The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-12-12

found that he could advance as rapidly
by attending the evening classes, with
the addition of two studies in which the
principal could still allow him to con-
tinue, as though he were to remain iht
the high school. And he had learned,
from the other boys that the subclerlS
was to have two hours day free for
school work; for Mr.. Adams knew very
we'll what was the value of an educa-
ton.
About ten o'clock, on Charley's first
morning, Mr.. Adams, Sr., came down
the store to the counter, where his
young subclerk was doing up little
bag of nails for Johnny Smith.
"Oh, by the way, Winchester" said
Mr.. Adams, 81 wish you'd tackle the old
back storeroom, the ell to the large
storeroom we use now. The old one
has been waiting some time for GOOD
cleaning out. You can begin when you
see chance, some time" That was
leaving Charley quite margin; and
Arthur or Tom, his predecessors, would
surely have put it off until a more con-
venient season-till tomorrow, at any
rate.
But Charley soon found out from the
clerks that he was not needed in the
store, and would not be, probably, for
the rest of the morning, and he went at
once OH his fateful expedition. He dis
covered the same chaos which had con-
quered the explorers before him, but he
set rcsolutely to work. He could not
help wondering at, and rather critics.
inn Ea nf his r,1nypr
though he tried to excuse him as far ns
he could.
Nevertheless, Charley determined
that order must be restored, even at this
late day; and how he did work! All the
rest of the morning he rolled and piled
the barrels and boxes, until he had the
"center of the deck cleared for action"
as lie put it. Then, what do you think
he tried next? Something that most
boys don't especially enjoy. And how
Mr.. Adams eyes danced, when he looked
in about noon, to see young Winchester
down on his knees. scrubbing with all
his might!
Charley Strengthened himself with as
dignifcd an air as was possible under
such circumstances (his sleeves were
rolled up, and he was wearing as an
apron large busting cloth which hap
pened to be the only clean thing Ander-
son. one of the clerks, could find for
hin). He flushed little, but tried to
make his greeting very quietly cour-
teous and Indifferent.
"It is rather damp here for you.
fear, Mr.. Adams. You will find that
place rather soapy. I'm just letting
the soap sink in on that spot as the only
way to take it out. Toward the left
you will find it drier, I think
81 won't get it done to-day, sir; but
you said there was no hurry" Charley
went on, devoutly hoping that the pro-
| prietor would betake himself elsewhere
very speedily; for it is embarrassing to
have man stand by and watch you
mop, especially if you can't find any
mop handle and are obliged to kneel
more or less gracefully to work.
"Oh no, no hurry; not in the least"
Mr.. Adams fastened to assure him.
Mr.. Adams must have read young
| WinchesteI's thoughts. For he was
softly chuckling to himself as he went
back to the store. He'll do he'll do!
he thinks it's girls work, but he won't
be ashamed of it; and he is as thorough
as can he!'
The next day it was rainy, and there
was not much to do in the store, SO
Charley had Il long, busy day in the
shed room. And by night the task was
done. Everything was cleaned sorted,
and neatly arranged, and what seemed
utterly worthless laid aside in a. heap
just outside the door, where Mr.. Adams
could glance at it. and see if anything in
it proved fit TO save.
And young Winchester was retained.
The sign did not appear again, for that
particular. especial, superhuman kind
of Il "Boy" that was "Wantcd" had GER
tainly been found.
Mr.. Adams invited all the applicants
into the store one day. The Office could
not hold them, and he gave them pleas
ant, but very frank, talk" indeed; and
he explained the shedroom scheme, the
rock on which so many had struck; and
lie gave them some good advice for fu
ture service. too. He was interested lii
hoyhood and he was a thorough bust
ness man. Many of the listeners car
ried its help with them through life, but
some of the boys were angry.
81 should say it was a scheme" de-
clared one, angrily, as they talked it
over on the grocer's box and other loaf
ing places that night.
Il should have thought we'd have
caught on to it, complained another.
"Wcll, he didn't try it on them all, you
see. and then he had such otfhand way
we never thought of that old sheds
being a test" concluded a third.
And did Charley marry the proprie'
tors daughter and live in luxury there
after?
Well, yes and no. He didn't marry
the daughter-Mr. Adams family con-
sisted of himself, his son and the house
keeper. So in that respect confess
that young Winchester was not exactly
the regulation hero of a real story book.
But he did become partner before