Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1886-10-13

the old man seemed to be q permanent
fixture. Boys came into the Office as ap-
prentices, graduated as printers, tramped
around the world for a number OF years
and finally wandered back to their old
love- Then, when they took the first take
OF telegraph of the hook and glanced at
the head, they would exclaim: "Whatl
isn't that old 'chump' dead yete' When
''So" was in they would drop down into the
sanctum, borrow "a chaw Of tobaccon
from their old friend, and leave again on
that never-ending tramp of printers.
The salary of the old man was ample for
the wants Of the average human being, but
he always needed money. His clothes
were seedy, his hat shiny with age, and
sometimes his toes could be seen creeping
out of holes in his shoes. He never was
known to have a complete new outfit
When his shoes were new his hat was old
with age: when his hat had been remod-
eled his elbows were out. Just why this was
so no one knew; only the fact that it was
so remained. Some said the old man was a
miser, and others that he spent his money
for drink. Both theories had their advo-
Gates, and the city editor had to queu q
riot rising from discussion OF the rela-
tive merits of each. Either may have been
correct or both wrong; it was a matter of
speculation, but never reached beyond that
point All members of the staff advocated
one or the theories, except Jones. He
Claimed the old man spent his money in
educating mythical Child in New York
Night after night the old man came To
the office promptly at seven O'Clock. "Old
Black" was always punctual. and after
pleasant word for his Office bow, com
mo npa1 fha
heading and classifying telegraph. With
passive countenance, quick brain and deft
fingers, the old man pursu,d ID his work.
Suicides murders, marriages, appalling ac-
cidents, political items and all kinds OF
news matter passed through his hands:
but never comment or complaint passed
his lips unless it was about piece of news
over which he could place q sensational
head The death of Pr esident or pauper
was the same to him; both were news.
He deciphered hieroglyphcs which press
operators use for letters, and untanglei the
kinks which thousands of miles of tel
egraph wire had put in the news with the
same Indifference with which he corre ted
the name OF Russian General which had
been sent over the cable in sections. Then,
when 1907 was in, he donnel his coat and
left the Office, to 20 no ono knew where,
and was not seen again until the next
week
1t was early Saturday morning. The
local men had finished their work, and
''Old Black" and the night editor were
the only members of tho night staff in the
office. The telegraph boy brought in some
press, and inform d the old man that ''30''
would be late. Three sheets were edited
and sent up to the printers through the
tube. All but the last item on tho last
sheet had gone up TO the news-room, when
the old man picked up the piece Of mani
fold, ran his eyes over the copy, dropped
his pencil and let bis head fall on the
table. Evidently "Old Black" was tired
with the long nights work.
The boy brought in more "press," and,
seeing that the old man did not move in
formed him that he could sign for it the
next time. Once again he came, and still
the silent form remained motionless. The
foreman was getting inpatient and
whistied down the pipe without getting
response Then he in-patiently cut up
some ''tmo copy" and muttered not
complimentary opinion of "old 'chumps'
who undertook to edit press" emphasiz-
ing it with spiteful ships of his scissors.
Once again he VIII stled and the night ed
itor stepped out of his room to see what
the matter was.
''ls 80 in!" he asked the old man.
There was no response.
"Here, old man." he said, as he stooped
over and shook him not urgently, ssyou
-" Then he stepped back horrified, as
the head turned to one side and the CLASSY.
lifeless eyes of the old man stared upon
him.
Heart-disease," was the laconic decision
of the physician.
Very gently they lifted the old man up
and laid him on the dilapidated sofa. Then
the night editor took the vacant chair and
picked up the pencil which had dropped
from the neryeless fingers; it was two
O'Clock, the newspaper readers must have
their favorite journal at the breakfast
table. As be picked up the remnant of
manifold which the old man had dropped,
be read the telegram, half edited:
New YoRK.-A special from x
university town, says: "The boarding
school of Mrs. Roberts burned here this
morning. All the inmates we're saved ex-
cept Miss Jennie Black, who"
Ah we'll 1t was only the more subor
dinate dead; ''30n in life's book had been
written for another telegraph editor.