The National tribune., 1892-12-08

threw open The door. III ls-huh -''
here"
His cIa,cn fell upon note lying on his
desk with Farmer Dickery's prize ear Oh corn
rcposing across it in lieu of paper welgut'
The note bore this legend:
"Gone to the aeneral.-Azberry.
Funeral. eh?" calculated the editor grlmIy.
IF he has taken adran age Of my absence TO
indulge in another bender he will ind that ne
has gone to his own funeral. I'll discharge
him."
1t will he understood that the absent Azberry
"a representative of the genus typographical
tonris.-was of the earth. earthly.
The editor glanced under the imposing stone
and surveyed the adjoining room, which bore
evidence of being the boGdoir of a bachelor,
but failed to unearth the recreant AzberTy.
III mr. commented the editor. May be ne
told tae truth ] wonder whose funeral 1t ISL
Then he sat him down at his desk and began
to write rapidly.
In appearance Mr.. Alexander X. Potter was
a wiry, old-young man, thin-faced and bright
eyed with a somewhat large head crowned
with luxuriant thatch of unruly hair OF a
sandy hue. His dress was careless and ID
places buttonless.
After he had written rapidly for twenty
minutes he paused and conned over his work
in a sel!-satisfed way, reading portions OF IL
aloud
''Whited sepulchre," he said, apparently ad-
dressing himself. "Ah- hah! That will make
him wriggle / have him where | want him
at last. I'm nm, The wolf in Sleeps cloth
ing throws off his disguise The viper we have
warmed in our bosoms'-um m m!-turns and
stabs us in the back Um-no!
He ran his pencil across the paradox.
"Um-m-mi Let me see! The"-
Heavy boots dumped up the stairs, and Mr..
Isaac Henshaw, the mail-carrler, entered the
ssnctum. lie was a tall, bristly- bearded per
son, slow of speech and slower OF thought,
whose driving, on his daily trips between
Zenith City and New Chicago with blackboard
and half-wild ponies, was like unto the drlv-
ing OF Jehu.
"Howdy do. Ike, Take chair"
How r. yer Ellicki" returned Mr.. Hen
shaw. " Back agir -
Back, ves!" answered the editor, brisbly.
"rve got him. Ike! 1t did not take me long
to unearth the scheme after / reached the
Capital Broderick vas to have been sent to
the Legislature; Enfield 10 move over to New
Chicago. bag and baggage; the Pdlndedter to
consolidate with the Torch, and receive bonus
of 500 paid-up subscribers. Then the Trans
continental Railroad was TO be secured and
New Chicago doomed to the limit. Hooks q
Henderson were at the Capital, already offer
ing New Chicago real estate for sale. Their
clerk even had tie nerve TO try to sell me lots
there; didn't know me, and gave away enough
Of the precious scheme to enable me TO ferret
out the rest 1t would have meant the ruin of
Zenith City. Pat l blocked the villainous
game s aator Rathburn is up in arms and
Hooks & Henderson had already closed their
Office when | lett. And now ] am going to
show Euieli up in his true colors. III drive
him from the field I'll make the PlaindeQter a
byword, I'll -
"EnGeld's dead" said Henshaw, without
preface.
"What2"
"I'm jest back from the funeral"
"Dead? 1.-The -
"Coniestive chill-day you left"
Potter's face expressed genuine commisera-
ton. The warfare Of the prairie editor is
largely waged against an impersonal enemy.
Dead 2" repeated the editor. Poor fellow
Worn out with the slruggle-thats the way a
good many Of Us go, Ike! / am sorry did not
get back in time TO go with the procession"
Azberry went"
Glad Of it. Enfield was rustler. He
made good fight and-well, had him on
the hip this time, but
Looky here, Ellick! =" interrupted Hen
shaw, in his slow way. al hope you hain't
gon' to hold this thing up agin the poor Teller,
now he's gone? il hain't white! /"
"Ofcour5e not, returned the editor, quickly.
He made dood fight, but it is over now.
iii 30 the square thing by him. But, his sue
cess0r-whoever he isl have got several sharp
irons IN the fire for him. Who -
:" It's his daughter" INTERCEPTED Henshaw.
" His daughter? / didn't know -
brought her over from the railroad this
mornin'- Azberry had me telegraph for her
as soon as Enfield was dead. Names Margie-
about Is OF 20 years old, Ellick!"
"Well?"
How are you goin' TO treat hcr?"
" I hardly know. An editor"-
81 brought her over from the railroad" said
Henghaw. IN his slow way, an somehow she
got to tellin' me good deal. Her mother has been
dead these 10 years an her father worked OIL
alone ont here. keepin' her in comfort with an
old aunt back thar in the East someWhurs, till
he could make good home for her out here
denyin himself, but never lettin' on to her
plain enough TO me, though for ! know how
his business went Thar don't seem moth n
else for her 10 do but TO take MP the work ht
left unfinished. An when-hold on, Ellick 9
The editor had striven TO interrupt.
AN when she-sorto tellin' me more thar
she meant to-gimme glimpse OF the brigh
hopes she has Of succeedin', an her chin trem
bled an VAL ] says to myself, 'Ill see El
lick about this here thing, an ~
Hold on! You an me have been goo,
friends for a long time. You can make he
life burden II you try. But. Eilick, if yoi
don't do this here girl white you an me dom
meet agin, unless il is TO fight. Understand
hain't threatenn'. p
Now the editor stopped him abruptly.
1T would do you no good to threaten me
old friend. Alexander K. Potter can be led
but not driven. But I'll do the square thin
by her. Ike. / am q gentleman, hope"
knowed you was! Wal"-
st that moment Azberry entered. lie was
sad man-crushed, hang dog, chemically apol
ogetic IN appearauee-given to periodical spree
after the manner Of his kind. Just now hi
poor attire showed evidences of recent attempt
at REIMBURSEMENT. His collar was clean Iii
worn shoes neatly blackeaed, and bis thread
bare raiment well brushed. He placed a pag
or two Of manuscript on the editors desk as b
skunk past.
:" Data for Enneld's obituary" he said, an
passed on 10 his case.
:" ] reckon" said Henshaw, addressing til
editor that mebby / can help her out littl
--sorto scratch up few items an SO on"
Certainly" answered Potter. And i
call on her this afternoon. aud chest out
trife-"give her little valuable advice"
Good for you, EllIcki" said Hensha1
heartily. "Wa must be goin'"
After the mail carrier had gone the edit
looked over the data AzbeFry had brought an
then began TO write. Presently the obtual
sketch Of his dead opponent was finished al
handed to Azberry to put in type. An unit
atcd reader Of The obituary would not ha'
guessed that its writer and subject had bee
auRht but fast friends. Such is the way of q
prairie editor.
Bus il has deprived me Of one of the gran
nf nay II zha -