The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-24

time of closing none of the employers
were allowed to ride in this elevator, and
as there were several floors to the pulld-
ing. many of the clerks were Obliged TO
climb several flights of stairs at iunch
time
with a boys healthy contempt Tor
stairs. Patsy had been inclined to Jeer
at the employees when they grumoied
at the climb but when he came 10 Kho"
Marguerite it was different.
Marguerite was a little cash girl, ana
WHY she had been burdened with thdt
four syllable name it would be hard 10
say. Patsy himself thought Violet woulo
nave suited her well; she was such
small. frail, demure little piece some
ching was wrong with her spine, the ooc-
tor had once tod her mother. There was
n look in her eyes like that of a startled
t,eer-a look which never left them-ano
there were drawn lines about her mouth
that one should not find in young girl
Patsv's warm, Irish heart went out 70
her from the first, and often, When ne
caught a glimpse of her as she painfuily
climbed the stairs that wound AROUND
the elevator shaft, or heard an over
worked shop girl scold the tiny creature
for being slow, he would grind his teeth
and Give the rope such a savage tug as
tn make nervous old ladies gasp with
fright. .,.
one day, as Patsy was slowly moving
nm TO the second floor, he saw Marguerite
stilI more slowly crawling up the hrst
aight of stairs and as he looked, ne sa"
her sit down on a step to rest and wipe
tears Of pain from her eyes.
That was too much for Patsy:
'How fur up be yer's goin', kloie! no
called out, softly. Il,
s1rar tn sixth doorY' moaned the girl.
patsy gave side-long glance at the
solitary passenger. quietly dressed man man;
"c,ome on. Git aboard at the secoho
floor. I'll carry yer's up!
"Rut it's agin the rules, an you mls"t
get firedv' said the girl.
"You do as I'm tellin' yer! retorteo
PATSY with that note OF MASTER uniess
which even little men will assume TOWARD
little women. ., 49,.
Al the second landing Patsy opened the
wire-screened door and called out, CON
unp' In his official voice. but no one re-
snonded. except Marguerite, who shppeo
IN and hid in the corner behind Fatsy'
That voung man glanced apprehensiVeiy
al the other passenger, but he seemed 10
be studying his wel-trimmed hnSer mans.
Then a dreadful thing happened. AS
Patsv's head came up above the lever Oh
the third floor he beheld no less person
than the floorwalker of the house-lurnlsh-
ing department waiting to be taken up.
This bald-headed much-mustached gen
tlonnan was commonly called the Gear,
because of his tyrannical treatment OF all
those under him. Nothing delighted MIN
so much as to catch one OF the employes
breaking a rule; and his buster and blow
as he issued orders TO the poor, miser-
able little cash girls would have done
credit to a general Issuing commands to
his soldlery. Patsy's heart almost stoou
stiIl. but the elevator did not
"Goin' upP' snapped out the mighty
noorwalker, wrapping on the door Win
an impatient knuckle.
A. the sound OF that dread voice poor
Marguerite almost sank to the floor of
the car with fright. The other passen-
ger took a sudden step forward, and then
stopped and watched Patsy
THAT youth. his body stiffened his face
male and SET, stood by his rope like SEN
tinel on duty. And then, as the elevator
realistically SCARED towards the third
hoor. the irate fioorwalker burst out In a
torrent of abuse.
.aYou young fool, why don't you stop.
I have you discharged"' and so on, tiH
Patsy was out OF hearing.
"sixth floor! Books and furniture. All
outr' said Patsy, and then, Run along
Kidle. an keep yer mouth shut ana he
won't never know brought you up"
A thin little hand slipped into Pathya
Erlmy one for an instant.
'sThank yer, PatsyW murmured Mar
guerita, and sped away.
"Au out, sirl" said Patsy 20 the soil
tary passenger, who stilI stood IN the ele-
yator, apparently gazing AZ his shoes.
lie looked up.
"Tye changed my mind" be said. Il
went 70 go down again"