Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1889-07-04

ing. Then by tho fierest accident, he
overheard Tote indulging in anticipn.
toh OF the glorious time he would h0e
II ne could be sure of ebay off," TEle
had picked up" more in n week than
any OF his predecessors had learned in
month. He had very little Tins 30
waste. When the hand of the bio round
clock pointed to 2, every man in the
Vindicator composing room knew that
ehey were expected to perform given
amount OF work with the precision and
regularity OF 30 many wheels until n
certain point was reached. Then, when
nature was tired, and craved cessation.
and the copy flooded the foreman's desk
he grimiy gave the screw another turn,
generally accompanying it with the
words; Pull out now lively, bows, ("
and the human whee,s turned faster.
10 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 wine
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 accepted rebuke quite
rs q matter of course. il wns never once
deserved. Tom Duncan, looking at his
earnest face one morning, as he reso-
lutely rolled out p oof after proof, felt n
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: y
- What are you going to do on the
Fourth, Tote2''
III 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. l was boy once
myself. How much have you got to
spend2"
~ can spend two days wages if I've a
"a dollar. A whole dollarr'
Il wish it was-but it amt
"What's that" 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 n
quarter a week is 37s cents day-and
m to have rs cents"
The foreman's face was a study ms he
looked down at Tote. "You tell me you
have only been getting 1926 ever since
you began here p
Tote nodded, still smiling. The fore
man looked around him incredulously.
Those nearest him curled their lips: one
or two laughed aloud. Then Tom Dim
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
suddenly.
"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 exp!etive I 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
mans fetching" way was we'll known
to every compositor on the Vindicator.
When Peters joined issue with the fore
man, Tom walked down and addressed
himself to the editor. Rumor said his
sentences were terse. ANYHOW, thew
struck home. Mr.. Peters Immediately
after these interviews looked like man
carrying hump on his back.
whether Totes wages were ever lev
elled up to the date he began no one in
the composing room knew, for Tom was
loyal to the office. But everybody knew
ne was receiving 81 week shortly after
ward, and this, taken in connection with
the hump on Peters's back, and his
preathless condition, spoke volumes.