The San Francisco call., 1908-12-20


single application for the vacancy.
de was frank smiling attractive boy
Ing fair hair and strange. eyes,
there IN his ragged clothes twiddng his little cap
everybody smiled. for he a contagious kind boy
and the more looked him you liked
him, and Mr.. Whaling. was painting at an easel
said Jovtahy "Helor a which every body laughed
including the boy, the joke being way said
IT. which was big and jolly like himself
Have you the advertisements
asked Miss James.
yes, miss" he answered with duck of his head
and becoming suddenly embarrassed they stared
At him.
What's your name?"
George Thompson"
What did do before you came hereY"
Sold papers. miss Papa and mamma dead"
What made you want work for us?"
The streets getting awful cold. and and
he stopped pitfuIly and looked up at her. so shrink
ing and small and scared, with teltale CULVER
OF the cherubic mouth and such OF the childish
I'll clad shoulders further personal information
seemed likely be all soaky.
suppose it very wrong for an editor to put
her arms about Office boy and kiss him. but that
just what Miss James did. being all woman-bIess
her-with the tenderest impulsive the
world. and she didn't ask for references inquire
about his punctuality willingness or anything
when she let him all tumbed and bewildered and
ashamed, yet glad too, he found himself engaged
Not Miss James. 0 course-I don't mean that at
all he being 10 at most and she all Of 2sbut Engaged
Job. officially there appointed
once boy TO the Monthly General Inteigencer."
with all the rights, privileges obligations
Dents that were attached the position. Miss
James blue eyes too moist and there
something choky IN throat for her to teach
Georges duties him that moment. Mr.
Whaling, who always ready talk. even when
painting Nocturnes. him a soap box and began
IN the whimsical Whaling manner. explain the
universe. and particularly that part
East Ninth that he felt specially Geor-
Eies attention.
Not that that name" he said. running his
hand renectiveIy through his artist hair which was
excessively long unkempt. George Thompson
fs ALT has appeal. color-no, no
SHOCK think weTl call you Boy Bright-after the
advertisement you know-wanted, Boy Bright. It
suits you It has piquancy VIII you be Boy Bright"
'If the lady doesn't mind. sir"
Miss James understood say mind.
and the boy caught the glance she him he
thought she had the prettiest incest sweetest face
be ever seen though he enough
interpret the faint lines that told of bygone
bravey borne. appreciate the effects of poverty
and discouragement which. like breath glass; had
dimTned beauty fresh a
Now, Boy Bright" said Mr.. Whaling, 81 hope you
haven't come any anticipation Of becoming
president United While 1t admittedly
true that most Of great men have begun office
boys they had invariably attached themselves
thing going and growing. my little mid
Ehpman standing Cor rather sitting) the deck
Of q sinking ship. Yes. Boy Bright failure with
0utstretched arms. welcomes you to midst"
Whaling dabbed sky, retreated several
PAGES the effect. and cheerfully mixed some
material his palette Boy Bright, somewhat
by the publicity of his position. watched and
waited silence. He did have wait long, for
Whaling. advancing again. resumed his harangue
Il for instance paint pictures that nobody buys.
live all 1t is through the charity of Miss
James. who. appreciating the difficulty of making
n studio Of hail bedroom, allows the run
OF editorial establishment Passing lightly from
myself let me turn your youthful attention to Miss
81
relaxation writes for the that
with the faithfulness of homng pigeons yonder
bottom, left side drawer. That imposing Teutonc
individual with the meerschaum pipe-Major Buek.
Boy Bright; Boy Bright Major Buelk-two good
fellows ought to know each other-well the Major.
little though he It. a failure was
honorable too straightforward for any
other He may be little stout for hero and
much too shy Of hair but he sacrificed career and
a fortune the family honor. Look at him re-
speotfuly, Boy Bright because he's business
manager but because he's Man"
Boy Bright shyly gazed the major whose bushy
eyebrows and heavy grtzzled mustache gave him a
formidable appearance He was very stout gentle
man and so supernuousy built that he overfolded
like rhinoceros especially at the collar. "Ach you
dom fool" he observed in a booming voice. the
child is a goot child-pant your dom silly picture
and let him IN HIS duties instructed be-" No one
eecondtng his protest his ledger again
and blew out clouds of smoke though to hide his
bald head.
That little lady yonder." continued Whaling un-
abashed and indicating a slender dark girl sitting
before typewriter Miss Efhe Jupe. and that work
abe IS consulting anxiously is not the bible her
mother gave when she left the old farm for the
ten,ptations the CITY, but manual explaining the
difference between principal and 7rinciPULL and
such pitfalls for girl shoes dIlapidated
and Vegetable. II she the only of who isn't
an out and failure it must be said in her favor
that she has the instinct and chose rather
than the Graham gas company, which competing
with US for her services. No like you. Boy Bright
sbe searched night day for sinking ship and
s.enped aboard with the alaerity
put please sir, what 10 do?" asked Boy