Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-31
THE SIGN AT SIX

companies; that is to say, about I
o'clock the following morning. Then
without reason and all at once, tn,
whole building from top to bottom
was a blaze of incandescent light.
One of the men, stepping to tn,
nearest telephone, unlocked the re
ceiver. To his ear came the low
busy hum of a live wire. Somebody
touched a bell button and the head
janitor, running joyfully two step:
at a time from his lair, cried out
that his bell had rung.
The little group of workmen and
experts nodded in competent and
satisfied manner, and began leisurely
to pack their tools as though at the
successful completion of long an6
difficult job.
But every man jack of them knew
perfectly well that the electrical ap-
paratus of the building was now in
exactly the same condition as it had
been the evening before. No repair
work had followed a futile investi-
/ cation.
AS the group moved toward the
outer air the head repair man quiet
ly dropped behind. Surreptitiously
he applied the slender cords of his
pocket ammeter to the zinc and car
bon of the dead batteries, concern
ing whose freshness he and his as
sistant had argued. The delicate
needle leaped forward, quivered like
snakes tongue and lowered over a
number.
Fifteen" read the repair man, and
then after a moment: HE'LL"
The daily business therefore opened
normally The elevators shot from
floor to floor; the telephones rang;
the call-bells buzzed, and all was
well. At six o'clock came the scrub
woman; at half-past seven the office
boys, at eight the clerks, a little later
some of the heads, and precisely at
nine Malachi Mccarthy, as was his
invariable habit.
AS the bulky form of the political
boss pushed around the leaves of the
revolving door, the elevator starter
glanced at his watch. This was not
to determine If Mccarthy was on
time, but to see If the watch was
right.
Mccarthy had recovered his good
humor. He threw a joke at the negro
polishing the brass, and paused
genially to exchange a word with the
elevator starter.
worked until about o'clock" the
latter answered q question. Got 1t
fixed all right. No, they didn't say
what was the matter. Something TO
do with the wires. I suppose
Most like" agreed Mccarthy.
At this moment an elevator dropped
from above and came to rest, like a
swift bird alighting. The doors part
ed to let out young man wearing
the cap of the United Wireless.
Good morning. Mr.. Mccarthy"
this young man remarked in passing.
aren't going into the sign painting
business, are your" He laughed.
What We givin' us, Mike?" de-
manded MCCARTHY.
The young man wheeled to include
the elevator starter In the joke.
"Air was full of dope most of last
night from some merry little Jester
working toy, homemade. He just
kept repeating the same thing-some-
thing about Mccarthy, at six o'clock
you shall have a sign given unto you.
It works. over and over all night.
Some new advertising dodge. reckon.
Didn't know but you were the Nc
Carthy and were getting a present
from some admiring constituent"
He threw back his head and
laughed, but McCarthy's ready anger
rose.
Where did the stun come from?'
"Out of the fresh air. replied the
operator From most anywhere in
side the zone of communication"
Couldn't you tell who sent itY'
No way. Il wasn't signed. Come