The record-union., 1894-09-29

Editor Whitaker feelingly. We've got
more'n thousand per cent. on our
money already. Who's made it fur US?
kirtley Breem! Who's been tuggin' an
puffin' an strainin' an haulin' an but
tetin' an plungin' while we got round
takin' toll? Kirtley Breemw
"hirtley Breemv' two or three of the
director editors murmured placidly.
who's put the Daily Public Motor
ahead o. any other newspaper in the
whole kentry; got it nigh onto two hum
dred thousand daily circulation, and
made it pay us 80, 10, sometimes 80 per
cent. on our shares?'
"Kirtley Breem!' they answered
thoughtfully and in unison.
Il should say So" snorted Editor
Whitaker, rapping the desk loudly with
his bronzed knuckleS. AN that's what
L thought or when L set there figurin'.
That's what l KEEP thinkin' on when /
begun askin' questions round th' office,
an found kirtley Breem had been cooped
up there like a slave MORN twenty year!
THAT'S what makes him stagger,' says l,
startin' fur his room.'
starting for his room?' several of the
director Editors exclaimed incredulously.
es, startin' am gittin' there, too.
'Breem,' says 1, L want to see you down
t. th' docks minute.' Not now,' said
he, lookin' up savage. Right now,' says
L. lie looked up agin gaspin' like at his
work, then at his watch am says: DO
you realize what there is to be done here
at this time o th' day, Mr.. Whittaker?'
'Prob'ly not says l. AN it don't make
no difference if L don't. The 'Motor'n'
run itself fur half hour or so.'"
And Kirtley Breem went with your"
they asked with increasing interest.
Well, sorter went; mostly towed
though. l got him onto my fast tug,
Creased Lightnin' '-steam's always up
on her-tipped the Cap'n a wink, an we
shot out into th' harbor in a jiffy before
klrtley Breem knew what was up!'
"WhewW exclaimed the interested di-
rector editors. How did he take it?''
He didn't take it. He jest got white
an says: Put me ashore at once, STRIP
Not much,' says /, till you've had a
breakfast on sea air. 'pll hold you re-
sponsible to the directory, sir!' says he.
go it, says l, noddin' to th' Cap'n t. put
on more steam. This is an outrage, sir!'
says he. It's what you need, m got T.
have, paper or no paper says 1.
"Goodn said several of the director ed
itors heartily.
"Bad" calculated Whitaker warmly.
HE jest turned away from me, straight-
er IN Pve ever seen hIm; run his hol-
ler eyes up an down tn bay; caught
sight O an opposition tug neadin' toward
th' city, about thousand feet for'ard;
waited bit, studyin' like; am, finally,
with polite, Good mornin', MIR. Whit
tern took header into the water, come
up five hundred feet aft o. th' Creased
Lightnin',' am made tor that other
tug like an OF salt, now am agin
raisin' his hand an motionin' 'em to
slow up. They did, too; hove him
line, pulled him aboard, am th' last 1
seed of him he was a settin' on th' capst'n
dryin' of am writin' out assignments
with pencil an paper he'd borrered
from somebody on that pesky opposition
tugw
Mingled expressions of surprise, merri-
ment and concern followed Editor Whit
eted the doughty tug owner said SOL
emnly:
THAT night he quit two hours later
than usual, more holler-eyed, bumped
an gone-lookin' than ever. Kirtley
Breem's got to have a vacation if the
"Motor" stops while he's takin' iti''
''Well, well, Welt" "Bless me, bless
and Certainly. certainly!' followed this
determined sentiment, and the motor"
directors at once set about discussing
ways and means to effect the desired re-
suit
1t was the only distracting conference
the motor" directors had ever known.
Who should convey their decision to
this strange man who was breaking down
at his post and who regarded it as the
most of all deadly affronts TO be inter-
rupted, in his own interest, in his life
consuming toll? What recourse could
be resorted to if he refused to go? How
could they cajole, wheedle or bully man
of his lndomitable purpose into leaving
for day. a week or month, the labor
which was destroying him, and yet in
which the very elixir of his waning life
was found?
1t was strange experience to these
proprietary journalists to encounter such
character. The more they discussed
Kirtley Breem the farther he seemed
from them; the more necessary to them
and their great property.
The entire matter, they all agreed, was
portentous, must receive immediate at
tention, and could only be handled in the
most delicate diplomatic manner
No one of them could be prevailed
upon to singly undertake the mission
1t should be effected, they at last de-
cided, through the tull board, acting as
one man. No one should shirk respou-
sibiliJy. And their managing editor
should be made to feel that there was
no temporlzing with the real power
behind the "Daily Public Motor" no, in
deed!
He was therefore Immediately sum-
moned before them. 1t was the first time
tllS Dau ever occurred, anu Wn6n hlrt-
ley Breem entered the board-room he
was at loss to understand the signifi-
cance OF the "Motor's'' chief owners all
sitting contusedly together as If busted
in ineXplicable problems beyond recall
and nudging each other as though their
tongues We're lost.
He stood there in the attitude of one
impatient TO return 10 his work. One
hand held the knob of the half open door
while the other slowly removed his old
straw office hat. He gave them all a
searching glance, as some inventor me-
chauic, called from his masterful toll to
parley with investing novices. might un-
consciously permit Il gleam OF contempt
10 flash through his long-habit look OF
subserviency.
Then ne turned as if to depart, but the
board recovered itself suddenly and just
in time to arrest his attention.
"Oh-ah-Mr. Breem?" Editor Lomster
managed to articulate.
"Oh-ah-Mr. Breem?' came ierkiiy
from the other members of the board.
''Sit down a moment, Mr.. Breem,
please" urged Editor Schooley. looking
around helplessly for somebody else to
begin.
YES, yes. do sit down." Little matter,
you know" want to get better ac-
quainted;' "Quite a pleasure, I de-
ciare;" and "a little rest'll do you good,
Mr.. Breen," followed from members of
the board in quick succession.
The last remark by Editor Shotwell
was a happy one. 1t somewhat relieved
the general embarrassment. The man.