The Washington herald., 1907-05-08

Jack o. Spades" Culbert called him
! that first morning; he had gone TO work
in the Buckley Building. Protests to the
/ effect that his name was John Symonds
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 a hero worship that at
times threatened 10 cost the man his
position. for with Culbert IN the elevator,
it ran express TO the next TO 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 runaway accident and he merely
smiled tolerantly at the complaints and
suggested that perhaps the elevator had
/ become unmanageabIe.
Until Edith Mcqueen came, CuIbert had
reigaed alone, but after that he was rele-
gated to second place. the only instance
/ wherein, according to Ben Hodgman,
the queen outranked both king and jack
I in The pack.
L
man & Petit. whose Office was on the
/ third floor. and it was Culbert's habit TO
/ drop of at their Offices on his way out
TO lunch and pick up the girl He had
I obtained the position for her. and IL was
/ understood that they were engaged.
/ though no golden band announced that
| fact.
Then there came the day when Jack
noticed that Miss Mcqueen had been cry
ing when she came in. Cuibert did not
arrive until late and his face was drawn
and very white. he did not even smile
when he nodded 20 Jack. When he went
out 10 lunch. he stayed twice as long as
/ usual and when he did return il seemed
10 Jack that ne had had more than the
one cocktail he usually allowed himself
Hiss Mcqueen did not go out 70 lunch
at all, and when her employers had rid
den down 10 lunch together. Jack slipped
into the offices to ask il he could bring
her il something. There he found her
with her head upon her arms. Her eyes
/ glistened with tears as she raised her
face at the sound OF his entrance.
Don't you want "a cup o. tea. Miss
Queenie?' he pleaded. Its sho' good for
/ The headache"
/ She shook her head with a wan little
smile and Jack slipped out again. That
/ before it stopped for him. A king had
/ been deposed.
! But be was reinstatcd again because Of
/ his evident suffering. After that first day
! he did not repeat the cocktail episode
/ indeed. he seemed oblivious Ia lunch time
/ and never by any chance used the eieva-
tor when Miss Mcqueen might happen
! 10 be going out or In.
! Jack pondered the situation. but there
was only one conclusion possible I'm his
! limited experience. There had been a
/ quarrel, and both were too proud 10 speak
4 first.
J 1t grieved him because they were good
/ friends Of his. these two. and their guar
rel hurt him as much as it seemed to
! hurt them More than once he was tempt
ed 10 speak 10 one OF the other and tell
/ how the other suffered, but a certain deli
] cacy held him back and he could only
miserably wait the turn of events.
! Then came Jacks scare. 1t was a dull
/ afternoon, and be let the elevator drop
slowly down. Al the ground floor he threw
/ open the door TO look up at a huge po-
/ liceman; not Charlie, who had the beat
/ and who sometimes came in 10 get warm
/ but another man. a stranger
/ Though he had never had direct deal
/ ings with the police. Jack was afraid
/ of them. To him they We're not guard
| ians of the peace. They We're men who
| arrested people When the big man de-
manded to know which office Miss Nc
Queen was in, refreshing his memory as
/ TO the name from a formidable looking
/ document Jacks heart sank
II want 10 see her about n stolen
watch" he added, and Jacks misery was
complete. The little chatelaine she had
worn had been replaced lately by a more
fs.H-. h.. Of
chain. It must be this one that was
wanted.
There was only one thing 10 be done
! Hadn't Mr. Culbert gotten the janitor
1 out OF Jail that time he had trouble with
his wife? Jack ran the car up to the
sixth floor, and with a vague ITO the
| left" shut the door and dropped down TO
the third.
He burst in upon Miss Mcqueen with a
| face gray with horror and excitement
She rose uncertainty at his call and came
| into the hall.
| He fairly dragged her into the car and
shot up TO the top floor. Through the
/ lattice guard he could see the officer de-
/ scending the stairs. Some one had told
/ him where the girl worked, and he was
/ going after her.
/ Painting with fear. he stopped at the
/ seventh floor and pushed Miss Mcqueen
/ into Culberts Office, closing and locking
/ the door after him. Culbert looked wear
/ ily from the desk.
What's the matter, Jack?" he demand
| ed. with a formal bow 70 the girl.
/ "Dar's a policeman after her" he ex-
planned. she stole watch and he's
after her"
What are YOU talking about?'' Culbert
! cried. Miss Mcqueen a thief? Impos-
sible"
I He done say he want to see her about
a watch that was stole insisted Jack.
"Ah done hear him"
a policeman wishes 10 see rne?" asked
the girl About watch?' Jack nodded
/ I think 7 can explain" she went on
/ turning 10 Culbert. 'When-when it han
peneG ] stopped wearing your watch
and used mothers. I left yours on the
bureau. ard when I came hoa.e il was
gone I made 2 complaint to the police
and I suppose they have caught the
I thief and wish me to identify my proper
/ ~"
But what have TO do with it?p he
asked.