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

together my pre- conceived ideas of ghosts,
and the particular experience have to n.
late on this occasion It is IN experience
so strange, go terrible, and so fraught with
poignant grief, that for long time after
liz occurrence I shrsnk from all mention
Of It but time, the great alleviator, enables
me now to sit Gown and give calm &C.
countof the events to which refer.
I was night editor on the Hewbuck
Morning Sentinel. My associate in the To-
cal department was Ward sutfn, young
fellow Of keen perceptions, ready wit, and
active ability He had clear eyes, a con-
centrative brow, rather pale complexion,
. long, faring jet black moustac6e, and
an open, wide awake look that was faith
full index to- his character. Nothing es.
cgpe6 1ls observatlon.e He Mass indefa&i1a-
bly Industrious, and picked up all the news.
.delying out item, from the most appar.
entity 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 TO-
cial bowl possessed powerful attract ions
for him. and it was too often evident that
he had been imbibing more freely than .
sound judgment would dictate. To be
sure he was seldom unified for business
not more than once In three or four
month";, perhaps,-but he was pursuing q
path which, II persisted In, must, I en-
deavOred to pursuade him, result in his
downfall. talked to him often about It,
but although he always listened pleasantly
my woods seemed to be uselessly expend.
ed. He was always tho same free and
easy, hght-hearted, convivial fellow, and
hard-working, valuable assistant
He would frequently choose q topic 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 ~ city editor. The amount
OF labor he accomplished, and the ease
with which he performed it, frequently
filled me with ast0nlshment.
We'll do remember when he chose 10,
bis theme I" Dregs and Scum" He pene.
irated the vilest kaunts of the lowest cla. g
es, and described their habits In . wonder
fully vivid manner. Their wees. theil
misfortunes, the bright spots in their lives,
together with scraps of. adventure and in
dent,-exciting, amusing, and pathetic,
-were all treated with rare spirit and
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 hil
cafe exit from which, there were many
eve will zee, what. can be fished NJ
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 t
meet some distinguished friends. the tru,
purport Of which remark we oil we'll nm
der: TODD. =! i..- g..
Ward and I, when at work, occupied q
room by ourselves. while the managing ed
itor, and Bailey, his assistant, had another
apart, Just across the hall.
One night about half past eleven, War
said to mes.
wen, Peck, III go down and see wha
/ can see. I've sent in a couple of col
umns, and Dobbin will be on the look GU
70 ortifsany&hing turns up I'll be bacl
| by half past one or two"
|, Dobbin was a. middle aged, seedy indi
vidual, of some ability, but no particula
occupation, who loafed round the offic
most of the time, in readiness to as list
for small remuneration, in any depart
ment that happened to be crowded. III
frequently lent his aid to Ward in reportin,
police cases, accidents, rows, and the like
Hold on, Ward" I said, looking hin
In the face; hadn't you better wait un
"Why? o! ! know; You think Pm nc
exactly well balanced. But I'm all right
Pm In just the mood for it to night''
Eyes you always are, for that matter
Where do you propose to go tonight ?"
'1Down to Mpggips' Forks y
concentration of vile and desperate Inv
\ lessncss. .1S
"Yeur not in earnest, Ward? You,
not going there tonight, are You ?''
''Tha.'s just where am going. Yc
: know their great mogul, Barney Buck,
awaiting for trial tor that highway robbel
scrape, and want to hear their comment
J0ve! won't it be rich treat ?''
, II heard they were going to have ia
= ayes, Muggins' Fork, is to hold an
oignation meeting: Ia! ma! !"
''Well, Ward, I wouldn't go that's all
= swell. Peck, don't want you to g
but Pm going"
;. "Yo,t may take this,if you want It - a,
>. unNCheu " "o"cA, ouu uIc" OuL 81
shooter.
b mo ~ he exclaimed, laughing in scoz
l. "You had better take it,
9 But he persisted in declining.
y "Vcry well have your own way. b
. be cool, and keep q sharp lookout. A
}. promise me one thing, Ward that y
i will not drink anything more tonight, -
Il least until y0n get back"
He had been slowly moving toward I
door, aid now rushed out suddenly, G
- c' inning, with laugh:
l. Gall right. guess not"
II After he was gone, moved uneasily
my chair for some moments, and ut ].