The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-07-27

floor he showed her to the door of the
sanctum and told her to knock. Then
he left her and went back to his post
The editor was greatly surprised
when a timid knock sounded on his
door and in answer to his come il" he
saw over his gold bowed spectacles the
diminutive maiden who entered. He
looked hard at her, but she did not APP
pear discounted. She came toward
him without hesitation and stood with
one little hand resting on the edge of
the desk, the other extending the folded
manuscrirt.
Gran Pop forgot to bring it down,
so fet he'd it!' she explained, her blue
eyes looking up into his puzzled gray
ones
Now, he editor was not q man easily
confused, but this was a novel ex-
perience even for him. In all his life
he never remembered having received
in his Office so small and at the same
time so confident visitor as this. He
looked at her sharply, almost sternly,
suspecting he was the victim of some
Joke; but her gaze never flinched and
the baby eyes were not frightened. He
took the manuscript from her grasp
and opened it, There was no solution
| of the mystery to be obtained here,
however. The story was some local
history of early days There was no
name. no mark of any kind to tell who
wrote 1t or where it came from. Nom
plussed. he turned his eyes upon the
Il 4. q. l. l.
spite of the old-fashioned and much
worn clothes, it suggested to him that
of a little one who once had called him
father, and kindly smile lit his face
II don't know anything about this
paper" he said. WHO did it come
frorn?"
From gran'pop," she answered, as II
that conveyed full information.
Eyes, but who's gran'pop? / don't
remember him."
why, dor't you know him? He's
been here often, and came with him
once or twice, that's how 1 knew where
it was"
The editor racked his brain in vain to
think who gran'pop could be.
WELL" he said at last, you sit down
in that big chair over there and I'll look
over this paper and tell you what to say
to him." Then he wheeled his chair
about and began reading.
1t didn't take long, however, for him
to decide what to do. He struck hand
bell on the desk and boy came into
the room. Send MIR. Campbell to mey'
the editor said.
moment later the city editor of tho
Chronicle entered.
Campbell" said the editor, do yoa
know whose writing that is?" and he
handed him the manuscript.
Eyes, said the other; Its old Jot,a
Harmon's. He brought it in here this
morning and l told him we couldn't
use it. It's all ancient history"
"Well" said the editor, bit shortly,
''it's the kind of ancient history that
the Chronicle wants. Can't you see
many many wodid a father read than newss
Give it good place on the fourth page
of to-morrow's issue, and I'll try to see
that we have column of just such
stuff twice week. That's air.
The city editor did not see the little
figure in the big chair, and, bit dis
concerted at being turned down so
sharply, he took up the manuscript
again and left the room, wondering
what was the matter with the ''old
man." and how the historical stuff had
come into his hands.
When he had gone the editor drew a
sheet of paper toward him. Looking
at the little figure in the chair he sal d
81 will write a letter for you to take
with you and give to gran'pop"
She rodded her head wisely. and he
rapidly wrote few lines. Then he
folded the sheet, put it in an envelopl
and rose.
The little girl slipped out of the chair,
and came across to him. Good byr
he said, laying a hand on her head,
land come and see me some time
again!" Then he opened the door and
watched her ring the bell and disap.
pear in the elevator.
The elevator boy was quite deferen-
tial to her going down; but she paid no
more attention to him than before.
When she slipped out of the building
she hurried up the street, the letter in
her hand. AS she turned the corner
near home she saw "Gran'pop" just en-.
tering the door ami ran hard to catch
him; but he had gone in before she came
up. SO she knocked on the door, The
same instant it was pulled open hur-
riedly and the old man, white and trem-
bling, stood in the frame
Thank God!" he breathed, drawing
her up in his arms and burying his face
in her curls Il Thought you were lost"
mo, l only bee2 to tn officer ex-
claimed Polly, clinging to his neck.
ITO the office! Where do you
mean?"
"Th' Chronicle Office. took tn writ
ing down there you left on tn chair and
TIL editor gave me letter for you; he
was awful nice"
The old man took the envelope she
held toward him and dropped into a
chair. With child drawn close against
him he broke the paper with trembling
fingers, and read:
THE DAILY CHRONICLE
90 40 Street (
JOHN HARMON, Esq Dear Sir: We will use
your paper on local history in to,morrow's is.
sue. We will be pleased 10 have you contribute
y column of like matter as often as you can
d hg,1,,v