The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-12
4N O E RN OFF C BUl DIN G
AA&4 A w O RID IN ITSELF

"Naw," said the denler. "Once you get by the
superintendent you're all right"
The solemn faced gInnced at his cards. tossed
them aside with yawn and rose. I'm going after
cigar stairs" he announced and started for the
door into the hall
Hey. not that way" the dealer called after him.
We've plugged that up. co 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
ITS locked" called the dealer again. But nppar-
emily he msinformed The knob turned a smart
pull brought the door open out the cotton
crack stulnes. There was 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 squad Of men
behind him. Some few Of the players made Ill adj
vlsed efforts TO slip away through adjacent Of
fees but were quickly corracd
The calmest figure during the brief hubbub was
the solemn faced individual who had opened the door
He stood among the policemen while the lieutenant
arranging the transfer Of the prisoners to the
patrol wagon The dealer noticed him and thrust up
close, snarling. $50 1t WAS you who gave us away
eh2 Who the devil you, anyway"
"9fci" said the solemn faced mnn innocently
"Ob, I'm the superintendent Of the building"
Thus, In traditional dramatic style enters the be-
lated hero OF this yarn And he deserves curtain call
before he gets any further IL for no other reason
than because. though OF the most important per-
sons In metropolitan life. he has hitherto passed un-
noted and unsung. The Janor is famed IN "bu-
tcrick," story and evil Jest. This is more pow
erful and 4 lot more respectable than any hundred
janitors and many times interesting.
An office building, bearing out Its analogy with
city In Itself, has It's officials and departments
y large building has sometimes as many as two
hundred employes-englneers to the huge heat
ing, lighting and pumping plants, Gremen special
policemen, elevator force, hall cleaners, vacuum
plant operators, window washers, carpenters paint
ers leterers electricians, experts of various kinds
and degrees. Above thom looms the superintendent
He Can't Be Lured
The superintendent of modern Office building Is
kind of sublimated Cerebus He lies in wait at the
portal of the premises he Is hired to guard and he Is
not TO be lurcd to sleep with cakes of honey or cakes
of anything else He Is a 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 spotess as the
Hlmalayun SHOWS to remain he must prove himself "a
solid and upright the Bank of England AT least
such is the guiding theory.
stranger appears the office of the superintendent
and demands to know whether there Is available room
for rent
what firm or who for7" asks the superintendent
dispossionately.
Chicken Feather Extract Company" says the
other
What references?
'rhis and 'Totber banks
The superintendent takes many notes.-the nature
OF the business, machinery II any noises Ii any prc-
vlous location, space wanted, what goods to be on
premises names of company officers and stIn moro
references
I'VE will let you know" he says
Within the next few days he makes or directs an
investigation Either personally or through an rs.
slstant he looks up the applicant from all possible
angles. No enterprise with a questionable standing
or questionable purpose is considered The Office
building must be kept free from financial as from
social reproach, This governor is on the ground to
see that the lid" Is nailed fast.
If the applying firm through every test IL ia
invited to step up and sign n steel ribbed rock bot
toned iron clampcd lease which leaves II neatly In
the narrow path Of recttude with the promise of being
thrown out for cause
But surveillance does not end here The spDerin-
tendent of high class Office building holds his posi-.
tlon through his ability TO keep the good name Of the
place unsmirched If there is anything suspicious