The herald., 1922-03-09
THE ASSISTANT
BY BERTHA M. JONES
q. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicat

tiers, half closed against the hot SUM-
light. He was watching a manned
electric car being repaired in the car
barn across the street.
Stanley's world was bounded by cleo
trio cars For the last five of his
eight years he had studied them from
the shutter chinks, had listened to
their comings and goings, until he
had come to know the difference in
sound between a car on wheels OF
cast iron and one on wheels of steel.
And then car "7S" became distin-
guishable from car "53" just by Its
own special clank and clatter; and he
could tell car "53" from car "61S"
In the same way.
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 frail little
frame decided it 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 a beautiful
mousse near the car-barn, sometimes
came over and spent a few minutes
talking with Stanley, giving and re-
ceiving 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 a ride all around the city In
! the observation car.
And now had come a day when
Stanley, In the window seat, watched
with unusual solicitude the manned
car which had been pulled into the
car-barn. 1t was car 49," driven BY
Mr.. Ross, his favorite driver. who so
often waved to Stanley while pass
ing his observation nook.
An accident had happened to "oS"
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 "5S" was piled against a 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 a turn In
the street came, and "53" did not
respond to the brakes. but rolled
ANONYMOUSLY into the wall of
house, much to the terror Of pas
sengers and residents. and most
horrifying to Driver Ross.
"Grandma, what will become o1
Driver Ross in his old ageT'
Dear me, how can 1 tell? He'll
maybe have to 60 to another city and
hunt for long time for even one days
work"
He can't 60 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, fee
like going over and consulting witt
the chairman about this"
Every well. dear. perhaps that woult
be better" and Grandma winked a
Billy, the cat.
Stanley put on his broad sailor hat
and holding Grandma's hand, h
walked over to the beautiful home o.
the chairman Of the tram company.
'Mr. Fraser" he said. when the mait
had brought him into that gentleman'
office, 81 have come to speak with yo'
about Driver Ross.
Eyes, Stanley" said Mr.. Fraser, "ant
Tn pleased to have you come. Nov
let's sit down and talk"
"You see. Mr.. Fraser, it's this wa
with Ross he's been with your com
pany so long he won't understand hov
to start In any other business. Ant
then it's not fair to turn a good maj
OF for his first offense."
swell, Stanley" Mr.. Fraser began
looking kindly on the quaint littl
chap, 'you must admit 1t was O gros
error, the worst accident we've ha
on our cars In years. The public won
stand for blunders like that"
mr.. Fraser, II you worked har
for twenty years and never made on
bad mistake till then, you wouldn'
want to be turned down, would you1
mo, II would be hard. But wha
can we dor Ross Is getting old an
evidently rusting out"
"Tn tell you, Mr.. Fraser, what 3
d." and Stanley folded his small
honey hands enthusiastically. "Yo
make Driver Ross over into Conducto
loss and let him 60 on SO just tn
same" And In his excitement Stanle
rose and patted Mr.. Fraser's an