Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-12-17

then when he had taken her up on the
highest pile, she shouted down FOR
| grandpa to "look up and see her most
| up to heaven;" he waved his hand back
to her, and one Of the ladies looked anx-
ious; but 1--WE found the boy really
very careful" he treasured her.
Eddie heard him and flushed at the
words. Then he Strengthened himself
up, and carefully, oh, SO carefully,
helped the child down. He would
show them that he was to be trusted.
: All over the building they went, from
one floor to another, even to the base
ment, where the child could hardly be
| drawn away from the engine, whose
| shining piston and revolving balls fasci-
mated her. Finally they all returned to
the office; all but the child. She begged
to ride on the 'vator, grandpa,
| Please" and grandpa had consented.
"You have yet an hour 10 wait, Jen-
ME-" he had said to one of the ladies';
'and you might as well let the child
amuse herself"
So Eddie and she returned to the eie-
| vator, and work once more was taken
mp, though the loads were light ones, so
| that the elevator should not be
crowded.
Every once in awhile those in the
office could hear the child's happy
laugh; and once she danced In, her eyes
| shining, her checks aglow, and her hair
| fecked with bits of Gotten.
Its just elegant she said; then
was away again before they could an
swer.
THE train starts at $780," Mr..
Wetherbee was saying.
A sharp scream interrupted him-the
eound Of something heavy falling-a
dull thud, the rush of many feet, and a
cloud of dust from the elevator well.
''The elevator!" gasped Mr.. Wethcr-
bee. His face was white, and great
drops stood on his brow.
1T broke, and fell to the cellar" a
man said, running up.
There was throng about the gate
way, but they made way for the white
haired old man as he tottered toward 1t.
Strong hands held him as he thrust his
head into the well and looked down.
The air was still thick with dust.
Can you see them?' some one que
ried.
There was an awful silence; then II
was broken by sobs from the Office
then n child's cry.
upstairs"
A rush for the stairway, the old man
in the lead. The cries were nearer.
Two lights up Mr.. Wetherbee turned
to the left; then he stopped. The rest
fell back. A broken bale of cotton lay
scattered on the floor next to the ele-
vator we'll. In the midst of it stood the
child. Beside her, in a heap, lay Ed
die. One leg was doubled and twisted
under him; blood was trickling from
cut on his forehead; he was motionless.
something cracked the child ex-
planned, when kind hands had made
the boy more comfortable, nnd the am-
bulance had been sent for. Some
thing cracked awful and then shook,
and knocked me right off the bale I
was sitting on; and Eddie caught me
pig-a-back, quick's he could, and
jur1ped right out when we was coming
by. And he tumbled down Just like
this, and hasn't moved bit since; and
I've spoke TO him lots. I didn't get
hurt, cause was on top, you see; and I
cried hard soon's thought of it. But
1t just seemed as if nobody wouldn't
come ever. But you did. didn't you
grandpa?" and she patted the kind
face held close to her own.
There was q stir as the emergency
man came in and transferred Eddie to
the stretcher.
''Some bones broken, badly shaken,
but nothing worse, I think" was the
doctors verdict.
Just as they arose to bear him away,
be moved slightly, and his eyelids slow
ly raised.
81 tried to be careful" he said-N. Y.
Independent.