Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-05-30

Snockie's claws. Shockie had .
great deal of dignity for cat, and dis
tinctly objected to having it's toes
ticaled or strings tied to its tail As
the boys, too. had acquired a habit of
reaching in at the window and PLAYING
| popular street airs on the Office bell,
Hughey thought the idea worth culti-
vating. In the intervals of the rush
| that always pervades every newspa-
per office dnring the few hours pre-
cedmg the momentous going to press, /"
Hughey. one night, was turning the
proposition carefully over in his mind,
when he saw the managing editor sud-
denly leave his private Office and
hasten, with an anxious look, to the
night editor.
Have you got the tail end of the
presidents message out here. Evans?'
asked the managing editor
NO" said the night editor, looking
up in surprise. You had the last ten
pages. and had up to that point"
Let me see it," said the managing
editor.
II just finished it, and it's gone up-
stairs The proofs will be down
shortly"
II couldn't find the last few pages at
the end" said the managing editor,
land I came out to see if, perhaps,
they hadn't got mixed in with yours.
mo. You gave me down to the
Financial Aspect"
Yes, that's right It's funny. Why,
I had the whole thing right in nv
desk, separated and entirely by itself.
No one has been in my office while
have been upstairs?"
II think not" said the night editor.
''Hughey!" called the managing ed
itor.
Almost the same instant sepulchral
voice broke from the orifice of the box
chute leading to the composing rooms
overhead.
''Send up the rest of the presidents
stuff said the voice.
The managing editor sprang to the
chute.
You'll have to wait awhile; we've
lost part of it. Run in that Bank Rob-
berry on the first page. I'll be up in
minute"
Hughey came up to the managing
editor.
''Hughey," he said, anybody been in
my office?"
No, sir" answered Hughey, posi-
lively. 1t is one of Hughey's duties to
look out for visitors to the managing
editors room, and about his duties
Hughey always answers positively.
Il can't find the tail end of the presi-
dents message. 1t was lying on my
desk only few moments ago."
Ia
alert faculties. 1t set him thinking
very hard for a minute.
Well" said the managing editor,
regarding him, whats the matter
with you? Can't you speak?"
Just then the foreman of the compos-
ing rooms came down from upstairs.
He had a bunch of proofs in his hand,
and as he gave them to the managing
editor he asked if the missing copy of
the message had been found. There
was an anxious look on his face, which
the features of the managing editor
also reflected. At last Hughey spoke:
What was it like. sir?"
Well you can see what's left. Then
look about and see if you can find any
thing like it. Come with me-"
They passed into the private office,
the night editor and the head foreman
following.
The managing editor turned the few
remaining pages of the message as it
lay upon his desk. Hughey ran his eye
over them from top to bottom. As he
read the last line of the last page, he
started, and uttering sharp cry, put |
his finger upon the words, pointing
them out. They ran: Happily, we
have averted any such catastrophe as"
''Well?" said the managing editor, |
emphatically, as he glared at the line. |
''Catastrophe!' said Hughey. II |
thought so. It's Shockie took it. He's |
got an awful nose for noos-'speciaIly |
about cats"
Nonsense said the men, laughing |
in spite of themselves.
But Hughey hurried out of the Office |
to Shockie's holy Of holes, a long |
crevice behind the ''boneyard," as the |
office tersely and laconically termed |
the cases containing the future obitu-
aries of present living prominent citi-
zens. Passing his hand behind, he
drew forth few crumpled pages and
carried them to the light.
Il knew it, he said. That cat1l be
a city editor some day.
When the managing editor received
the missing pages into his hands, a look
of establishment spread across his face.
Where did you find them?'' he asked.
''Shockie had en-, answered Hughey,
shortly, but there was proud CLEAN in
his eyes.
Il never noticed that cat much, said /
the managing editor, but / should
like to take good look at it now"
He was on the shelf by the pneu-
matte tube minute ago" said Hughey, |
leading the way there. As they came
LII IL q |