The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-01-01
THE ASSISTANT.
a Plucky Girl and Hor Life
Work.

door.
NO" promptly replied India. "Pm
only the assistant The editor has gone
to the depot. Won't you sit down?''
She rose and placed box for his
seat The only chair in the room was
a revolving one screwed to the floor be-
side the desk.
The farmer had come through sad
dicr'S shop to mount to the Office. The
publishing room was divided from this
by temporary partition of pine boards.
He sat down with his hat on and
looked curiously around. Leaving his
mud-spattered person out of considera.
ton, it was place of oddities and be-
ginnings, rough plastcrcd, and contain.
ing but two windows, which looked
north over the black street, the rapidly
springing wooden houses, the vanish.
ing railroad and prairie. Some wood
cuts were pasted on the wall. A fancy
papcr-weight was among the files on
the desk. bench, pushed out at tho
end, rs il its occupant had just left it,
stood before table that depended for
one corners support on u barrel. 1t
was the exchange barrel.
"Wcll, l come to subscribe for the
paper" said the farmer. after she had
addressed several envelopes, talking to
him about the weather as she did so.
My brother will be glad to have
your name" said the assistant. How
shall write it?"
''1srl Bone brakes my name" said
the farmer, going deep into his trous-
ers and bringing up ragged pocket
book which, being opened, disclosed
1,,n &c
amount?"
"one dollar year, fifty cents for
six months, or twenty-five cents for
three months, payable in advance"
You don't ask enough" remarked
Mr.. Bonebrallc, coming forward to lay
down his dollar. 1.-TWO dollars is the
fggcr for county papers. You folks
has started up with the town. You
must make it pay"
''Oh, we shall" replied the assistant
MY brothers will advance the price
as they improve the paper"
How many air Their of you2"
My two brothers and myself. One
attends to the publishing and advcr-
Using; the other edits. l assist. We've
heard of you, Mr.. Boncbrakc
own some stock farms about here?"
Yes" replied the farmer, non
chalantly. 81 got a couple o. thou
sand acres or SO west o the place The
place is CROWN, isn't it?''
''Wonderfully. l think it's bound to
be grain and stock center"
Now you TALK said the farmer with
enthusiasm. why, when came here
twenty years ago, 'twa'n't nothing but
perrara far as the eye could sec. We've
planted hedges, and groves has growed
up. And six months ago the two rail
roads struck us and crossed, and here's
the town! / killed rattlesnalzes where
PowclPs putin up his ELEVATOR. We'll
be n CITY,"
"It's only question of time" said
the girl.
$50 you young folks come on here
and started paper. Had you cverru
paper before?"
MY brothers are practical printers.
have learned to do IL great many
things"
II bet you have" said the farmer,
with approval. 81 like smart wimmen.
Some folks doesn't; but do"
"Oh, just help my brothers. If the
Paper succeeds you must credit it to
them. In the course of year they
hope to get large press, and keep the
hand-presscs only Tor iobbing. They
Will have to be very close and careful,
but, ii they make Il good paper, know
the people will stand by them"
They will that!" said Mr.. Bone
brake. "They won't lose for startin'
in when the towns young"
Steps on the saddler's stairs now
brought a young fellow into the room
who threw his hat with slam at the
table and cried QUIT
II never saw such an abominabio
place as this is!''
The assistant gave him swift, salu-
tary glance.
"Mr. Bone brake" she said, 'this is
the editor. Mr.. Pink Bradshaw. One
Of our new subscribers Pink"
Well 1dcclare," said he, you dom t
look nothin' but boy!"
Isn't your other brother no oldcr?"
inquired Mr.. Bone brake of the assis-
tant.
Younger"
I'VE try to make up in pluck what
we lack in years." said Pink But,
But we're open to suggestions from
old residents" said the assistant.
We'll | sejcst keep on" said Mr.
Boncbrakc. just you keep ahead"
"My brother has been thinking of
visiting You and some other prominent
stockmen," said the assistant, ito get
an article about your methods"
All right; come ahead! We'll kill a
chicken and give You bite to eat"
The farmer went smiling downstairs,
and the editors assistant fixed her clear
eyes on her brother
Il don't care" he said, sitting down
Mt his table and striking it with his