The Lambertville record., 1907-06-05
COURT CARDS
AND CUPID.
BY COLIN s. COLLINS.

tiftt liSt hlol aiitS ne hitu Solit 10 NoIk !
In the Buckley building. Protests to
the effect that his name was ,Iom Sy-
monds were of no avail Ills name
wns lack. aud he was rs black as the
nee Of spades. So the name elung
n first he was angry. but one could
moi remain angry long with kiugsland
Guihert, and III the end Jack wound up
by paving him Il hero Worship that ut
Tines threatened Ia cost the man his
position: fer with Gulhert in the cle-
Nator II ran express 10 the next 10 the
top door. no matter what the other
passengers might threaten.
But Jack had gained the position
through having saved Buckley's little
girl from n runaway accident and he
merely smiled tolerHntly ut the com
plaints aud suggested that perhaps the
elevator had becomc unmanagcahlc.
Until Edith Mcqueen came, Culhert
Ind reigbed alone but after that he
WIS relcgatcd TO second place. the only
instance Wherein, according to Ben
liedgman, the queen outrankcd both
king and Jack in the pack.
Miss Mcqueen was employed by
lIodgman \ Petit. whose office was
on the third floor and II was Cnlbcrt's
habit to drop off ut their Offices on his
way out to lunch and pick up the girl.
He had obtained the position for her,
aud II WAS understood that they were
engaged. though no golden band an
nounced thnt fact.
Then there came the day when lack
noticed that Miss Mcqueen had been
crying when she came in. Culbert 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 MS usual. and when he
did return il seemed 10 Jack that he
had had more than the one cocktail he
usually allowed himself.
Miss Mcqueen did not 20 out to
lunch nj all, and when her employers
had ridden down 10 lunch together
Jack slipped into the office 10 ask II
he could bring her in something. There
he found her With her head upon her
arms Her eyes glistcncd with tears
| his entrance.
Don't you want II cup o tea. Miss
Queenief@ he pleaded. Its sho' good
for the headache"
She sleok her head with wan little
smile and lack slipped out again. That
night the car passed culbert's floor
twice before it stopped for him. A king
had been dcposcd.
But he was reinstated again because
Of his evident suffering. After that
first day lie did not repeat the cocktail
episode; indeed. he seemed obllvious TO
lunch time and never by any chance
used the elevator when Miss Mcqueen
might happen 10 be going out or in.
Jnel pondcrcd the situation. hut there
VAS only one conclusion possible In his
| limited experience. There had been II
quarrel and both were too proud to
speak first
II grievcd him because they We're
good friends Of his. these two, and
their quarrel hurt him ms much as II
| seemed Ia hurt them More than once
he was tempted 10 speak t. one or the
other and tell how The other suffered
| but "A certain delcacy held him back,
aud he could only mlscrnby wait the
| turn OF events.
Then cnme .Inck's scare It was II
| duh afternoon, and he let the elevator
| drop slowly down At the ground floor
| lie threw open the door To look M at
| Il huge policeman not Charlie, who had
the beat and who sometimes came In to
| gel warm, but another mau. II stranger.
Though he had never had direct deal.
| ngs with the police. Jack was afraid
Of them. To him they were not guard
| iAns of the peace. They were men
who arrested people When the big
man demanded ta know which office
Miss Mcqueen WIS In. refreshing his
memory as 10 the name from n for
mldable looking document, Jacll's heart
sank
II want to see her about II stolen
watch" he added. and Jacks misery
Was complete The LITTLE chaielainc
she had Worn md been replaced lately
| by II more elaborate ulialr of gold with
II long chain. II must be this one that
was wanted.
mere ""S ei,'N one 'i'lie TO ee aohe.
iia''h t Nr' 'sn'pert got lhe lahitof
ont of jail that time he had trouble
WIN ms VIC Jack ran iilc eur up
10 the sixth floor aud with II vague TO
liie "l3 Sltn inc ooor ana df"PPea
down 10 The third
He hurst In upon Miss Mcqueen with
= foce pray ,gnb horror and excite.
meat. she rose uncertainty nj his call
rnd cam. into The han
He fairly alaaeed her into the ear
and shot M to In, ton floor Through
| tha aaiee eaarl he could soc the OIL
| Ger dcsconGins the stairs. Some oDe
| had lola Mn where the plrl worked.
| and he t..i4 oi91 4Tte. her
Ppntme .ith fenr. he stopped at the
seventh faaf @al pushed Miss Nc.
| Gucsn - Crll e.f's office. closing and
| Iockinz tle fG4r after him Culbcrt
! hooked 10 HL.YilV from the desk
:Wlnt's IT, mIttcr. lack z" he de
| lpanaed Wi5h n formal bow TO the