Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-12-17
EDDIE'S CHARGE.
BY HARRIET C. cox.

There was no prouder boy in the
city Of Bostkp than Eddie Markham.
For whole week he had been in
charge of theSlevator, and that to Ed
dies mind was almost as important q
position as chief Of the FIRE depart
nlent, an Office that he considered far
ahead of all others, even the governor
ship 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 wholesale house,
and it was at best a rough, clumsy
affair, moving slowly and with jerks.
But then, it was an elevator, and
this covered q multitude of shortcom-
irgs.
To be able to feel that he, Eddie
Markham, had it in his power to move
the elevator up or down, to assist the
men load and unload it, was the keen
est satisfaction.
OF course it wasn't as ornamental as
wearing a 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 i'm
portance, Eddie argued.
He looked back with scorn at the
work he had previously done-errands
OF all kinds-though he had liked the
mailing Of the letters; there were always
SO many of them; and this showed con-
cIusively that the firm was a 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.
Bascom was fond of making puns,
and he and Eddie had had great fun
@CTer this one, and had tried it on near
,fy every one in the big building, the
two members Of the firm excepted, of
course, though Eddie was meditating on
trying it on the senior partner, for, as
he said to Bascome: Hes got lot o
fun in him, Mr.. Wetherbee has; you
can see it in the twinkle of his eye, and
ihe 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 expert
CnCe. Eddie was thinking of this now,
as he threw out the last bundle, and
started on another trip down.
Mr.. Wetherbee had been unusually
smiling that morning, and had worn
III his buttonhole deep red carnation;
and the Office had received an extra
busting. Something must be up.
BOSS wants YOU" voice suddenly
shouted down the elevator we'll.
Eddie gave the rope q pull. Involun-
tarilv his hand went to his hair, and he
wondered if that last scrapple with the
jauitor had disarranged it, A pull at
his necktie and hasty slap at his
trousers, which showed 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,
Eerbee's hand.
We want 10 go over the DullQlng
Eddie" he remarked, pleasantly; land
think we'll go up in the elevator. You
can clean it bit, 1 suppose?" as his
eyes took in the litter on the floor.
1t was the work of q moment tc
sweep the paper and bits of cotton and
straw from the elevator, and to start il
upward.
First they went to the very top, and
out on the roof, which commanded G
fre view of the harbor, on the one
side. and of the busy city on the other
Then they examined the big bales Of
cotton, and the child asked numberles'
questions, as 70 where it grew and how
II grew, and how II ever got to b.
dresses, etc, until, finally, Mr.. Wether
bee put her into Eddie's care, with the
injunctiun not to kill himself trying t.
answer her questions il he didn't wan
~. Then he devoted himself to the
ladies.
But Eddie found his task a very pleas
ont one. At first the child had looked
at him crayely, then, as il satisfied, hat
put out her tiny hands and asked to bs
~, IN On the big bales.
y way up!" che cntreated. AND