The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-08
THE BIG CHIEFS RESOLUTION
BY Alexander Bum.

Copyright, 1907, by Mary McKeon.)
The big chief cut the porterhouse
steak with an air of unpleasant ant'c-
ipation. 1t was broiled just right, and
the onions were not the least bit greasy.
There fitted through his mind a hazy
realization of the fact that even a man
with a terrible cold in his head might
be able to get some joy out of life while
porterhouse steaks and fried onions
existed.
Put that screen between me and the
door, Jack he said to the waiter who
was showing off all his curves to earn
the tip that so well-groomed a man
generally proved good for. II have
an abominable cold and feel chilly ev-
cry time the air strikes me-
The negros mind was stimulated by
the friendliness of the tone, and he
quickly multiplied his first vision of a
tip by two. He surrounded the big
chief by so large Japanese screen
that the latter had a private dining
room to himself and the other people
In the room soon forgot he was there.
A few minutes later a man and girl
stood in the door of the cafe and
scanned the room eagerly for a vacant
table.
There was only one-a small table
wedged up close to Japanese screen.
They sat down-the girl talking rap
veil.
Its nice to be up here in corner.
Karl" she said joyously: ITS so cosy
and we have it all to ourselves.
She siged with pleasure when the
bill of fare was finally laid aside and
the waiter departed with his order.
IT'S shockingly extravagant for US
row Is New Years Day you will. of
course. have to make good resolutions
about economizing so we will enjoy a
little fling tonight"
The man raised his glass of water
and touched hers.
Here's to the hope that we will be
dining in our own home next New
Years eve" he said.
Here's to all the good things pos
sible," she said, her young eyes spark
ling with enthusiasm. and here's to
the big chief. He spoke to me in the
hall today, and was really quite nice
and almost like a human being. One
forgets sometimes that he can possibly
have a bit of humanity about him-he
Is as hard as nails-and his opinions
are absolute. He doesn't know 1t. but
he passes sentence always before he
hears our side of the case"
The man on the other side OF the
screen, almost choking with indignant
surprise, and the piece of steak he had
Just put INTO ms mouth sat suddenly
alert
Some one else in the office been get
ting into trouble?" Karl hazarded
Nothing decided-its the same girl
telling tales that causes 1T all. She
will como across the simplest kind OF
error some other clerk has made. and
she never rests until she has managed
to call the big chiefs attention to IT
in some way
Wants to shine by comparison, does
she? Well, the life of a Government
clerk has got to be something siren
uous lately"
The girl threw up her head auda-
ciously.
Il wish could be the big chief one
day" she said. bringing her teeth to-
gether with a determined little click.
81 don't know how your chief Is. but
the trouble with ours, and with all the
rest of them. I suppose, is that they
have never been a clerk-and they
can't see from the clerks standpoint"
Karl helped her to the piece of hroil-
ed chicken he knew she liked best. and
laughed indulgently.
What would he your first step II
you were given full power of manage
ment for one day.
She put two humps of sugar in his
coffee and pondered seriously a mo-
ment as to whether she should have
one or two lumrs in her own.
You know there is a $l,400 vacancy
lust now?" she asked meditatively;
poor old Mr.. Timberlake died last
week know his desk perfectly; I
did his work all the time he was sick,
well-Tm afraid I should follow the
doctrine of the egotist and give yours
truly. Margaret Clayton. $1,000 clerk, a
jump to ;1.4oo. OF course. it's an Inn