Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-10-05
DAILY SHORT STORY
ONLY AN ELEVATOR BOY.

iOrlS1naLI
When the Spanish American war
came on Hawkins X Co offered spe-
ciaI inducements to the young men in
their employ 10 enlist. Every man of
spirit-so it was considered took ad-
vantage of the offer. The day before
they marched the recruits were given
n lunch at the Storc4-I dry goods
house in the lunch room on the top
floor. After eating aIsl drinking and
being highly commended for their pa
triotism by Il Junior member Of the
firm they went down in the elevator,
which was run by Tony MoXon.
why don't YOU enlist, TonyE"' asked
one of the recruits, Ben Cummings,
jecriugly.
Crowded in the back of the elevator
was Susie Toole, a4pretty cashi girl, on
whom Cummings had cast longing
eyes. He felt the effect of his new
uniform, and rs there was no Span
lard present upon whom to show his
pluck he must needs visit it on Tony.
ooh. Tony'S only an elevator boy"
said another of thet party. "He doesn't
count"
"Oh, elevator boys aren't old enough
to pass muster" putin another. Since
Tony was twenty-five years old and
grown man, this was intended to be
witty.
BY this time the elevator had reach
ed the ground floor, and the soldiers
passed out. Tony. who had not uttered
a word in his defense, looked around
to see if all had left, when he espied
Susie Toole.
{oII
Tony" she asked.
Talk isn't knocks"
''Well, why didn't you hit at 'em?"
ooh. didn't want to tell 'em why
don't enlist"
would you like to enlist, Tony?"
Yes. 1 would. Anything would be
better than the drudgery of running
this elevator all day. But I'd like to
go anyway. 1 always had Il fancy to
be a soldier"
"Why don't you go, then?"
"What would mother do? Shed
starve"
That's right, Tony. You're a noble,
good man. You stick to your elevator
and your mother"
Susie passed out and was soon an
swering the shrill calls for Cash.
running back and forth ali day as me-
chanically as Tony ran his elevator.
The Spanish-AmeTican war was of
short duration. and when it ended the
troops came home. Those from Haw-
kins & Co.'S store had all been in camp
in Florida and had seen no fighting at
all.
These young men were in the same
nounced that the command would en-
ter the city the next afternoon. Since
they would pass down the main street.
on which the Hawkins store was stu
ated. the windows of that building
were full Of people. OF course there
was not the same enthusiasm as if the
returning troops had gone to Cuba and
fought at Santiago, but It was not
their fault that they didn't. and they
were entitled 10 4 warm welcome.
While the people at Hawkins were
waiting for the troops. suddenly smoke
was seen issuing from the upper rear
windows. and simultaneously there
was 4 cry OF fire. The members of the
firm in the Office looked at one another
with blanched faces. Their building
was fun Of people. and it was on fire
There would be a slaughter worse than
that before Santiago. for the victims
would be women and children. The
staircases were narrow and steep. On
each side Of the store were two eleva-
tors, but who would run an elevator I'D
into burning building?
Three Of the four elevator boys de-
serted their posts at the first alarm.
The fourth boy was Tony Moxon, and
he did not desert his post. The head OF
the firm was rushing about wildly on
the ground floor when he noticed
4ony elevator come down loaded |
with people As soon as IT could be |
eQQqed Tony shut the door and start