The Press., 1913-07-23
JACK AND THE HAT A Mistake That
 Ended Well
 AV AnUceA ANAHKWE
By cLARIssA MAcKIB

Jack Delafield left the offices of Penn k Padd and walked toward the de- scending elevator.
 "Going downP' called the operator, and Jack slid along the corridor and caught the car. AS the door crashed be- hind him and the car dropped down an ascending car swooped upward and Jack had a glimpse of familiar hat. A smart little hat 1t was of black and white, with a hint of rose color some where about it.
 Of course Jack did not see all these details as the car passed him. He was recollecting the hat as he had last seen 1t upon the small, haughtily poised head of Laura Hagen. He had excel lent reason to remember that hat, for she had nodded 1t at him as she dis- missed him forever. It had all been about a very trivial matter. He had almost forgotten the quarrel now. Of course Laura was in the right. She had a provoking way of always proving herself in the right. He imagined that he was quite broken hearted over his shattered romance, but so far he had managed to retain a most excellent appetite. although he avoided the op- posite sex like pestilence.
 AS to the quarrel, 1t came from a mans not liking to have his f1ancee dance modern dances with any one ex- cept himself. Laura didn't see any reason why she shouldn't dance them if she wanted to. She intended to go to a subscription ball, and he objected. saying he feared the company, not to speak of the dancing. might be very indiscriminate. He could not approve of the turkey trot, bunny hug or tango. Laura had pouted and fretted to such an extent that the result was quarrel.
 She really cared very little about the dance, but was determined to make Jack bend to her will. Then, too, as she told him. she felt her pride insult ed by his assuming that she would dance the modern dances in any except ''proper form"
 And now this confounded hat had flashed past him to remind him that the girl under 1t was no longer his sweetheart. He wondered if Laura had not forgiven him by this time-if she was not sorry. Perhaps if he met her casually-in the corridor of this build ing, for instance-she might betray her real feelings.
 Lingering in the vestibule, staring senselessly up at the directory on the marble wall. the impulse came to him suddenly. He would go up to the twen- tieth floor again and perhaps meet her. He would walk all the way downstairs and perhaps see her in one of the cor riders. Like many impulses, 1t was a foolish one. Nevertheless he entered an elevator and went skyward.
 At the top floor he got out. walked down the long deserted corridor to its end. came back and slowly descended the stairs. The corridor of the nine teenth floor was equally deserted. and he laughed at himself for his folly She might have passed him in the ele vator as he came up. She might be going down in any one of the elevators that glided up and down.
 On IIS elPlIeenIu uOOF ue was EC- warded for his folly. He had paced to the farthest end of the corridor and was coming back. approaching the ele- vators, when a door opened and the smart little hat came out. Jack Della field would know Laura's graceful fig ure anywhere. She always wore some shade of gray. and the tailor gown she had on now fitted to perfection.
 She walked rapidly ahead of him. her heels tapping the polished floor. and he haStened to Overtake her. The least she could do would be to throw him another of her killingly naughty glances. and ns she had already broken his heart once 1t was immune now.
 He nenred her and said eagerly. "Laura"'
 She stopped suddenly. half turned. slipped on the gittering floor and sat down In an ignOminious heap at his feet. She tilted back the allurinR hat and turned Il lovely. indignant cOunte