Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-08-15
COURT CARDS
AND CUPID.
By COLIN S. COLLINS.
Copyright 1901. by VI. NJ. Cuuriagham.
By CoLIs S. COLLINS.

monds were of no avail. His name
was Jack, and he was as black as the
ace of spades. so the name chung
/ At first he was angry, but one could
not remain angry long with Kingsland
Culbert, and in the end Jack wound up
by paying him hero worship that az
times threatened to cost the man his
position; for with Culbert in the ele-
vator II ran express TO the next 10 the
top floor. no matter what the other
passengers might threaten.
| But Jack had gained the position
through having saved Buckley's little
girl from Il runaway accident, and he
merely smiled tolerantly at the com
plants and suggested that perhaps the
elevator had become unmanageable.
Until Edith Mcqueen came, Culhert
had relgned alone, but after that he
was relegated TO second place, the only
instance wlRrein, according 10 Ben
Hodgman, the queen outranked both
king and jack In the pack
| Miss Mcqueen was employed by
Hodgman Il Petit, whose Office was
on the third floor, and 1t was Culbert's
habit TO drop off at their offices on his
way out to lunch and pick up the girl
He had obtained the position for her.
and 1t was understood that they were
engaged, though no golden band an
nounced that fact
Then there came the day when Jack
noticed that Miss Mcqueen had been
crying when she came In. gilbert did
not arrive until late and his face was
drawn and very white. He did not
even smile when he nodded to Jack.
When he went out TO lunch. he stayed
twice as long as usual, and when be
did return IL seemed to Jack that he
lad had more than the one cocktail be
usually allowed himself
/ Miss Mcqueen did not go out TO
lunch at all. and when her employers
had ridden down TO lunch together
Jack slipped into the office to ask If
he could bring her in something. There
be found her with her head upon her
arms. Her eyes glistened with tears
as she raised her face at the sound of
bis entrance
Don't yeu want a cup o. tea, Miss
/ Queerieg r. tre pleaded. Its sho' good
for the headache"
She shook her head with wan,uttle
smile and Jack slipped out again. Thst
night the car passed Culberts floor
twice before it stopped for him. A king
had been deposed.
/ But be was reinstated again because
Of his evident suffering After that
first day he did not repeat the cocktail
episode: indeed, he seemed oblivious to
lunch time and never by any chance
used the elevator when Miss Mcqueen
might happen to be going out or in.
Jack pondered the situation, but there
was only one conclusion possible in his
limited experience. There had been a
quarrel and both were too proud to
speak first.
/ 1t grieved him because they were
| good friends Of his, these two, and
their quarrel hurt him as mnch "a il
seemed><o hurt them. More than once
he was tempted to speak to one or the
other and ten how the other suffered.
but certain delicacy held him back,
and he could only miserably wait the
turn OF events.
Then came Jacks scare. 1t was
dull afternoon, and he let the elevator
drop slowly down. At the ground floor
he threw open the door to look up at
a huge policeman: not Charlie, who had
the beat and who sometimes came In to
get warm. but another man, stranger.
Though he had never had direct deal.
ings with the police, Jack was afraid
Of them. To him they were not guard
hans OF the peace. They were men
who arrested people. When the big
man demanded to know which Office
Miss Mcqueen was In, refreshing his
memory as to the name from a for
mtdable looking document, Jacks heart
sank.
II want to see her about stolen
watch" he added, and Jacks misery
was complete The little chatelaine
she had worn had been replaced lately
by more elaborate affair of gold with
q long chain. 1t must be this one that
was wanted.
There was only one thing to be done.
Hadn't Mr.. gilbert got the janitor
out CT jail that time he had trouble
with his wife? Jack ran the car up
to the sixth floor and with vague ssTo
the left shut the door and dropped
down to the third.
He burst In upon Miss Mcqueen with
q face gray with horror and excite
ment She rose uncertainty at his call
lpd came into the hall
h fairly dragged her into the car
and s1Qt up to the top door. Through
the lathe guard he could see the ON.
Ger descending the stairs. Some one
bad told him where the girl worked,
and he was going setsr her.
Painting with fear, ~ stopped at the
seventh door and pusLsd Miss Nc
Queen into Culbert's Office, closing and
boxing the door after him. SCulber'
.. looksd up Yearly from the desk.
What's the matter. Jackr be de
nanded. with formal bow to TIL
eh.
-Dars policeman after her" be OK
plained. "Shs done stole watch. ant
he's after her,
what are Jon taking abouti~ Cul
bert cried. "l6iss Mcqueen q thi81
: Tmpossibie."
HE dons sag be want to zee be
about watch that was Sbf,lc," insists'
Q lack. ~Ah done hear him.
"A policeman wishes to - met