The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-05-25

heads; and precisely at 9 Malachi Nc
Carthy, 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 joke at the negro
polishing the brass, and paused genially
TO exchange a word with the elevator
starter.
Worked until about 3 o'clock" the
latter answered a question. Got it
fixed all right. No, they didn't say
what was the matter. Something 10
do with the wires. suppose"
Most like" agreed Mccarthy.
At this moment an elevator dropped
from above and came to rest, like a
swift bird alighting. The doors parted
10 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 ye givin' US, Mike?' demand
ed 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 a top, homemade. He just
kept repeating the same thing-some-
thing about Mccarthy, at o'clock
YOU shall have sign given unto you.
1t works, over and over all night
Some new advertising dodge, ! reckon.
Didn't know but you were the Nc
Carthy and were getting present from
some admiring constituent"
He threw back his head and laughed,
but McCarthy's ready anger rose.
Where did the stuff come from?"
Out of the fresh air" replied the
operator From most anywhere in
side the zone of communication"
No way. 1t wasn't signed. Come
from a quite distance, though"
How can you tell that"
You can tell by the way it sounds.
Say. they ought to be law about
these amstoors cluttering UP the air
this way Sometimes | got TO pick
my own dope out ola dozen or fifteen
messages all ticking away in my head
piece at once"
Il know the crazy slob what sent
EN-, all right. all right" growled Nc
Carthy. He's nutty for fair"
We'll. if he's nutty. | wish you'd
hurry his little trip to Matteawan,"
complained the operator, turning
away.
The boss went to his Office. where
he established himself behind his table
top desk. There all day he conducted
leisurely business of mysterious i'm
port, sitting where the cool autumn
breeze from the river brought its re-
treatment His desk top held no pa
turbed. Sometimes the office contained
half dozen people. Sometimes it
was quite empty. and Mccarthy sat
drumming his blunt fingers on the
window sill. chewing a cigar, and gaz-
ing out over the city he owned.
There were two other. inner Offices
to McCarthy's establishment. in which
sat private secretary and an office boy.
Occasionally Mccarthy with some
especial visitor. retired to one of these
for a more confidential conversation.
The secretary seemed always very
busy; the office boy was often in the
street. At noon Mccarthy took lunch
at small round table in the cafe be-
low. When he reappeared at the ele-
vator shaft. the elevator started again
verified his watch. Malachi Mccarthy
had but the one virtue OF accuracy,