Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-06-27
A NIGHT EDITORS STORY.

tOgetner my prc-cOncelved ideas OF ghosts,
and the particular experience have to r..
late on this occasion 1t is an experience
so strange, so terrible, and so fraug ght with
poignant grief, that for long time after
its occurrence / shrank from all mention
of it but time, the great alleviator, enables
me now to sit Gown and give calm &C.
count of the events to which l refer.
was night editor on the Hawbuck
Morning Sentinel. My associate in the To-
cal department was Ward Sutfin, a young
fellow Of keen perceptions, ready wit, and
active ability He had Clear eyes. a con-
centrative brow, a rather pale complexion.
. long. flaring jet black moustache, and
an open, wide awake look that was faith
ful index to- his character. Nothing es-
capped his observation. He was indefatiga-
bly, Industrious, and picked up all the news.
;delving out item, from the most appar.
emily barren ground. He was the best 10
cal we had ever had, and our department
OF city news, soon after his advent, out.
stripped those of all our contemporaries in
variety and spice.
ward had one fault, however. The 60
cial bowl possessed powerful attrac ions
Tor hlm, and 1t was too often evident that
he had been imbibing more freely than a
sound judgment would dictate. To be
sure he was seldom unified for business -
not more than once in three or four
months, perhaps,-but he was pursuing a
path which, If persisted In, must, en-
deavored to pursuade him, result in his
downfall. talked to him often about it,
but although he always listened pleasantly
my wo'ds seemed to be uselessly expend-
ed. He was always the same free and
nnh$ hoovfOI nosnvs,,so1 EoNS-
Woodworking, valuable assistant
He would frequently chooee a tonic of
popular interest and write thereon q series
Of descriptive articles in free, gossipy
vein, just calculated to catch the public
attention. This was in addition to his
regular work as city editor. The amount
of labor he accomplished, and the ease
with which he performed it, frequently
filled me with astonlshment.
Well do I remember when he chose rol
bis theme " Dregs and Scum" He pene
irated the vilest haunts of the lowest cla> 8
es, and described their habits in wonder
fully vivid manner. Their vices, theil
misf0rtunes, the bright spots in their lives
together with scraps of adventure and in
cident, t,-exciting, amusing, and pathetic
were all treated with rare spirit ant
grace by his ready pen.
Of course in this pursuit he visited thu
resorts of thieves, villains, and despera
does, and plunged into scenes, against his
eafe exit from which, there were many
chances.
"We will see what can be fished u1
from the slime" he would say, with
mocking laugh, and start off on one of his
midnight excursions And again he woult
announce that he had an appointment Il
meet some distinguished friends. the tru,
purport OF which remark we all well un
der: TODD.
Ward and l, when at work, occupied a
room by ourselves. while tue managing ed
itor, and Bailey, his assistant, had anOthe
apart. just across the hall.
One night about half past eleven, War
said to me:
"Well, Peck, I'll go down and see wha
can see. Pve sent in couple of col
umns, and Dobbin will be on the look ou
TO report if anything turns up. I'll he bac]
by half past one or two."
Dobbin was q middle aged, seedy indi
vilual of some ability, but no particuia
occupation, who loafed round the offic
most of the time, in readiness to as ist
for small remuneration, in any depart
mcnt that happened to be crowded. IL
frequently lent his aid to Ward in rcportin,
police cases, accidents, rows, and the like
Hold on, Ward," I said, looking hin
in the face; hadn't you better wait un
ii! tomorrow night 2''
"Why? o! l know; you tkink Pm nc
exactly well balapccd. But I'm all righ,
Pm in just the mood for it to night"
Eyes you always are, for that mattc
Where 10 you propose to 20 tonight p
'1Down to Muggips' Forks y
The very worst place in the city! I'll
concentration of vile and desperate Law
lessncss.
"Ytur not in earnest, Ward? You'l
not going there tonight, arc you ?''
''Thats just where l am going. "
know their great mogul, Barney Buck,
: awaiting for trial tor that highway robbel
scrape, and want to hear their commen,
Jove! won't it be a rich treat ?''
, IL heard they were going to have a to
about it,
= "Yes, Muggins' Forks is to hold an i
dignation meeting. la! hav'
swell, Ward, wouldn't 20 that's all
J. swell. Peck, don't want you to 6
hut I'm going"
Z "You may take this,i if you want 1t - a
= l unlocked q drawer, and drew out 81
shooter.
b. ~ he exclaimed, laughing in SEQ,
l. "You had better take it,
IS But he persisted in declining.
y. "Vcry well have your own way. B
10 l'e cool, and keep sharp lookout. A
;. promise nc Que thing, Ward that y
u will not drink anything more tonight, -
u least until yor get hack"
lie had been slowly moving toward ,
door, a"d now rushed out suddenly, {
!" cI imlng, with Il laugh:
1. "All rigIt. guess nOt.'
d After he was gone, l moved uneasily
my chair for some moments, and at l.