The Monitor-register. [volume] (Woodstown, Salem Co., N.J.) 1892-1972, 1896-11-06
EDDIE's CHARGE.
BY HARRIET CARYL cox.

of Boston than Eddie Markham. For
whole week he had been in charge of the
elevator, and that to Eddie's mind was
almost as important a position as Chief of
the Fire Department. an Office that he
considered far ahead of all others, even
the governorship of the State.
To be sure the elevator was used only
to carry the big bales of cotton and what
other merchandise needed transporting In
the big warehouse, and it was at best
a rough, clumsy affair, moving slowly
and with jerks. But then, it was an
elevator, and this covered a multitude of
shortcomings.
To be able to feel that he, Eddie Mark
ham, had it in his power to move the
elevator up or down, to assist the men
load and unload it, was the keenest salts
faction.
| OF course it wasn't as ornamental as
wearing BRASS buttoned uniform and
managing one of the swift moving cush-
Toned affairs in the big dry-goods stores;
| but it was really of great Importance,
Eddie argued.
He looked back with scorn at the work
he had previously done-errands Of all
kinds-tho he had liked the mailing Of
the letters; there were always SO many of
them and this showed conclusively that
the firm was busy one; and he had been
proud to stand at the letter box on the
busiest corner of the wholesale district,
and drop them in, one letter at time,
till the big pile had vanished. But that
was before he had been elevated" as
Bascome said.
Bascome was fond of making puns,
and he and Eddie had had great fun over
this one, and tried 1t on nearly every one
| 10 the big building, the two members of
Ethe firm excepted, Of course, though
Eddie was meditatipg on trying it on the
| senior partner, for, as he said to Bascome,
"Hs's got lot O. fun in him, Mr..
Weatherbee has; you can see it in the
twinkle of his eye, and he amt near so
stuck up as Knowlton is. Why the very
way he calls Eddie, is different; and he
smiles and says thank you; but Knowlton
don't seem to know you've done the
errand, if you have. If you haven't he
knows it mighty we'll"
Eddie evidently spoke from experience.
Eddie was thinking of this now, as he
threw out the last bundle, and started on
another trip down.
Mr. Weatherbee had been unusually
smiling that morning, and had worn in
his buttouhole deep red carnation; and
the office had received an extra busting.
Something mus be up.
"Boss wants you," voice suddenly
shouted down the elevat we'll.
Eddie gave the rope pull. Involun-
tarily his hand went to his hair, and he
Wondered if the last scrabble with the
janitor bad deranged it. A pull at his
necktie and hasty slap at his trousers,
whichsshowed signs of recent contact
with the dusty floor, and the elevator
stopped at the office floor.
The two. partners were standing just
outside the Office talking with some
ladies. A little girl hung on Mr.. Weth.
erbee's hand.
"We want to go over the building,
I Eddie" he remarked, pleasantly; "and
think wei II go up in the elevator. You
can clean it bit suppose ?" as his eyes
4 tooE n tue ffrrersea sns ffoof
1t was the work of moment to sweep
the paper and bits of cotton and straw
from the elevator, and to start it upward
First they went on the very top, and
Tout on the roof, which commanded fine
view of the harbor, on the one side, anG
of the busy city on the other. Then they
examined the big bales of cotton, and The
child asked numb erless questions, as to
where it grew and how it grew
and how it ever got to be dresses
etc., until, finally, Mr.. Wetherbee pu
her into Eddie's care, with the injunction
not to Kill himself trying to answer he
questions If be didn't want to. Then ht
devoted himself to the ladies'.
But Eddie found his task. very pleas
ant one. AT first the child had looked
at him gravely, then, as if satisfied, hat
put out her tiny hands and asked to b.
put up on the big bales
Way, way up!' she entreated. Ant
then when he had taken her up on tn,
highest pile, she shouted down fol
.Grand2a to s"look up and see her most al
I Ito heaven;" he waved his hand back t,
her, and one OF the ladies looked anxious
but "I've found the boy really very care
full, !" he treasured her.
Eddie heard him and flushed at th
words. Then he Strengthened himsel
up. and carefully, oh, so carefully, helpe,
the child down. He would show then
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 b
drawn away from the engine, who's
shining piston and revolving balls fasci
mated her. Finally they all returned t.
the office; all but the child. She begge'
to ''ride on the 'vator, Grandpa, please,
and Grandpa had consented.
You have yet an hour TO wait, Jen
uie," he had said to one of the ladies'
"and you might as we'll let the chill
amuse herself"
So Eddie and she returre1 to the ele
vator, and work once more was taken up
: though the loads ere light ones, so thai
The elevator should Lot be crowded.
Every once in while thot in the of
flee could hear the child's happy laugh
and once she danced in, her eyes shining
her cheeks aglow, and her hair feoke,
with bits of cotton.
Sits just elegantly she said; then wa
} away again before they could answer.
"The train starts at 8. 90" Mr.. Weth
!, erbee was saying.
A sharp scream interrupted him-th
sound of something heavy fal!ing-s dull
thud, the rush of many feet, and clou
!, of dust from the elevator we'll.
, "The elevatorp' gasped Mr. Wether
bee. His face was white, and great drop
stood on his brow.