The San Francisco call., 1904-03-06
FREDFRICK'S
LABORS
By Sidney III. Cole

was a sponge, while the other held a
polishing cloth.
Begun at the bottom of the ladder,
you see," he called down cheerfully.
doc says if I'm faithful to the win
dOws and the brass knobs I may rise
to be gardener. You'll kindly observe
my occupation is useful
She made no reply. but walked
down the avenue, the angry color
mounting her cheeks. That evening
she received a note.
Dear EtheE I've thrown I'D my
job. You didn't seem to favor it.
shall try another useful one. Yours.
'F. b.
The nature Of the new Job disclosed
itself two mornings later. Ethel was
in the kitchen giving some instructions
to the cook, when who should appear
at the back door but Brigham, white
fIocked, delivery basket on his arm,
and whistling irrepressibly.
Good morning" he said. This "a.
perhaps, somewhat more useful than
window-cleaning. People must eat
you know"
Doubtless" said Ethel coldly.
mot so bad. either he went on
recklessly. Meet lots OF nice K4rla.
The Bentons' cook-she's quite a
stunner-firted with me desperatalY
this morning"
Frederick" she said, and hurrisd
Another note appeared that evening.
ST have resigned from butcherdornS
II read, but shall persevere elsewhera.S
Some days later she encountered him
again. She had been out to the Coun.
try Club with young Martin that after
aHghted from the suburban train. Az
they hurried along the platform a
familiar voice said: "Kerridge, num-
1t was Frederick, decked In the Ifv-
cry Of old Sam, the Brighams' coach
man.
Made four seventy-nve to-day" he
chuckled gleefully.
Her face grew tense.
When IS this ridiculous burIesdus
to end?" she inquired in a strained
voice, and without waiting for his re-
ply she hurried after Martin.
The climax came one late February
afternoon. Ethel had left the cross
town car at the corner and was hurry
Ing up the avenue. When she reached
st. Botolph's, she saw quite a crowd
standing on the sidewalk staring up-
ward She, too, looked up. A light
ning-rod ran up the brownstone spire.
and on the lightning-rod. slowly, pain
fully working his way upward, was a
man. She turned away with a Httle
shiver Of horror, but as she did so. a
wen-dressed man beside her cried ex-
citedly:
BY George! It's Brigham-Freddy
Brigham
She stopped, sick with dread. yet
she could not keep her eyes from that
black dot on the spire. She saw him
creep up to the very apex; saw him
climb the rod that supported the
weather vane. There he drew from
somewhere a hammer. cleared khe
snow from the vane, and with seveRl
blows of the hammer set il free 10
swing to the wind. Then he came
down the rod to the bell deck and dis
appeared through a trapdoors while
the crowd cheered.
Ethel. giddy with the strain OF the
last few minutes, entered the church.
In the vestibule she saw Brigham and
the sexton, who was handing him
.sHeIIo.'' called the former. catching
sight of her. 1T was really useful
Vane showed up. you know, and peo-
pIe in the vicinity couldn't tell which
way the wind was blowing. Did Won
want to see the sexton ," he added
pointedly, whereat that functionarv
discreetly took his leave.
Frederick .Brighami" she began
bravely. but suddenly the tears came
and she began to sob. He watched
her cOvertly for moment and fnall,-
decided to risk an arm about her.
Perhaps I'm useful, after all" he
"You are! Oh. you arel" she said
wildly.
'sTo your" he hinted
"Of course" she said, cffnRtnR -
him.