But now they were in Seattle, and if she hadn’t moved away, Addie was here as well. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be all that hard to find her . . . and that gold-nugget necklace.
“I’m going to go take a shower. You’d do well to do the same. Maybe wash out your clothes, and we can dry them overnight.”
“Seems like a lot of fuss to pick up trash.”
“We’re going into town tomorrow, stupid. And frankly I don’t want to smell your stench all day.”
Shep shrugged. “These clothes aren’t all that good anyway. Just used clothes given to us by the prison. Couldn’t even give us a change of clothes.”
“That’s all right. We’ll steal what we need tomorrow.” Hiram smiled. “Remember how to do that?”
His younger brother laughed. “I reckon I do.”
“I thought as much,” Hiram said, heading for the door. “Now, come on. I’m worn out and want to get to sleep. We’ve got a lot to accomplish tomorrow. Including figuring how to sneak some whiskey back with us.”
2
At precisely noon, President William Taft was contacted by the expo’s president, John Chilberg. He announced that the fair was ready to begin. With that, Taft wired back a telegram to officially open the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition of 1909.
At Fisher Photography, Addie considered each of the Camera Girls, making sure their black skirts and white blouses were spotless. Each girl was ready for her new job, with a camera around her neck and satchel over her shoulder.
“Everyone should have cards for the shop to hand out, as well as sample photographs to show interested camera buyers. Make certain you stress the purchase of the camera. Frank Nowell is the official photographer for the expo, and he has a great many photographers positioned around the exhibits. When Mr. Fisher arranged for this shop, he stressed the sale of the Brownie camera as his goal so that no one would think he was trying to interfere with Mr. Nowell’s work. We need to make sure the cameras sell.”
Each of the girls nodded. Addie continued her inspections. “Make certain that your hats are secured.” She waited while each of the young ladies adjusted her hat.
“Mary tore my ribbon!” Esther protested. Mary stood looking confused, while Esther continued to whine. “She tore it away from the rim. It’s a mess.”
Addie looked to Mary, who continued to say nothing. The other girls looked away and pretended to be busy with their uniforms. It wasn’t the first time Esther had blamed Mary for her woes, and the others simply didn’t want to be involved.
Poor Mary was such a shy girl that Addie almost didn’t hire her on. How in the world would she be able to sell anything? But it seemed that with the camera and pictures as the purpose for her interactions, Mary did perfectly well. She focused on the object for sale and talked about it quite freely. In all truth, she was better than the others at interesting a buyer in the benefits of being a Brownie owner.
“Let me see the hat,” Addie said, reaching out to Esther. She handed over the straw boater and pointed at the dragging ribbon. “This will be easy enough to fix.” Addie took the hat in the back room, where they had some paste. She slathered a coating of paste on one side of the ribbon and secured it back in place around the brim. She made a couple of quick stitches to be sure it wouldn’t move while drying, and everything was as it should be.
She came back to the front room just as Otis returned.
“The exposition is open!” he announced. “We must get to our jobs, but first we will pray.”
Addie handed the hat to Esther, then bowed her head. She was glad that Otis and Pearl were strong Christians who believed in the power of prayer. Addie had to admit the faith of others had helped her many a time. In the Yukon, she had believed because Isaac assured her that God loved her and the Bible was true. When she came to Seattle, it was Pearl and Otis who convinced her of that. But it was difficult to find her own faith in God. Even when her heart cried out for it.
Otis finished the prayer of blessing on the business and each employee. “I want you to do your very best, girls, and above all be considerate and kind to everyone. You are above no one, but neither are you beneath them.”
“My mother says we’re all better than those natives,” Esther sneered.
“I haven’t the time to argue with you, Miss Esther.” Otis went to the door and opened it. “Now go and do your jobs. Remember, when you complete a roll, bring it straightaway to the shop for development. Leave the camera, and we’ll have another already loaded, so there will be little time to wait. Stress to the people that they can see their photos the same day so long as they get here before five. Remind them that we will only hold them for one week before destroying them.”
The girls hurried through the door. Already there were people milling along the walkways and heading for the Pay Streak, where the concession stands would ease their hunger and vaudeville shows would entertain. Addie had read about some of the various acts and shows that were being offered. Everything from simple souvenir shops to food vendors and shows to the more elaborate reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg. Though why they would have it at an expo about Alaska, the Yukon, and the Pacific was beyond Addie’s understanding. She had never even heard of the battle until Otis mentioned it. Only then did she learn that it had taken place in the state of Pennsylvania back east. Even Otis was unsure why it was included.
Addie followed the girls into the growing crowds. Folks had been allowed to come through the gates earlier that day, but none of the buildings were open to the public until the president’s telegram officially began the exposition. Now the crowds were growing larger by the minute. It reminded Addie of when ice blocked a waterway and how at first there was just a trickle of fluid, then as the ice broke apart and melted, a gush would flood through, making it necessary to move to higher ground. Only with people, there was no higher ground.
Supplied with everything the other Camera Girls carried, Addie began to look for folks who might appreciate a photograph. Otis had particularly encouraged family photos, as well as those of couples.
“Would you care to have a photograph of your family?” Addie asked, approaching a group of people who were already resting on the steps near the Cascade Fountain.
The woman looked up and smiled. Beside her were three children ranging in age from what Addie figured were three or four years to about eight. A man approached carrying a baby. He glanced at Addie a moment and then to the woman.
“I got directions,” he told the woman.
“This young lady offered to take our picture.”
Addie turned on her charm. “I work for Fisher Photography, positioned at the edge of the Pay Streak and Bonanza, by Klondike Circle. After I take your photograph for free, you have only to pick up the picture later today for a very small fee.”
“We haven’t had a family photograph with the baby,” the woman said, sounding hopeful.
The man still seemed unconvinced, so Addie tried to further entice him. “I can position you in front of the falls over here with the Court of Honor building in the back. It will make a wonderful souvenir for your family. Also, if you like what you see, you might want to consider purchasing one of these new Kodak Brownie cameras. They are the latest in technology and start at the low price of ten dollars. They’re also very easy to operate.”