The Big Sandy news., 1922-06-02
THE ASSISTANT
ny eERTHA n. loMEs

G. fs1L By Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
Stanley sat with his thin little legs
curled up on the window seat and his
nostrlls pressed against the green shut
tiers, half closed against the hot sun
light He was watching a maimed
electric car being repaired In the car
barn across the street.
Stanley's world was bounded by eiec-
tr.c 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 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 ciatter; and he
could tell Gag "53" from car A61S-
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 1t could move around
and carry the weight Of his well de
yeloped 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
celving information. And he II was
who put upon the little chap the hon
orary title OF Assistant Manager Of
the Tram Company"-a 1.-THE by which
Stanley loved to designate himself to
any new visitors whom Grandma Bey-
ereiy might entertain
The greatest day Of all his fffe had
been when the chief engineer took
him for ride all around the city In
the observation car.
And now had come a dny when
Stanley, in the window seat. watched
with unusual solicitude the maimeI
car which had been pulled into the
car-barn. Il was cur 49, driven By
Mr.. Ross, his favorite driver. who 50
often waved to Stanley while pass
In; his observation nook.
An accident had happened to -5S
aud Driver Ross had been discharged
from service. The news cnme 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 Grandna Beverley
that '-5S' 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 "53r 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 ageT
Dear me, how can l tell? He'll
maybe have to go to another city and
hunt for long time for even one days
work"
.He can't 90 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. I feel
like going over and consulting with
the chairman about this"
very well. dear, perhaps that would
be better and Grandma winked 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.
"Air. Fraser he said, when the maid
had brought him into that gentleman's
office, II have come to speak with you
! about Driver Ross.
YES Stanley said Mr.. Fraser. "and
I'm pleased to have you come. Now
| let's SIT down and talk
| e.
"you see, Mr.. Fraser, Its this way
| with Ross, he's been with your COM
puny so long he won't understand how
to start in any other business. And
then It's not fair t turn a good man
off for his first offense"
"well, Stanley" Mr.. Fraser began,
looking kindly ON the quaint little
chap, you must admit II was gross
error, the worst accident we've had
on our cars In years The public won't
stand for blunders like that"
"Air. Fraser, If you worked hard
for twenty years and never made one