Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-12-19
EDDIE'S CHARGE.
BIZ HARRIET c. COX.

There was no prouder boy in the
city of Boston than Eddie Markham.
Tor :. whole week he had been in
charge of the elevator, and that to Ed
dies mind was almost as important a
position as chief of the FIRE depart
snent, an office that he considered far
ahead of ell others, even the governor
chip 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
nffair, moving slowly and with jerks.
But then, it was an elevator, and
this covered multitude of shortcom-
ings-
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
IL
mailing OF the letters; there were always
SO many of them; and this showed con-
clusiyely 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 a time, till the big pile had
vanished But that was before he had
tcen elevated" as Bascome said.
! Basco-n was fond of making puns,
land he and Eddie had had great fun
over this one, and had tried it on near
-lv every one in the big building, the
two members of the firm excepted. of
-lcourse, hough Eddie was meditating on
trying it on the senior partner, for. as
ihe said to Bascome: 'He's got lot o
Sur in him, Mr.. Wetherbee has; you
can see it in the twinkle of his eve, and
he amt near stuck-up Knowlton
U.s. 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 WELL
Eddie evidently spoke from expert
ence. Eddie was thinking of this now,
as he threw out the last bundle, and
started on another trip down.
AR. Wetherbee had been unusually
In his buttonliole deep red carnation;
and the Office had received an extra
busting. Something must be up.
"Boss wants you," a voice suddenly
shouted down the elevator well.
Eddie gave the rope pull Involun-
fariiy his hand went to his hair. and he
wondered if that last scrapple with the
jauitor had disarranged it. A pull al
his neclztie and q 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 JUS
outside the Office talking with som,
ladies A little girl hung on Mr.. Weth
erber's hand.
'sWe want to go over the building
Eddie he remarked, pleasantly; "ant
think wei, go up in the elevator. You
can clean it bit. L suppose ?' as hi!
eyes took in the litter on the floor
1t was the work of a moment Il
sweep the paper and bits of cotton ant
STRAW from the elevator, and to start
upward
First they went to the very top. an,
out on the roof. which commanded
tine view of the harbor. on the on
side. and of the busy city on the other
Then they examined the big bales o
cotton and the child asked numberles
questions. as TO where it grew and how
1t grew, and how it ever got to b
dresses, ETC. until, finally, Mr.. Wether
bee put her into Eddie's care, with tn
injunction not to kill himself trying t
answer her questions if he didn't wan
TO- Then he devoted himself to tn
ladies
But Eddie found his task very pleas
snt one At first the child had looEe
r, --->1v - rSf1o oil n
spnt out Ter tiny hands and asked to b
put UP On the big bales.
Way. way up." she entreated. An