Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1922-04-07
THE ASSISTANT
BY BERTHA M. JONES
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1871. BY Mcclure keMspaper HyndIeAte

Stanley sat with his thin little legs
curlcd mp on the window seat and his
nostrils pressed against the green shut
tiers, half closed against the hot sun
Hight, He was watching II mnimed
electric cur being repaired In the car
barn across the street.
SANKEY'S world WINS bounded by cleo
tric ears. For the last Ave of his
eight years he had studied them from
the shutter chinks, Ind listened to
their comings and golngs, until he
had come to know the difference In
sound between car on wheels OF
cast Iron md one on wheels OF steel.
And then eur "fS" became distin-
guisliable from car 80" just by Its
own special clnnk and clatter; and he
could tell car "53" from car "0lS"
In the same why.
These were his pet cars, the ones
which passed the window seat often
est.
Stanley was always unique. He was
six years old before his frall little
frame decided 1t could move around
and carry the weight Of his well de-
veloped head.
So Stanley remained In his window
nook and studied the street cars. On
cool summer days, when the shutters
were wide open, the chairman Of the
tram company, who lived In beautiful
house near the car-barn, sometimes
came over and spent few minutes
talking with Stanley, giving and re-
celvlng information. And he 1t was
who put upon the little chap the hon
orary title of Assistant Manager Of
the Tram Company"-a title by which
Stanley loved to designate himself to
any new visitors whom Grandma Bev-
erely might entertain.
The greatest day of all his life had
been when the chief engineer took
him for ride MI around the city In
the observation car.
And now had come day when
Stanley, in the window seat, watched
with unusual solicltude the MANNED
car which had been pulled into the
car-barn. 1t was car 49," driven by
Mr.. Ross, his favorite driver, who 80
often waved to Stanley while pass
ing his observation nook.
An accident had happened to "63"
and Driver Ross had been discharged
from service. The news came to
Stanley through Grandma Beverley.
The accident happened away out
! of sight of the window nook.
Stanley had noticed how beautifully
"53" appeared that last morning on
the rails when she came out Of the
barn, newly painted and newly fitted.
How fine Driver Ross had looked
there by the wheel! But before noon
the news came to Grandma Beverley
that "53" was piled against house
with her machinery broken. A
loose brick In the old street pave
ment had caused her to slide from
the rails so easily that the driver
never noticed. And then turn In
the street came, and "bS" did not
respond to the brakes. but rolled
ignominiously into the wall Of a
house, much to the terror Of pas
sengers and residents, and most
horrifying to Driver Ross.
"Grandma, what will become Of
Driver Ross in his old age?"
Dear me, how can tell7 He'll
maybe have to go to another city and
hunt for long time for even one days
work"
He can't go to any other place,
Grannie, for his wife is sick all the
time"
That's so, child"
Grandma" Stanley pressed between
the old lady and the stove and stood
with arms folded. Grandma, feel
like going over and consulting with
the chairman about this"
very well, dear, perhaps that would
be better" and Grandma wlnked at
Billy, the cat,
Stanley put on his broad sailor hat,
and holding Grandma's hand, he
walked over to the beautiful home Of
the chairman Of the tram company.
"NIr. Fraser" he said, when the maid
had brought him into that gentieman's
office 81 have come to speak with you
about Driver Ross.
Eyes, Stanley" said Mr.. Fraser, land