The San Francisco call., 1910-06-26
The San Francisco Sunday Call

for me- Always some way of putting 1t over ne said
They watch office buildings pretty close, DOM
they?" asked the third man, picking up his hand
Nav" said the dealer. "Once you get by the
superintendent you're all right
The solemn faced man glanced at his cards. tossed
them aside with yawn and rose Il m going after a
cigar down stairs he announced, and started Tor the
door into the hall
Hey that way the dealer called after him.
We've plugged that up. Go the way you came
through the outer Office"
But the other seemed not to have heard He crossed
to the door and laid hold of the knob
It's locked" called the dealer again But appar-
entity he was misinformed The knob turned'a smart
pull brought the door open and shook out the cotton
crack stufhngs There shuttle of feet, fash
ing of brass buttons and the dealer started up with
frightened yell that brought his clients white and
trembling from their chairs. Too late. In the door
way stood lieutenant OF police with a squad OF
behind him. Some few of the players made i'll ad-
vised. efforts to slip away through the adjacent Of
fees, but were quickly corraled
The camest figure during the brief hubbub was the
solemn faced individual who had opened the door.
He stood among the policemen while the lieutenant
was arranging the transfer of the prisoners to the
patrol wagon The dealer noticed him and thrust up
close, snarling $50 it was you who gave US away,
eh? Who the devil are you, anyway"
Me? said the solemn faced man, innocently ooh,
I'm the superintendent of the building"
Thus, in traditional dramatic STYLE the be-
lated hero of this yarn And he deserves curtain call
before he gets any further if for no other reason than
because though of the important persons in
metropolitan life he has hitherto passed unnoted and
unsung The jantor is famed in "butterick,' story
and evil jest. This man is more powerful and lot
respectable than any hundred anitors and many
times interesting
An Office building, bearing its analogy with
city in ITSELF has its own officials and departments
A large building has sometimes as many as 200 en-
ployes-engineers to the huge heating. lighting
and pumping plants, fremen special policemen, ele-
vator force. hall cleaners, plant operators,
window washers carpenters painters letterers cleo
trcans, experts OF various kinds and degrees Above
them looms the superintendent.
HE CAN'T BE LURED
The superintendent of a modern Office building is
kind of submated Cerberus, He lies in wait at the
portal of the premises he is hired guard and he is
be lured sleep with cakes of honey cakes
of anything else. He is combination watch dog,
renting agent, detective, walking gentleman, financial
expert, censor committee of public safety Nemesis
and tyrant. To live in his community the applicant
must show himself as commercially spotless as the
Himalayan SHOWS; to remain he must prove himself
solid and upright the Bank of England. AT least
such is the guiding theory.
stranger appears the Office of the superintend-
ent and demands to know whether there is an avail
able room for rent.
What firm or who fors" asks the superintendent,
dispassionatey.
Chicken feather extract company" says the other.
What references
This and 'Tother banks"
The superintendent takes many notes.-the nature
OF the business machinery if any, noises if any, pre-
vious location, space wanted what goods to be on
premises, names of company officers and still more
references.
1--WE will let you know" he says.
Within the next few days he makes or directs an
investigation. Either personally through an as
sstant he looks up the applicant from all possible
angles. No enterprise with questionable standing
questionable purpose is considered The Office
building must be kept free from financial as from
social reproach This governor is the ground to
see that the cid" is nailed fast.
If the applying firm through every test it is
invited step up and sign steel ribbed rock bot
toned iron clamped lease which leaves it neatly in
the path of rectitude, with the promise of be-
ing thrown out for cause.
But surveillance does end here. The superin-
tendent of high class office building holds his posi-
ton through his ability keep the good of the
% 90 5000 OCT2Ic2 o Q % COCOON