The record-union., 1891-05-10
RISKED THE SCOOP. "
The City Editor Once Had Boy O
His Own.


The rush that is always premonitory of
the going to press of an afternoon paper
was very evident in the editorial rooms.
The local men were writing as for dear
life, and telegraph matter was going on
the hook at lightning speed.
The city editor looked at the clock.
There were fifteen minutes more. Just
then timid knock came at the door.
Come in," said the city editor, mechani-
cally, as his pencil cut and slashed its way
over piece of telegraphic matter. Hesi-
tatlngly and slowly the door opened.
Then bent little woman, with faded pale
eyes and wearing threadworn shawl
over her dress, came timidly up to the
| city EDITORS desk.
'pve come," she began in timid sort
OF voice, 'about my boy, Abe. He was
arrested this morning for she gave q
half sob, and then biting her lip nerv=
| ously to repress the tears that would
come, went on-''for-beating me. sup
posed, mebbe, you'd have some notice OF
1t, and wanted TO see if you wouldn't
just not say anything about it."
The city editor looked grave. "Its q
piece OF news, madam. We must print
| the news"
''News?" said the little woman, and
her voice attained an almost command
ing pitch, who wants to know, in all this
city, whether my boy Abe Is beating me
or not? 1t amt nobody's affair but ours.
Oh, sir" she went on, looking pleadingly
into the editors face, ''he amt bad boy,
Abe amt, an he loves me. He was just
bit riled-an' he struck me. But if you
publish that of him, he'll mebbies get
reckless and go to the bad for good
Don't, don't risk the awful chance OF
| sending boy to the big road that leads
! to the devil. Don't! He's good to me,
! Abe is, and this II be lesson enough to
him. But if all the city knows of it"
and then the tears would come and she
had to stop, choking with sobs.
The editor glanced impatiently at tn O
woman. He had requests of this nature
every day. Not so pathetic ones, to be
sure. He looked at the clock There
were seven minutes yet. 1t was only a
brief item and easily KILLED" And
again came over him the routine argu-
ments that he used in these cases. He
had long ago sworn to print all the news
without fear or favor. 1t was to risk a
scoop" to do otherwise.
Then, from some hidden recess of his
| mind, camo the face of his dead boy. He
thought rapidly of what it would mean to
blast young life like that
He called the foreman. "Kill that
item," he said, pointing to a proof-sheet.
In another minute it was done. Then
the last form, complete and ready for
stereotyping, went down. The reporters
sighed wearily and leaned back in their
chairs with languid sense of a days
work done. The city editor wiped his
spectacles and turned to the shabby little
woman in 'front.' of him.
The item will not appear" he said.
rather softly.
e. Oh, SIR" she said, with the sense of
JOY bringing more tears than her sorrow
had done. Il am so thankful. I can't
say much. / amt used to fine words
but may the Lord bless you for this. An
Abe-hell be better boy now, oh,
know he will
And then, with the joy of a martyr yet
lingering on her pale face, she went out
softly, while the city editor blew his
nose suspiclously and turned fiercely to
some "time-copy y."-Epoch.