Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-03-26
"REDDY'S" REVENGE.

Inc scene was small MISSOURI town on
the Mississippi river, a trife more than one
hundred miles north of St. Louis; the time
well, not twenty years ago. I was just
out of my teens, and had tolerable knowl-
edge of the printing business. 1t was pres
idential year, and heated campaign was
on. was publishing six column folio
morning paper set in long primer. The
use of material and press l rented from
one of the two weekies of the town The
Star q withhold the true name) was issued
IS morning sheet because I was able to
procure the st. Louis evening paper by
express between II and 10 o'clock D. no. on
the day of their publication, and by ju-
dicious use of the shears gave our little
public late telegraph news several hours
in advance of the arrival of the next morn
ing's city papers. This was my first-and
t{f(-faking. Service by wire was ont
of the question.
was proprietor, editor. reportorial staff
and general hustler of The Star. The
force" consisted of three young men, one
of whom per- ormed the duties of foreman
and makeup, and an apprentice. We
knew nothing of unionism, and if "chapel
meeting" had been mentioned we would
have started hymn or taken up collec-
ton.
One September afternoon, as was pre-
pairing to go forth in the capacity of re
porter, the foreman poked his head into
the room which country editors delight to
call the ''sanctum," and said:
"Tom just sent down word that he's got
chill and can't work tonight. Idon't see
how We'll fill her up unless you set CON
siderable type yourself"
Don't believe | can do much, Abe" |
replied. "Fve got to attend the Grassy
Creek meeting, and can't get back before
10 O'Clock. Do the best you can, and We'll
fill up with ads. from the weekly"
went to the meeting, which was big
blowout for The Stars candidates. When
it was over drove to town as fast as due
regard for life and limb would permit 1t
lacked just ten minutes of 10 as | rushed
into the office, eXclaiming:
"Abe, you and Hank work away on that
local news, and I'll set the meeting from
my notes"-not an unusual proceedin
with me in those days.
l threw off my coat and turned to the
corner of the room in which the weekly
frames stood, where ! expected to find a
pair of full cases. was astounded, to state
~ NUdU saw. upon
the only decent stool the office afforded,
with my sweetbriar pipe in his mouth, was
a stranger. He was distributing long
primer at a high rate of speed.
| can close my eyes and see him now
He was the first of his kind l ever saw, and
he impressed me SO that | shall never for
get him. He was nearly six feet in height
as | learned when he got off the stool
with round shoulders; age, somewhere be-
tween thirty and fifty. His hair, which
hadn't associated with pair of shears for
at least six months, was of that Ghade
which the boys always spoke of as red, and
! his face was nearly covered with shaggy
beard and mustache of the same hue.
| On one foot was a boot, on the other
shoe, both badly down at the heel and
as rusty as barndoOr hinge. His trou-
sers, which were inartistically fringed at
the bottom, were held up by one "gallus''
made of bed ticking Waistcoat he had
none. His coat, which hung at the end of
the frame, was double breasted frock
that had once-five or six years before ]
saw it-been handsome garment, but it
had changed with years. How it did
shine! On one side there was an entire
absence of buttons. On the other side
were two, one cloth covered and one of
black horn, nearly as large as a silver dol
lar. discovered later that when he want
ed to button this wonderful coat and
''brace up" as he called it, he used two
| little hickory skewers as substitutes for
| the absent buttons.
AS / completed my survey of this queer
looking individual he tossed the last letter
in his hand into the cap G box, turned
on the stool, pulled cloud of Missouri
/ Tugs" smoke half across the room, and
said in a great primer voice:
"Hullo, boss! You've been slid tonight,
and Pm on extras. | amt much on good
looks; Pm little off my feet just now;
but | can stand type on end faster'n a
foundry can cast it, and l haven't seen a
proof since l got out O. my time. Want to
see my card?'
didn't know just what reply to make to
this odd speech, but after hesitating a mo-
ment | said Eyes"
He reached for that wonderful double
breasted frock, and diving down into the
skirt pocket drew forth what had once
been piece of white bristol board, about
the size of an ordinary business card
Though it had held its own on size and
was still BRISTOL it looked as if it had re-
ceiveG an impression from a heavily linked
sint block representing a North river fog
| NinnS ha mt hara ic no ord.