Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-05-24

your father. Here's another half to as
sist you. This is simply preparatory,
Sammis. Quarters and halves and dol
lars will chink and rattle around here
and pass from me to you with aston
ishing frequency. All you've got to do
is to look out for my interests"
Eyes, sir"
SHOULD a woman call here, SammiS
an oldish woman, with red hair and a
sharp nose and voice like file"--
you are out, of course. She's the
woman who wants contributions for
the heather, and you don't want to be
bothered"
Exactly, Sammis! And you are a
jewelv' he said as he patted me on the
head. 81 am always to be out when
she calls. You are to discourage her
from calling again. You may even hint
that have removed to Chicago or ST.
Louis. l see you closely scrutin;zing
my side whiskers, Sammis. Don't you
like the color?'
Yes, sir, but they are false"
'Ah, Sammis, another quarter for
the gigantic mortgage. It's a little no
ton of Ihine to wear false whiskers for
a few weeks, and nothing need be said
about it, What we know we know, but
we keep mum about it. You trust me;
trust you. Wen make that mortgage
look sick in a month or two. Ia, ia,
Sammis! I think we understand each
other"
l thought SO, too, and it was all
right for two or three weeks. Mr..
Rockaway didn't come down with any
more halves, but didn't lay that up
against him. 1t was what he said and
did that hurt my feelings. One day at
the fourth floor lawyers boy called
me sawed off liar. l stopped the ele-
vator to punch his head and thus was
Mr.. Rockaway. He was mad about it,
and, taking me by the ear, he said:
you trifiing young monkey, but I'll
have no more of this! I've a good mind
| to report you to the agent and have you
| bounced! What do you mean by such
conduct?'
Pm sorry sir"
|
| this time out shall have an eye on
you, and you'll either walk chalk or
get the bounce. Do you hear me?"
The iron struck home. From that
hour l waited and longed for a red
headed, sharp nosed woman to appear
Luck was with me. On the afternoon
of the fifth day she walked in and
me 10 ctr airh nd
''Bub, Pm looking for a man named
Rockaway. I'm his wife,"
"Have you got business with him?"
asked.
II have-strict business. Is there
such a man in this buildingw
'"There is Mr. Rockaway here, but
| he's got side whiskers."
"Oh, he has! Well, I'll pull 'em off in
three seconds! Take me right up"
took her up. / am not bad eleva-
tor boy at heart, but boy in my posi-
| ton has got to maintain his dignity
among the tenants. held the elevator
| until / saw her enter room 6S and
| heard the first shock of collision, and
then / had business elsewhere. What
| typewriter in Mr.. Rockaway's office.
When the redheaded woman bounced
| into the room, she first attacked those
| beautiful side whiskers. and they were
wrecked in breath. Then she started
| in to wreck things, and her language
was English and her tones loud. She
had the whole floor alarmed in two
| IVA, no hna -,
found the typewriter girl hiding I'M
der the desk and Mr.. Rockaway on the
! floor and mixed up with broken furni-
ture. 1t was lively while it lasted, and
| the redheaded woman had breath
enough left to explain that the man on
his back was her lawful husband but
had run away from her in Buffalo a
| year before. He had nothing to say in
reply, and when the agent came up and
told him that he had better look for
other quarters he prepared to move.
/ didn't see him until the remains OF
his office furniture had been sent away
Then he rang for me to take him down
| He had not resumed his side whiskers
| There were scratches all over his face
and neck, a lump on his jaw, and the
| wildness yet fingered in his eyes. ex-
| pected he would threaten or reproach
| me, but he didn't feel Mt all that way
On the contrary, there was sadness In
his voice and gentleness in his hand as
| be reached out for farewell shake
and said:
"Sammis, cannot blame you. / be.
gan right, but l did not carry out the
programme. started in to be a father