Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-21

clerk, who was IN the rear of the busi-
ness Office, was calling by the telephone;
Hello, there. Star Office"
"Well," said the clerk, funbling for
his pencil, and making ready for new
advertisement.
'That you, Baker?"
eyes, sir.
It was the proprietor's voice. he had
popped into drug store to speak to the
night editor.
Parker therel"
mo, SIR"
"Well, tell him when he comes to see
Griggs at once. Do you heare"
Eyes, SIR"
Have given Griggs special orders.
Tell him. Got that9'
Eyes, sir. To tell Mr.. Parker you've
given special orders to Mr.. Griggs, and
for Mr.. Parker to be sure and see
Griggs."
"That's ALL"
The night clerk went to his desk and
was soon immersed in his labors. In the
upper story of The Star establishment
the foreman was discussing in desul-
tory way Bigger's chances against Mig
gles' for the congressional plum"
"What sort of place is Pompey
Smash, anyhow. Daggs? Ever been
thereY'
mo; but Griggs has. There's lot
of moss backed Democrats over there
the sort that vote for jackson and Van
Buren, and opposite there is another LOT
Of straight laced, stiff backed Presbyte-
rians-nosurrender written all over EN-"
Anything in this speech Of Miggles"
"Blest if know"
whats the point-what makes him
go out to Pompey Smash to fire OFF,
"OhI Why, it's mighty close vote,
you know. As near as can make out.
the idea is to tickle the people thereto
honor them with the opening speech-to
have the people talk about the speech
Miggles made at Pompey Smash. A
hundred votes. one way or the other,
will settle it; everybody knows that"
'1 see," said the foreman.
Then he turned around, and lifting
his voice said in tones that could be
heard by all in the composing room:
Boys, pull out on Miggles' speech. I
want to get it in early"
Then there was silence in the compos-
ing room.
The wires worked well that night.
The night was repetition Of the day.
Daggs was up to his eyes m news from
all quarters. Nothing stunning, ashe
called up to the foreman; ''just steady
glut Of slush from all sources that could
be chopped off any place and never be
missed"
When a newspaper Office is in order it's
surprising how smoothly everything
runs. The Morning Star was run on
sound system; 80 thorough that although
the proprietor and editor, business man.
ager and telegraph editor were absent
they did not seem to be missed.
Along about 2 o'clock in the morning
Daggs thought he would run up stairs
once more and see how the speech looked
in type.
Looking for Miggles' speechY' asked
the foreman. "There it is-three col
ums."
Daggs glanced over the form. 1t was
all right.
"You read the proof sent it down
to you-or, rather, the revise"
II looked at i'll guess it's all right,
and Daggs returned to his desk, whist
ling.
just then messenger laid fresh dis
patch on his table. Daggs glanced at
the clock. 1.-TWO fifteen" He handed
the boy back his book after acknowledg-
ing the receipt of the message, and be-
gan to whistle again as he tore it open.
Daggs' lips retained their position, but
no sound escaped them. The message
was from Pompey Smash, and contained
four words:
Don't print Miggles' speech"
Daggs was dumfounded. He rushed
to the pipe; he was going to call to the
foreman, when he bethought himself.
He turned the dispatch up to the light.
It was filed at $3.50. What did it mean?
There was an initial appended what it
was he could not make out. Possibly i:
was ruse-a trick of the opposition.
He ran up stairs and laid the mysteri-
GUS message down before the foreman.
"What do you think Of that, BurtonY'
IT don't think anything. There's only
one meaning -itsays plainly, Don't print
Miggles' speech and here we are print
ing it.n
"Well, but Griggs' orders were to
print it. What made Simmott be so par
ticular about this speech? Why, he must
have suspected trick. Anyhow-my
orders are imperative"
"Take my advice no, I'll have to con-
suit Parker. He's night editor, and he
is the man to decide"
The foreman whistled to the counting
room:
"Mr. Parker there? Send him up at
once"
mot here"
Where is he?"
Hasn't been here tonight. Thought
he was up there"
"Do you know anything about this
speech of Miggles', Baker,
"No; never heard Of it."
Look around-see If there's a note or
message there for me-anybody!"
A minute elapsed.
Nothing here"
Heres pretty kettle of fish, " said
the foreman, turning to Daggs. What
am ] to do. You've got precious little
time to decide. In or out-which is It'll
\ - Il L E.