West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-06-22
fHE EDITOR WAS IN.


OCCASIONALLY the indignant sub
scriber who calls to see "thc man
who writ tlmt article" finds the
editor in. Usually he does not.
At Danville, ILL.,, the other day, a
muscular citizen. who thought he
needed little gymnsstic exercise,
called vt the sanctum of the local
daily with the avowcd intention of
thrashins the editor. lie found
the editor IN and the next moment
he found himself out. His friends
who saw him next day imagined
that he must have been mixed up
With an active and energetic mule
IN battery action.
A few years ago Horace T.. Con-
Ard, one of Secretary Fosters news
paper protegcs, was obliged to leave
his position as State Librarian of
Ohio, because of i'll health. Upon
tho advice of his physician he went
West and begun newspaper work at
Albuquerque, Now Moxico.
As will be remembered by his
many newspaper friends in Chica.
ko. Conard was small, consump-
tive looking fellow, but he was a
good writer and had plenty of nerve.
When he found himself at the head
III an an@mic daily at Albuquerque
he Immediately began to infuse into
the concern something of the vim
and yigor OF Eastern journalism.
The young "tenderfoot" appar.
emily had the impression that men
and matters on the wild western
frontier could be handled in pre-.
cisely the same way that they were
and are In the cffeto East. The
hrst two issues of Conard's paper
created quite flutter about town
aud the young editor congratulated
himself in consequence. On the
third day, however, as Conard was
busilv at work on another article
which he hoped would add to his
growing reputation as wldeawake
journalist, the sanctum door opened
and In stalked lank six. footer
who was ballasted by a brace of
revolvers. each of which was fully q
foot long. The caller did not stand
npon ceremony at all, but stated
the object Of the meeting very sue
cinctly by remarkIng: 1--WE come
10 clean out this shop"
Conard glanced ut the fellow and
coolly remarked "Well, You'll
End broom over there in the cor.
her." AS he spoke ne nodded
toward the further corner of the
room, behind the newcomer, who
TnstinctiyclY turned to look i'm the
direction indicated. When tho
caller turned again to resume hos.
filities a second later, he was sur
brised TO find himself looking down
the mnzzle of murderous looking
revolver which the editor was hold.
ing with a very steady hand.
There Was a seconds silence, broken
by Conard's calm request: "Throw
up your hands, il you please (!
THAT'S right. Thanks"
Two seconds later a pair of great
pistols were lying on the editors
desk and the editor had not relaxed
his hold upon his own weapon.
Then tho newspaper man resumed
ne seat. "As remarked a mo.
ment ago," be continued, "you
viii find an old broom over there in
fhe corner. You may sweep out
hrst and afterwards empty the waste
paper basket and clean out the spit.
foon."
"But, see, here, mister, was
only ioking-1 swear was" cried
Che cowboy.
well, / am very much in
earnest" slowly replied Conard.
"If there is one thing moro than
smother that this o1ice needs igs a
good. faithful janitor. Since You
are The first 10 apply for the place.
u shall be yours ~ long ~ You do
Jour work well. Nov, then. I am
terY busy and cannot waste any
more time with YOU. Grasp that
broofn Good you'll do, ] guess. &"
a few minutes later crcstfallen
and very humble cowboy stood
before The editor. PLEASE give me
back my Funs,mister." The nova.
paper man stopped writing long
enough 20 say "Oh, 90 yon have