The National tribune., 1894-11-22
THE STORY OF "SLUG SIX"

THE STORY OF "SLUG SIX"
And the Reforms Sl,e Made in that Com
posing Room.
IChieago, Ne,cs.l
| Slug Six was the prettiest girl in the COM
posing-room; and that is large saying, for
all our lady typos were charming creatures.
| But Slug Six was not merely pretty; she
was exquisite-anh more than that: All
the boys were in love with her. They
avowed it openly. b. ,ol
That is, all the1boys except Slug Thirty
seven If be were in love with her he never
boasted about it. perhaps he was too shy.
! Or perhaps he was inspired by one of those
queer passions which Slug Nineteen called
a really-truly love, and hence found it too
deep for utteranee. Or perhaps, again,
there was some black-eyed beauty down in
Dixie to whose remembered charms he re-
manned faithful.
| For Slug Thirty-seven came from South
Cahlina." He was tall, serious, sunburnt
youth. and very green about city ways. At
first he was quite in despair at the compIt-
cations of a large printing office.
"You see, 1 came from q country print
| in Office" he confessed to Slug Six. II
nevah saw copy cut in takes this way be-
foe"
"I am sure the foreman is very kind"
she said.
"Yes, ma'am, the foreman is kindness
itself But it's the galley boy Iln afraid
| Off
Slug Six smiled.
"He is an autocratic young gentleman,
isn't he" she said. But you're good
compositor. Better than most of us, in
fact. You will get along all right in few
days. And if there's ever anything IN
which I can help you I hope you will not
hesitate to call upon me-"
THANK you, ma'am you are very kind.
Ill be suah to do it.
The boys were highly amused at Thirty
seven's innocence. They would get him to
talk about South Cahlina and Gawgy, and
then laugh Historically at his quaint South
ernisms.
Slug Six was sorry to see him chaffed so
cruelty.
But Slug Thirty wasn't such an
"easy mark" as they took him to be. It
was not apparent at first, but they gradu-
ally discovered that he gave them tit for
tat; and quite often, in the hight of their
! hilarity, they were shocked to find out that
| the laugh was really on his side.
| And Slug Six, who was much surprised ut
| this, was very glad of it-perhaps unreason-
ably glad.
There were more surprises in store for her,
| however.
"You know" said Thirty-seven, laying
| his stick, on the case one morning and
| turning toward her." you know I haven't
been to a theatah since came heah."
Haven't you, really? Well, you ought
to CO."
Yes, ma'am, that's what think; but /
| nevah did like to go anywhah alone"
"Slug Six had no comment to make.
"I thought" he continued, that perhaps
you would go with ME some evenin'."
"Oh l don't knaw I-p-
"Of co'se 1 had no right to expect you to
CO." he said, gently, Sand if you would
rathah not D III
at isn't that, ,n,she replied, realizing that
he was entitled to, perfect frankness; I" in
deed, should like very much to go; but
you see 1 haven't known you very long, and
my parents are not acquainted with you at
ALL" 9b
Yes, ma'am, that's 60" he said, and went
back to his work.1 is
Slug Six saw that he was hurt, and hurt
badly. She felt highly uncomfortable about
it. He was certainlyaa gentleman. And
she had wanted to go to " "Charley's Aunt"
so long. Q
Later in the day she came and stood tim
| idly beside him..
"Mr., ,Woodruffp-A7A.' 1t was the first,
time anybody in the office, excepting the
cashier, had ever spoken his name. 1t
Mr.. Woodruff, / have been thinking that
perhaps, if you care to, you m ght come out
some evening-say tomorrow evening-and
get acquainted with my father. Then we
can ask mamma about the theater, you
know"
That was three months ago.
And Slug Twenty three, who is a bachelor
old enough to be called nncle by all the
typesetters, and is, therefore, excellent au-
thority on matters matrimonial, now SAYS
he soon expects to be invited to the we'd
ding. He gives the following reasons for
his belief:
Slug Thirty-seven has quit chewing to-
bacco. He puts S12 in the savings bank
every Saturday night. He studies the for
rent" advertisements with great solicitude,
and IS interested to an unusual degree in
the price Of provisions.
Slug Six has a new light in her beautiful |
eyes Last Sunday she might have been seen
closely scrutinizing a iour-room fiat near
Lincoln Park. And there has been dress
maker at her house sewing ever SO busily
for two whole weeks