Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-06-06

ing. Then by the merest accident, h
overheard Tote indulging in anticipa
ton of the glorious time he would hay
if he could be sure of a ''day off. Tot
had ''picked up" more in a week thai
any of his predecessors had learned il
a month. He had very little time t.
waste. When the hand of the big roun'
clock pointed to 2, every man in tn
Vindicator composing room knew tina
they were expected to perform giveI
amount of work with the precision ant
regularity of so many wheels until I
certain point was reached. Then, whel
nature was tired, and crayed cessation
and the copy flooded the foreman's desk
he grimly gave the screw another turn
generally accompanying it with the
words: Pull out now lively, boys,
and the human wheels turned faster.
To m Duncan remarked that when
the human wheels in the composing
room were whirling with all their might
and men could scarce find time to wipe
the perspiration from their faces, the
accomplishing, ever bright-faced Tote
seemed to grow cheerier. The smallest
of all the wheels there, his feet
moved faster in obedience to the slight
est command. He acceptedrebuke quite
as matter of course, it was never once
deserved. Tom Duncan, looking at his
earnest face one morning. as he reso-
lutely rolled out p oof after proof, felt a
sharp twinge Of conscience, and never
swore at him again. When the last
form" was sent down, and Tote was
busy asserting the ''dupes" for the
printers, the foreman startled him by
saying suddenly:
What are you going to do on the
Fourth, Tote2"
''If you won't miss me much"
''Hello, boys Totes asking me if We
can get the paper out without him. "
The laughter made Totes cheeks burn.
"Never mind, Tote. was boy once
myself. How much have you got to
spend Z"
81 can spend two days wages if I've
mind to"
ga dollar. A whole dollar!"
81 wish it was-but it ain t."
"What's thatg" The foreman turned
to him abruptly.
''Why," said Tote, ''it's easy count
ing. Flo's counted it so often there
can't be no mistake. Two dollars and
quarter week is 81 cents a day-and
I'm to have 70 cents"
The foreman's face was n study as he
looked down Mt Tote. "You tell me you
have only been getting 1926 ever since
you began here 4"
Tote nodded, still smiling. The fore
man looked around him incredulously.
Those nearest him curled their lips; one
or two laughed aloud. Then Tom Dun
can exploded. His wrath assumed the
usual form, but Just when the men be-
gan to look around, noting the color of
the air, the foreman checked himself
"That'll do this morning, Tote. You
can go now"
When Tote had disappeared, Tom
Duncan stood nodding his head medita-
lively, then suddenly he turned and
said, with an expletive | need not repro
duce here. ''That's Peters all over
But he's got to make this right. I'll fetch
him.
We all knew what he meant. The fore
man fetching" way was well known
to every compositor ON the indicator
When Peters joined issue with the fore
man, Tom walked down and addressed
himself to the editor. Rumor said his
sentences were terse. Anyhow, they
struck home. Mr.. Peters Immediately
after these interviews looked like man
a hump on his back.
Whathnr Tofata tra frgc ,,.n..a .nx-n.. Int.
elled up to the date he began no one in I
the composing room knew, for Tom was
loyal to the office But everybody knew
he was receiving 81 a week shortly after
ward, and this, taken in connection with
the hump ON Peters's back, and his /
0reathless condition, spoke volumes.