The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-07-11
MADGE.
The Plucky Girl Who Saved the
Red Gulch Stage.

"Click click, click, click" went the types
IS they were thrown into their respective
'oxes by the type settlers in the Daily Call
iope Office. 1t was early Sunday morning
md they were almost through with the
lights work. One of the compositors, a
lark haired girl, was particularly deft at
Ter task; and the nimbleness of her stained
ingcrs as, without an error, she rapidly
orted the letters, was sight worth watch
ng. Though the only lady in the office, and
ut child at that, she was as quick and
apid a worker as any.
The CalliOpe was one of the experimental
!ailies, that had started in western towns
or blooming" purposes.
The city would be called mere village
" Eastern visitors, but standing as 1t did
ar out on the plains, amid the foot hills of
he Rockies, it had quite a metropolitan ap-
e.rance. After the leagues upon leagues
d unbrol1cn prairie or rolling bluffs and
rccipitous banks, it really appeared like a
enter of civilization, and despite the ram
ling character of is buildings and the
mallness of its population, its daily paper,
lectrjc lights and water works did not seem
o much out of the way.
AS the fingers of the girl were nearing tho
nd of their task, voice was heard behind
or. She recognized it as that of Mr.. Fer
ard, the editor. He said: miss Madge,
ere are three short items wish you would
ut in type Take palms. please, for will
OF have time to look at your work.
The morning paper was nearly ready for
ne press and handing her three slips of
Manuscript covered with his almost I'M
eadable scrawl, he left her and went to at
md to other matters demanding his at
entiOn.
81 wonder what that can be-" thought the
irl, puzzling over the badly-written SEN
ences. ''Oh yes, see now,'' and she
uickly put into type:
To-day is the glorious anniversary of tho
:surrection-Ea$tey. The word is sweet with
digestion: 1t speaks Of hope, OF JOY, OF n new
&c. That our readers may enjoy hope and hap
mess ard that q new life may come to each
cart is our WISH
1t was short editorial squib. Then she
ok up the next one, q news item:
I'VE learn1hat Hen Haven, the well known
'agc Oliver on the Colorado and l<ans as line
.ctwecn here and Red Gulch, has been dis
-iarged and his place filed by john Horris.
-orris arted out on his first trip Friday morn
X, and will return Tomorrow night"
The girl hesitatcd. She disliked having
he words go forth to the world. They told
her father being thrown out of employ
lent, and though the editor had not said so,
very body would know that Ben Haven
ad ''lOst his jOb' on account of his dissi-
>ation. 81 X IS. =.
II must do it. though she thought, 'for
want to keep my place here now,' and
his item, too, was made ready for the press.
The third, and her last work of the night,
lad evidently been handed in from the tele-
graph Office 1t read:
"A terrible blizzard, said to be the worst of
the season, is raging in Wyoming and Western
Nebraska. 1t is sweeping southwark and will
reach here about noon Sunday. Coming SO late
N the season it will find many unprepared and
10 much dana ,e.'' -.-.-.. .-s,........ .-.. -..
That was all, and throwing her Thin cloak
around her, she left the Office and, through
The chill, gray morning, sought her unat-
;ractive heme-a frame cabin, perched far
beyond the outskirts of the town, on the
side of Indian hill, with only the govern
nent stage road between it and The Smoky
liver. There was a, peculiar clearness in
The airsand' the stars tWinkled with strange
magnetic brightness She thought little of
it, however, and before the Easter sun rose
Or noisy carrier boys had delivered the
morning Calliope, she was fast asleep, rest
ing from the labors of the night.
'Madge," called her father, six hours
later, ''haven't you slept long enough! Pm
hungry. Get up and get me some dinner"
The girl YEARLY arose and began getting
the meal that her father had SO roughly de-
handed. They two: were alone in the
world, and the double duty of the printing
office and the kitchen fell upon the girls
Her father had come to make
his days much ike hers, when he was not
Lsleep nearly all day, and alas
be down town all night. Now he sat by the
Kitchen stove lazily blinking ut the morning
CalliopewMch had long ago arrived.
'Madge, did you see this about me!" he
Buddenly exclaimed. > -
"What, fathers"
ABOUT my being DISCHARGED and that
worthless Joe Harris taxing my placer
Eyes, saw il" was the meek response.
'Why didn't you keep it out then! I
don't sec why tho editor should attack me
That way"
II couldn't keep it out, father. What do
you suppose ! have to do with things that
30 into the paper.''
20, you don't care. You're like that
worthless brother Of yours; il you were q
boy, you'd desert me like him-that's all
you caro- about your father"
He was in l. grumbling mood to-day and
did not spare the patient slave who served
him. She would not allow, however, the
Allusion TO the boy who, four years ago had
kouc forth with mothers blessing, to seek
IN honorable livelihood.
t'lyhat has VIII aensr' Gias xsksdj h0ta1;