Griggs courier., 1893-10-06

JOHN BLUNT, JOURNALIST
How His Presence Of Mid Won
Him q Wife.

How His Presence of Mind Won
Him a Wife.
The tube that stuck out Of the wall
at the right of the city editors desk
emitted a long, high-keyed wailing note
the man who heard it. Every day he
threatened to have something done by
way of having that speaking tube fixed,
SO it wouldn't give forth such blood
curdling walls, and every day he forgot
it, and so every day for seven or eight
years, ever SO many times q day, the
city editors spine was traversed by cold
chills resultant from the shock of hear
ing the unholy cries of that speaking
tube. One can't, one really can't get
used to some things
The ''old man" answered the call of
the tube, and then remarked in blunt,
forcible way he had, which always
made the young man whose name was
spoken drop every thing else and come
to his door in double quick time:
"Hornick!'
"Yessir!" and Mr.. Hornicl, who was
big, tall, good-natured, bland young
man, rose from his lounging position,
took his pipe from his mouth and flew
to answer the summons.
"If Blunt comes in this afternoon" :"
said the ''old man, 'tell him to go up to
Mr.. Burney's Office at once. Mr.. Burney
wants to see him."
''Yessir," and Mr.. Hornick returned
t. the contemplation of smoke rings
and air castles.
The blunt referred to was a certain
John Blunt, who had attained more or
less celebrity as q producer of sketches,
verse, Especial stuff and syndicate let
ters, and was employed on the Cont
nent as special writer for the Sunday
edition and for certain emergencies.
He didn't do much work at the Office,
but used to stroll :nto the city room al
most every day, throw his lengthy
frame into chair, his feet on desk,
and swap yarns with 1.-The boys" who
looked upon him variously (according
to the length of time they had done
regular new spaper work)-as lazy,
bright chap, who might make good
reporter if he dropped his indolent
ways and hustled" or as an especially
fortunate fellow who had some reputa-
tion, ''signed his stuff" and didn't have
to do assignment and bark TO the call
of the city editor or the man at the
desk.
Blunt loafed in about four o'clock,
which was This usual hour for appear
ing 1T the Office, fresh. smiling and
debonnaire, with the somewhat un-
original remark addressed to Hornick:
''lIullo, Dubs."
''Hullo, Grub street." answered the
gentleman addressed, with his usual
good-natured smile. "Alive? Say, the
old man wants you.''
''Me? What old mau?"
"Burney. Wants you right off. be-
lieve Probably is going to ask you to
hold his job while he goes to Hudson's
bay or somewhere"
Probably" assented Blunt, as he
passed into the hall.
MIR. r.-ah-Blunt," said the manar-
ing editor (who knew Blunt's name
well enough, but was trying to re-
member something his wife had told
him to bring home), ''have chair"
Blunt sat down. The managing edi-
tor wheeled round and looked at him,
as he spoke, rapidly:
MIR. Blunt, you understand the work
that has been mapped out for you to
attend to this fall? Well, you will
need to start in fresh on that. have
been thinking it over, and have de-
cided that it wouldn't do you any harm
to take little rest-you see, l know
how much you work, whether others
do or not. Now, every man on this pa
per gets two-weeks' vacation every
year, with salary for that time paid in
advance. I want you, Mr.. Blunt to
drop oil the work you have on hand
'everything-and put in what is left of
July and the month of August at the
summer resorts. Your salary will be
paid now for that time, and we shall
expect from you only such letters as
you may feel like sending us-prefera-
bly,. one breezy letter from each place
to which you may happen to go. That's
all. Come in and see me tomorrow
when you get ready to leave. The
cashier will fix you for money and
transportation"
Blunt murmured his surprised thanks,
and stumbled out Had the millen-
MUM arrived, unberalded? He stopped
outside and punched himself, to make
sure that he, John Blunt. grinder-out
OF Especial stuff" was awake and un-
Influenced, by liquor. Then, very sem
sibly, he decided that his senses had
not deceived him, and he went in and
told "Dubs" of the luck that had come
his way-whereat "Dubs" smiled ex-
pansively. and was presently seen, in
company with the special" looking
expectaatly over q tall counter at q
white-coated, white-aproned, hair-oiled,
natty parsonage, who was mixing some
thing into some cracked ice which re-
posed in a tall glass.
John Blunt chose Forest lake as the
resort which he would first favor with
his presence. Forest lake was not q
popular summer resort This fact
was rather in its favor than otherwise,
although there are persons who might
not think SO. It happened to be one o,