Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-11-05
WHISPERS.

90 nOU make muCQ VI d SGOTy, dlu
tempted to unburden myself by put
ting them on paper.
1t was mentally noted as sure
thing by everybody who saw him go
into the managing editors room to
ask for position on the staff Of the
paper that If he should obtain place
and become fixture in the Office he
would be generally known as "Whis-
kers" within twenty-four hours after
his installment.
What tale he told the managing
editor no one knew, but every one in
the editorial rooms deduced later that
it must have been something trifle
out of the common, for the manag-
ing editor, who had gone through the
form of taxing the names Of three
previous applicants that afternoon
and telling them that he would let
them know when vacancy should
occur on the staff, told the man, whom
we eventually christened "Whiskers,"
that be might come around the next
day and write whatever he might
choose to. in the way Of Sunday
specials, comic verses or editorial
paragraphs, on the chance Of their
being accepted.
The next day the hairy-faced man
took possession of desk in the room
occupied by the exchange editor and
one of the editorial writers, and be-
gan to grind out 'copy,"
He was slim figure, with what is
commonly denominated a 'slight
stoop." His trousers were none too
long for hisIthin legs, his tightly-fit-
ting frock coat, threadbare, shiny,
and unduly creased, was hardly of a
fit length for his slender body and his
long arms. 1t was his face. however,
that most individualized his appear
ance.
The face was pale, the outlines
symmetrical but rather feeble, and
the countenance would have seemed
quite lamblke but for the fact that
it was framed by thick, long hair and
a luXuriant beard which careSsed his
waiStcoat.
These made him impressive at first
sight.
On the first day of his presence he
said little to the men with whom he
shared his room in the office. On the
second day he grew communicative,
and talked rather pompously to the
exchange editor, He prated of his
past achievements as newspaper
man mother cities. He had a cheer
full way of talking, in voice that
was high but not loud. His I'M
daunted manner of uttering self
praise caused the exchange editor to
wink at the editorial writer. 1t en-
gendered, too, small degree of dis
like on the parts Of these WORTHLESS;
and the exchange editor made it a
point to watch for some of the new
mans work in the paper, that he
might be certain whether the new
mans ability was equal to the new
mans opinion of it,
The exchange editor found that it
was not The new man had been in
the Office four days before any Of his
contributions had gone through the
process Of creation, acceptance and
Some verses and some
alleged jokes were his first matter
printed. They were below mediecrity.
The exchange editor ceased to dis
hike the whiskered man and there
after regarded him as quite harmless
and mildly amusing.
This view of him was eventually
accepted by every ,one who came to
know him; and he was made the OBJ
ject of a good deal of gentle chatting.
He earned probably fifteen or twenty
dollars week at space rates, a lament
ably small amount fer so intellectual
looking a man, but a very large
considering the quality of
work turned out by him.
Doubtless he would not have made
nearly as much, had not the man
aging editor whispered something in
the ears of the assistant editor in
chief, whose duty it was 10 Judge of !
the acceptability of editorial matter |
offered, the editor Of the Sunday sup
plement and other members of the |
staff who might have occasion to
turn down" the new mans contri-
buttons or to wink at the deficiencies
n his work.
One day "Whiskers," with many
apologies and much embarrassment,
lsked the exchange editor to lend i
him a quarter, which request having
been complied with he put on his
much rubbed high hat and hurried
rom the room.
sits funny the Old mans hard I'D
10 sOon," said the exchange editor to
The editorial writer at the next desk.
.lt's only two days since pay day."
"Where does he sink his money!"
lsked the editorial writer. "His
leeping-room costs him only So a
veek, and eating the way he does. at
he cheapest hash-houses, his whole
!KDense can't be mora than s. No.