waited, never removing his eyes from those tiny lights. He prayed for one of those lights to go out and move to light up the indicator for the second floor. After riding the elevators consistently would the big man change and start walking the escalators? Perhaps it was too much to hope for after all. Still he knew the big man would not find a way out on the first floor. The burglar would have to go all the way back to the sixth floor and exit the same way he had entered. If the man happened to come to the basement and head for the maintenance and security office could Harry still cut him off. The control room was just around the corner from the office in the same passageway.

As the minutes passed Harry began to doubt the wisdom of his plan. It had seemed so simple and workable at first blush. Now nearly ten minutes had passed and the big man had not returned to the elevators. Perhaps he had smashed a plate glass window on the first floor. That would be very difficult to do unless he hit it with something very heavy. And, of course, the noise of breaking glass might attract someone's attention outside. Harry waited and worried and decided to wait for five more minutes.

He was staring at the control panel so fixedly he almost missed it. A light blinked. It was elevator number five. It moved to the second floor. Harry's hand was on the master control switch. He counted to himself, one, two, three, four seconds and pulled the circuit breaker with a jerk. A red light at the top of thepanel went out. The power in the main elevator bank was off. The little lights remained on, however, and under elevator five a light shown for floors two and three. Above the main power switch was a small sign which Harry read:

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