The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-12-13
SELECTED STORY.
Petey's Call.


other one when the manager next looked
his way. 1t pas raining outside, and the
streets were in that mushy state suggestive
of chocolate pudding, with no hint about
them of the heavy downfall of beautiful
snow which had preceded the rain.
Petey didn't relish the idea of going out
again-he was not n regular" and had nei-
ther uniform nor rubber coat. He had been
taken in as special during the holiday week
and wasn't quite sure yet whether he would
be retained or not. AS a matter of fact, in
his present drowsy condition he didn't care
much what happened to him as long as he
wasn't disturbed.
just when his medtations were assum-
ing chaotic mixture in which the actual
and the fanced were strangely combined
the cry of "NeXtW was called, and the boy
fish form Strengthened up, the brown eyes
were vigorously rubbed by two very dirty
knuckles, which operation did not tend to
beautfy his countenance by any means and
. very detected figure presented itself at
the desk in answer to the call
"Here you, what's your NUMBER"
"Eighty-six," drawled Petey, still almost
too sleepy to answer
"This call is from 617 North Blank street.
Do you know where it is?'
"Yes, sir" said Petey whose rare knowl-
edge of the city had helped him materially
IN securing the place
"Well, here's your car fare; don't forget
the tariff; get out"
Clapping his hat on his towsled head,
which resembed nothing so much as u
floor mop, the boy waited for no second in
vitation, but shot out of the door like
fash, only to drop into gentle saunter
when he was out of sight of the Office
Taking his card out Of his hat he solilo-
quized as he walked along: "Swel neigh
borhood! | suppose they want me to go to
de caterers or de florists. Dem nabobs allus
has some such job like dat for us poor fell
lers. A messenger boys life amt no snap,
I kin tell you, he remarked sagey to him
self as he stopped to watch fight between
yellow dog and stub tailed cat that had
Just run out of the alley adjoining a print
Ing Office. When tabby had vanquished,
her enemy Petey proceeded on his way,
and after several encounters with sundry
street gamins and a parley with an apple
woman about the price of her wares he
surreptitiously mounted the steps of a
northward bound street car, cautiously
avoiding the eyes of the driver, and settled
himself for a good time with a thrilling
tale of the plains, which he drew from his
pocket, and the two apples which he had
bulldozed from the woman for the price of
one
Somehow the adventure of Mark, the
Cowboy" failed to interest him today, the
Jingle of the bells, the steady drip, drip of
the rain and the ever increasing number of
passengers necesstating his jumping on
and off at almost every square did not tend
to the undisturbed enjoyment of his men
tai feast. He therefore fell back upon his
own thoughts for company, and viewed in
detail his life since he had entered the serv-
Ice of the "A d. T." He smiled grimly as
he thought of the baby which he had held
for two mortal hours while it's mother
shopped from one department to another
1t wasn't good baby, and he had been
obliged to walk up and down with it-trot
and sing to it. He had slapped it once-at
this thought the smile broadened into a
fiendish grin.
Some one passing by had suggested that
IL was hungry, another thought that pin
was sticking into it and a third was certain
that it had the collie. Petey knew that it
was nothing but temper, but what could he
do but walk, trot and sing, and when that
mother returned was it not unkind of her to
snatch the infant from his arms and ex-
Z claim in a voice for all to hear, "What did
the naughty little boy do to mothers
angelo" while the miserable "angel," with
. look of unholy satisfaction, cuddled down
in the woman's arms and never shed an
other tear?
He thought it all over again, the day
that he went for the undertaker; the maid
en- lady he escorted to the theater as she
was quite too young to 20 to a place of
amusement without Il chaperon; the bun
dies that he had carried; the candy that he
hoA bn N ut ba hnI Il
and he came to the conclusion that school
life wasn't so bad after all.
The car by this time was nearing the
neighborhood where he wished to alight. SO
he swung off with that easy grace that the
children of the streets are quick to acquire
and sauntered leisurely along the pave
ment. 1t was very elegant section that
he found himself in. A great square in the
center and large, substantial looking stone
houses facing it on each side. A few chill
dren with their nurses were playing in the
park, and at several doors well appointed
carriages were in waiting. No. 617 was a
corner house as handsome as those about
It, and with wing built out on side
street, which was evidently a conservatory
r Petey took all this in at a glance, and as he
ran up the broad steps and peeped in
through the silken vestibule curtains he
murmured, Here's richness"
A trim little maid with snowy cap and
apron opened the door and told him to
wait in the hall while she informed her
mistress of his arrival. Left alone, Petey
took in the details Of the beautiful house.
The wide hall was fitted up as sitting
room, a cheerful fire blazed in the open fire
place and fur rugs lay about Oh the polished
Moor. Palms were set in every conceivable
niche, and the fragrance of flowers pervaded
the air Through the heavy curtains which
hung between the hall and the room be-
yond Petey caught glimpse of large
picture hanging over the mantelpiece. 1t
represented very pretty young lady in
bridal costume, and when a moment later
swish of silk made Petey look around he
knew that the original of the picture WAS
before him.
slow long you have beenp' was the first
greeting that he received from the lady,
who, despite her youth and rich attire,
looked anything but happy. II suppose
you loitered on the way. Messenger boys
always do. There is not one fiji to be in the
service, not one, and if l had my way they
all should be discharged. Here l have
waited nearly an lOur for Won and ruDp I'M