The spectator., 1922-01-06
THE ASSISTANT
By BERTHA NJ. JONES


 Stanley sat with his thin little legs eurled up on the window seat and his nostrils pressed against the green shut ters. half closed against the hot sun light. He was watching maimed electric car being repaired in the car barn across the street.
 Stanley's world was bounded by elec- tric 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 q 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 ear '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 beautiful house near the car-barn, sometimes came over and spent 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 hac been when the chief engineer took him for ride all around the city in the observation car.
 And now had come day when Stanley, in the window seat, watched with unusual solicitude the maimed car which had been pulled into the car-barn. It was car "53," driven by Mir Ross, his fayorite driver, who so often waved to Stanley while pass ing his observation nook.
 An accident had happened to "53 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 a house with her machinery broken. 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 .53' 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 l tell? 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 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.
 Mir. Fraser" he said, when the maid had brought him into that gentleman's office, "I have come to speak with you about Driver Ross.
 "Yes, Stanley" said Mir. Fraser, "and I'm pleased to have you come. Now let's sit down and talk"
 You see. Mfr. Fraser, It's this way with Ross. he's been with your com pany so long he won't understand how to start in any other business. And then it's not fair to turn good man of for his first offense."
 "Well, Stanley" Mir. Fraser began, looking kindly on the quaint little chap. you must admit 1t was a gross error, the worst accident we've had on our cars in years. The public won't stand for blunders like that"
 "Mr Fraser, If you worked hard for twenty years and never made one bad mistake till then, you wouldn't