The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-12-06
THE EDITORS STORY

The hour was about 8 a. N. and we
we're sittingfn the city room. smoking
and chatting together before vending
our several ways homeward. The shrek
of the stereotype planer below stairs
betokened that the paper was "upa and
the forms almost ready to go to press,
so with the profound satisfaction which
only a night newspaper man knows,
each heaved a sigh Of relief at the real
izatiOn Of another good days work
done.
There was the sporting editor, who
had recently returned from a sub-rosa
prize fight down the river, of which he
had been both referee and reporter
There was the day police reporter, who
had been called upon to take charge of
an unusually thrilling tradegy, al
though technically he was not on duty
that night. Still he had responded
readily enough, although perhaps sec
reilly regretting the loss of a rare even
ing with his wife and chiidren-for a
very domestic man was this police re-
porter, in spite of the fact that he was
an acknowledged expert on murders
and crimes of all degrees. His unex-
pected presence provoked the discus
sion:
"What the devil are you doing here
tonight, Jim?" inquired the sporting
editor, between puffs at his briarwood.
working" was the laconie response.
81 was short of men and called him
in to take charge Of that shooting af-
fray" explained the city editor.
Sand you were fool enough to conner"
said the sporting editor, still address
ing the police reporter.
The latter only smiled. The consci-
BUSINESS of having turned in a good
"story" had already efaced any resent
ment at having been called upon for
extra duty. With him, as with most
slaves Of the press, virtue was its own
best reward.
"That's right" continued the sport
ing editor in tone of well-feign6d dis
gust, "there's no fool like an old fool,
and we're a pair of 'em. It would have
been money in my pocket if had stay
ed in that poker game the boys started
after the fight, but, just for the sake of
getting a scoop On the other papers /
threw away a good thing"
In secret he probably felt very proud
Of this achievement, but he felt that he
had occasion to growl, and he growIed.
"LOok here, you," turning to "cub"
reporter who was sitting out the dog
watch, "the newspaper business is all
very we'll to break a young fellow in
for some other line of work, but you
get out of it before you are as old as
Jim and me, or you will become a re-
gular slave and can't stop if you want
to. Amt that so, Charlie?" appealing
to the city editor, with whom he was on
terms of old cOmradeship."
1T certainly becomes a strong habit, 4"
responded the city editor quietly.
"Habit!" exclaimed the sporting edi-
tor, warming up to his subject; "it's
worse than gambling. Didn't I quit a
good game tonight to come up here
and write a story? And there's Jim
he's too old to be taking orders from
anybody, even you, Charlie but you
say Come, and he comes. Think of
any other business man calling an en-
ploye out at midnight to wait on a Gus
tomerT''
"That's true" said the city editor
thoughtfully. II know of no division
of the great army of labor where the
service is so voluntary or the discipline
so strict"
sand it amt all money that makes
US co." pursued the sporting editor
"Lots of US could make more in some
other business, but we stick to it until
we are literally kicked Quit Why, your
newspaper man will go without eating
or sleeping, not always without drink
ing, but he will fOrsake home, family
and friends, and go through everything
himself merely to serve his paper"
"Why, the only thing confirmed
newspaper man will not do" exclaimed
the sporting editor, warming up to ar
oratorieal climax, lis to write up his
own funeral-and that's only because
he can't"
"Yet I knew a man once who WrOt'
his own death warrant, " said the city
editor quietly.
Ali knew that the city editor, al
though comparatively young in years
was old in experience; and, moreover
as he was not given to drawing the Ions
bow, that a story warranted this strange
assertion. It was demanded, and ma
teralized, IS follows;
at was in western city, some years
ago. remarked the city editor, shat
vas holding down the city desk on {
daily for the first time. We had maI
on the paper who was simply a cFanl
on homieides; and he was more than
mere reporter, for he had detective
talent of the highest order. he didnr
| care much for the common crimes
burglaFies, lareeDies, and sueh-buf
give him good mysterious murder
and he was splendid. Not only did h
have the history OF all the famous mur