Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-04-28

THEN SHE STARTED IN TO WRECK THINGS.
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 a 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, Sammisi And you are
jewell he said as he patted me on the
head. Il am always to be out when
she calls You are to discourage her
from calling again. You may even hint
that l have removed to Chicago or st.
Louis. | see you closely scrutinizing
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 mine 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, | think we understand each
other
| 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 a lawyers boy called
me a sawed off liar. | stopped the ele-
vator to punch his head and thus was
late getting up to answer call from
Mr.. Rockaway. He was mad about it,
and, taking me by the ear, he said:
You trihing young monkey, but III
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"
I'm sorry, sir"
THAT makes no difference. From
this time out l 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
made straight for me and said
"Bub, I'm looking for a man named
Rockaway. I'm his wife"
Have you got business with himY' !
asked.
Il have-strict business. Is there
such a man in this building?"
There is Mr.. Rockaway here, but
he's got side whiskers,"
oh he has! Well, III pull EN- off in
three seconds! Take me right up"
took her up. l am not bad eleva-
tor boy Mt heart. but a boy in my posi-
ton has got to maintain his dignity
among the tenants. held the elevator
until | saw her enter room GS and
heard the first shock of collision, and
then | had business elsewhere. What
happened after that was told by the
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
minutes. and the people who rushed in
found the typewriter girl hiding un
| der the desk and Mr.. Rockaway on the
! floor and mixed up with broken furni
ture. 1t was lively while it lasted, an6
the redheaded woman had breath
enough left to explain that the man or
| his back was her lawful husband, but
had run away from her in Buffalo
year before. He had nothing to say il
| reply, and when the agent came up ane
told him that he had better look fol
other quarters he prepared to move