d, "that I am everybody's
caddy."

"You are--the elevator boy?" I queried, with some hesitation.

"That is my present position," said he.

"And, ah, whither do you elevate, my lad?"

[Illustration: IN THE ELEVATOR]

"Up!" said he, after the manner of one who does not wish to commit
himself, like most elevator boys. "But whom do you wish to see?" he
demanded, trying hard to frown and succeeding only in making a
ludicrous exhibition of himself.

Frankly, I did not know, but under the impulse of the moment I handed
out the card which the stranger had thrown to me.

"I forget the gentleman's name," said I, "but here is his card. He
asked me to call."

The elevator boy glanced at it, and his manner immediately changed.

"Oh, indeed. Very well, sir," he said. "I'll take you up right away.
Step lively, please."

I stepped into the elevator, and the lad turned a wheel which set us
upon our upward journey at once.

"I am sorry to have been so rude to you, sir," said the boy. "I
didn't really know you were a friend of his."

"Of whom?" I demanded.

"The old man himself," he replied, with which he handed me back the
card I had given him, upon reading which I ascertained the name of the
individual who had rushed past me so unceremoniously.

The card was this:

+--------------------------------+
| |
| |
| |
| MR. JUPITER JOVE ZEUS |
| |
| MOUNT OLYMPUS |
| GREECE |
+--------------------------------+

"Top floor, sir," said the elevator boy, obsequiously.

III

The Elevator Boy

"Known the old man long, sir?" queried the boy as we ascended.

"By reputation," said I.

"Humph!" said the lad. "Can't have a very good opinion of him, then.
It's a good thing you are going to have a little personal experience
with him. He's not a bad lot, after all. Rotten things said of him,
but then--you know, eh?"

"Oh, as for that," said I, "I don't think his reputation is so
dreadful. To be sure, there have been one or two little indiscretions
connected with his past, and at times he has seemed a bit vindictive
in chucking thunder-bolts at his enemies, but, on the whole, I fancy
he's behaved himself pretty well."

"True," said the boy. "And then you've got to take his bringing-up
into consideration. Things which would be altogether wrong