The daily Alaskan., 1912-11-06
HIS OCCUPATION
By ALBERT KENYON

Ing Cross and one afternoon strollcd down Whitehall street and entered Green park at the horse guards. Pass ing on through the park to Queen Vic toria's statue opposite Buckingham palace, I stopped to look at it l no' uccd a man standing before the statue admlrlng it and asked h,m 1T he could tell any interesting facts concerning its construction. He replied very civ lily and proved quite an admirable guide. He was evidently not a polish ed gentleman. for he was plainly dress ed and misapplled his h's.
 "'Er majesty," he said, twas one Of the finest sovereigns that heyer lived Hi was In the public service under 'er for many years, durin' which Ter peo- ple was 'appicr than at hany other reign. though that 'applncss was con tinued under the reign of Ter gracious son King Uedward'
 "Did your office bring you In con tact at an with the QueenE'
 "Hu In contact with Ter majesty. Not IT, sir nj never sor Ter except when she was bout hairing But Hi was hoftcn at court sir
 Had you duties thercG"
 "No. sir I'll 'ad no duties at court. Hi went there to see the uoiahlcs, sir"
 CT presume you could give bits of En- formation about many royal and emi. ncnt people
 "Ycs. sir. Urve seen Justice n. often and Nstjrc W. occasionally and many Of thc most hcmiucnt barristers in England"
 "Army maEu0tes|
 "No. sir nj never met any army officer But III once met a parson. Hi 'ad official connection with him, sir
 "Iu what wayw
 "He was doin' too much talkin' Very windy. sir nj shut it or"
 | was puzzled Co make the fellow out. At this bit Of information ! fan. cicd he might be a scrgcaut-atarms or something of the kind attached Co the residence of some one of ihc royalties. employed Co see that no madmissihlc person forced his way into ihc palace, or fl such succeeded in getting there lt was his duty Co put him out Hav. ing been brought up Co consider ques. tlous as Co peoples business iIl bred, | rrfraincd from asking him what his office was. let him go on talking cN. pcctiug that In time he would state it of his own accord
 "It must have taken a fine lot O cordagc Co swing that block O marble into position, sir" said my companion.
 "I don't think they used much cord ago for Che purpose" | replied 'lt would only be needed Co guide Che mass as it was swung on Co its pCdcs tal They doubtless used chains to Uft it"
 "Now. really. m wouldn't 'o' thought that. Hi should think ropes would ha better. Chains might break the marble, sir. They couldn't ave swung it by the neck. could they, sir"
 I looked at the man surprised. He appeared to be sufficiently intelligent Co know that a statue would not be lifted on to its pedestal by thc neck.
 What made you think they would do lt In that wayT | asked.
 "Weu, sir, it seems to me the nat. uraI way Co mt a person"
 "Wlth rope2 You would break a living persons neck by lifting him that way"
 But you wouldn't break a marble persons neck
 CT think you would in this case. The figure is solid and must weigh a great many tons"
 And lt wouldn't do, sir-not in this casc-to swing CT most gracious males. ty even iu marble by the neck. 'Eaven forbid that hany Of Ter loyal subjects should think O such a thing, Hits rank treason. sir"
 He seemed terribly shocked.
 I was not especially edifcd by this latter part Of his chat though before he got on to 1t he talked sensihly enough. so | thanked him for the in- formation he had given mo and start. ed away, saying.
 "I expect to go to court soon. Per. haps I shall have some attention from you there in your official capacity"
 "Hi shall try to make it as easy as possible for you. sir, if you do."
 This added so largely to my curioS- ity that | was sorry | had not asked him the nature Of the position he held. He was not a gentleman and likely would not have taken It amiss. How ever. 1t was now too late
 Some time after this ! was walking on Oxford street with my friend liar, grave. a Londoner, when | saw ap, preaching the man | had met at the statue. It did not occur to me to ask Hargrave who he was, for [ had no ldea he would know
 DO you see this man comingT ask. ed Hargrave.
 "Yes"
 "He's Calcraft. the hangman.'
 Then understood the mans refer. ences to court-that he meant legal court fDsfead of a royal court ap.