The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-01-07
APIECE OF NEWS w,
a Pathetic Incident In n Morning Ncwspn,

Afnthotio Incident In n Morning Nowspn.
por Onloe. staIg
j. Paciral Poliari IN Caicago Tino. & n
II was Saturday night. There was
hardly n sound in the stufy little room
beyond the rapid "shovc.shovo" OF pen.
ellis going over paper, and tho click OF
tho scissors on the telegraph editors
desk. 1t was u busy time, and every
ono was working at top pressure.
The telegraph editor looked up quick
". "Gota smoke, any one? Thanks!
This stnir's coming in by the rca m to-
night and my heads not very clear
Then no turned 10 the tissuo.like
"tlimsY' again, and went on running
the pencil over and the scissors through
1t before putting II on tho hook.
Y After L little while he uttered low
whistle. big wreck on tho Erie" be
said;"thatll give US good scare head"
One OF tho reporters lifted his head
Tor q moment to Aak: "Any one killcdpn
YES" Ills pencil was slashinc and
starring over tho sheet, and his eye
was travelling down. with speed born
Of long training. Name after name OF
dead and dying passed under his eye; it
was nothing. 1t was always happening
SO, and 1t was only q piece OF news.
What did it all matter 10 him? To-
morrow there would DO 4 steamship
explosion, and tho day after there
would be q South American war. 1t
was all in his nights work.
The pencil stopped suddenly, and
the telegraph editor pressed his hands
before his eyes Us If to brush q mist
away. Then he looked at tho black
and white film before him. His eyes
were riveted on one name: "Nirs.
john Ryton.n The name was in the
list OF the d cad ~ 4, 81.
Anumb pain crept into his head, and
his lips took on tense expression.
Great God" he whispered hoarsely to
himself, "ifs mother" "a
Then he covered his eyes moment,
while his thoughts ran riotousy abroad.
She had written him only n day or two
ago that Sunday she would be with him,
and now II Z
One OF the reporters looked up, Won
dering why the scissors over there had
stopped clicking. Something's the
matter with Ryton," he said to his
ncighbor. Tiles rs white as paste"
The other nodded. He's been grind
ing too hard. And hia eyes are playing
him tricks. He's not at all well. Ii
he's not careful hell
Ryton's head dropped down on his
arms, and the man who had just been
talking got up quickly and put his
hand on the bowed shoulder. what
is it, old man-faint? Here, better
take little something to steady you"
Ryton lifted his head and looked
blankly at the man and the flask. Then
he shook his head. mo, no." lie said,
"Im all right. Just pain in my head
came on q bit suddenly-all right
now. Kind OF you, Walters, but 1 don't
need it.nD
His hand had slid over the sheet OF
tissue as he spoke. Walters noticed the
movement. Say, old man." he said,
mo bad news there ior you, is there p"
Ryton laughed. 1t was not pleas
ant laugh, and some OF the other men
in tho room looked at him wonderinglv.
"Bad nows?" he said, tiercely, "why,
man, l thought you'd been in the news
paper business year or two? Bad
news? There is no such thing. No
news is bad news-in a newspaper Of
flee"
And once moro the pencils zigzagged
and the scissors clicked.