Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1878-07-13
A Frontier Bulldozer.

When EapplicI fcr the position Of city edi-
tor of The Daily Scalper, frontier paper 81
some nretsnse, the man al the helm simply
asked my name. age aud weight, and what
knew about the business, and hc employed me
"The proprietor IS not bard to suit, SAIL
to the foreman that oyehing as | began bust
ness.
"Wby DO you think so g"
"Decaase be engaged me at once, replied
The foreman laughed.
"That's because he thinks you won't last
moro than a day or two. They never DO.
".WhoP
"The ctitors-cet cleaned out you know
knocked in the head, shot TO piecos--busted.
Some Of them leave the first day, others hang
On q week or more. and then we carry EN- 70
That hin YOU SEQ over there and plant en-
There's n row Of local editors over there half
n mile long. and all died with their boots on.
Truly, this was not very encouraging, but
did no. half believe l.,
"It's fact. though, declared the foreman.
" This town ain't ike other places, aud then
this is high pressure newspaper. ~ YOU
wish To be popular you must pitch into people
hike bla-cs. Those fellows on the bill were
And that'a why they got killed IsupPosc q
said T.
II itecson 50 at any rate they are dead.
Joe Hodges killed them"
"Joe Hodges %
Yes
"Who is he, pray
"Tho town bully; the mashcr Of the village,
q genuine double. back action rough. Better
not SAY anything about Joe, or hell wah- IN
here aud mash ycu iutua jclly IN no time
Very particular is Joe about newspaper no'-
ces"
"Thcn be shall have nono In this paper,
sailtvtcrmincaly.
ooh. but that won't DO" exclaimed tho
foreman. Joe is Tint sort OF fellow that
woLt be sightcl-hothing be bates SO much
as neglect and then hes mixed up IN every
row, so you'll have to mention him. In TACT
Joe Hodges is on the fight worse than any man
you ever knew.
Copy I" yelled one Of the competitors.
The loremau cleared The hook and rushed
into the composing room.
"I'll fX JOG Hodges" I said to myself, when
the man was gone. So The first blow Is TIE
best, so here goes"
seized my pencil and wrote little notice
comparing Joe Hodges with mule. and say
mg that, according 10 all accounts, he was
drunken scOundicl, rascal unit Tor human
association.
The notice was put IN typo at once and
appeared 10 the paper next morning, along
with the other locals, and that afternoon Joe
Hodges called.
F. was busy writing whom ho camo IN, but
looked up, aud hurried slaueO told me Who
he was
A short, hcsvy-sot, svsfihy. lov-btored
rascal, with black har end oyos. and fcd
shIrt-ihat wns Joc Hodges.
"Taho a seat" said nnd won't on vfhng.
in q half drunken way he hOundef0d isso a
chnir.
What /. your bamo?" ! ssA glauc!ng .,
him
800 Hodges"
dashed It down on broad piece Of blank
paper OF the table
. How old are you
"Forty two" with a surprised look.
dashed That ia the same way
Your birth place ~
Missouri" with still more surprise.
put il down, then reached for a heavy
revolver, which cooked and laid On Tie table.
" Arc you married q" ! asked with aqulek
look ne the ast0nishcd man.
No" he replied staring wildly.
put the answer down.
What is your business ?"
." a blacksmith"
made a record of the fact, and looked up
to ask another question, when J saw that The
bully bad risen and stood glazing nj ne with
his hand on the door.
"What in thunder arc you writing hc
yelled, lis face almost purple.
IAN obituary"
Whose -
Yours"
He may have hal urgent business down on
the street; I do not know NJ any rate ho
suddenly Withdrew from my presence aud
never appeared again Exchange