Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-01
IN A NEWSPAPER OFFICE

1t was late on dreary, rainy Afternoon
that Is, late in a newspaper sense, for the
big afternoon daily was just going to press.
The city editor had sent up the last page
of copy, the telegraph operators were busy
arranging pegs and switchboards prepara-
tory to closing down for the day, and the
ms ssenger boys, after the rush of the last
few moments. were recovering breath and
| energy, and at the same time endeavoring,
with much wrangling, to peruse the same
copy of a sporting paper that had just been
received.
In the city department the lull after the
hurry incidental to news gathering and the
| transposition of the facts to paper was
noticeable. Quiet reigned, save for the
click Of solitary typewriter. One by one
| the reporters dropped in from their assign
ments, and busted themselves in various
ways while awaiting the appearance of the
| paper The government department man in
the rear Of the room was silently fixing UP
| report, and the court reporter, who enter
ed few moments later, devoted himself
| With equal quiet to the preparation Of a
| prediction as to the probable decision in
an important legal controversy.
Directly in front of this pair sat the man
| who looks after one branch of Congress,
with his hand resting idly on the keyboard
| OF a typewriter and his eyes fixed on a
search OF inspiration. Several others were
lounging about more less occupied, when
the rear door was noiselessly opened, and
the exc hange editor despatched with mud,
umbrellaleSs and presenting a drenched ap-
peArance, passed quietly to his corner and
almost lost himself to view behind a mass
of out-of-town publications. 1t was the
first seen of the editor at the Office during
the day, and his late arrival occasioned a
general murmur of comment.
Hello, there's Falsglen," announced the
pelice reporter. "A little late, aren't yoa?"
This is not weekly paper chimed in
the administrat ton end of the force. and
with an effort to be sarcastic the court re-
porter growled: ooh, he comes in now so
as to be on time tomorrow
missed my train this morning" explain
ed the exchange editor in his character
mountains
exchange editor was an enthusiastic
asriculturist, and owned a tract of
lsnd some distance from the city, where
he frequently spent Sundays
Pretty mean sort OF day. isn't it?" Falls
glen spoke up. after removing his wet gar
ments and making himself as comfor.a BILE
as possible.
Lets hear it," suggested the reporter
from the courts, 1.-THE paper won't be out
for ten minutes yet. Anything to pass the
time"
There was a murmur of concurrence and
several moved nearer the exchange editor.
ITS not very long," began the latter, land
you may believe it or not, just as you like.
I have never told the story since coming
TO this city for fear that its truthfuiness
would not be credited. Then, again, hate
to think of it, but now that 1t is in my
mind, and as know You fellows SO we'll,
don't mind letting you have the benefit of
what l went through.
Il once tried my luck in the far west, but
from there drifted to Minnesota, and got
work on paper In one of the largest
cities of tia: state. The city editor secured
q rsflf y,u piat,, AL
with the idea of scooping the other jour-
nails, dispatched me OH ten minutes notice
to leading watering place on the lake
about forty miles distant Here, it was
thought, the thread of the story could be
taken up. Well, 1 alighted from the train
about o'clock one evening in the height
of the season. 1 soon found that all the
hotels were crowded to their extreme ca
pscity.
Things looked rather dismal for a while
as regards accommodations, but after in
quiry at half a dozen places, I finally To-
Gated hosiery where the clerk informed
me might remain over night, if 1 did not
OBJECT to occupying room and bed with
another gentleman. l jumped at the op-
portunity and. after partaking of supper,
Strolied out to look around, the clerk di-
recting me to proceed to room No 8, on the
second floor, when 1 returned, he promis-
Ing to acquaint my roommate with the ar
rangement
While sitting in a pavilion overlooking
the water, my attention was attracted to
an unusually pretty young lady who passed
escorted by a fauitlessiy- attired gentle
man. The former appeared to be greatly
worried, but 1t was impossible TO catch a
word she was saying. A man sitting near
me remarked, That is Miss BLANK and 1
instantly recalled the name of a high off-
clai OF one OF the western cities. few
moments later, almost without warning.
violent storm broke and l fastened to the
hotei Passing through the Office I as
cended the stairs. and on the second floor
ha
D. mat Inquire standing out in bold relief in
black On background of white enamel.
turning the knob of the door 1 entered
inc room IN which dim light was burning
Lying IN the double bed could discern the
insure CT man appai eatly fast asleep. Not
wishing to disturb my roommate removed
portion OF my clothing. and as quietly as
possible took my place in the unoccunieS
side of the bed / left the gas Tnrnins
dimiy as l found it and had soon lost ali
IDEA OF the appearance of the other man.
Tell into doze but did not know what
length of time had passed when suddenly
became aware that some one was entering
the room Opening my eyes l saw that the
intruder was a woman, and what was
more interesting, she was weeping in a
heartrending manner. While was endeav
oring to grasp the situation a man also
passed through the doorway, and then I
recognized the duo as those who had at
tracted my attention on the beach earlier
in the evening.
The companion of the young woman en-
deavored to console her, saying tenderIy:
1t had to happen. dear, and could not be
helped You are not to blame. Try to calm
yourself
Il assure you I was wide awake by this
time, for the situation was intensely inter
esting. 1t struck me as unusual that Miss
Blank should be accompanied to her apart
1nents at that hour of the night by a gem
tleman. and the effect was heightened be-
cause of her distressed condition And
then wondered how it happened that the
couple should enter a room occupied by
two strange men and appear SO perfectly
at home. The action of the lady was also
mysterious, and l was thinking of another
good story to be worked Up, when Miss
Blank said piteously in reply to her com
panion, Oh what shall 1 do, what shall /
do?
Il raised up on my elbow just as Miss
Blank lifted her eyes and glanced toward
the bed For a moment there was dead ST.
lence, she next gave utterance to a shrek
such as / never heard before and then
collapsed and sank TO the floor as limp as
a rag. The man with her, also glancing at
the bed, opened his mouth as though to
speak, but 10 sound came forth. He turned
and staggered out of the room as though
intoxicated. During all this time my bed
fellow had not stirred and on the impulse
of the moment, without stopping to arouse
him. / hastily grabbed INV clothes and ro N