Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-04-14
FANNING's HEART.

Miss Irwin was very busy. She was
handling a difficult assignment which
by rights should have been given to one
of the men reporters, and SO it happened
that she remained after every one else
had gone to dinner, and for some time
the walls of the city EDITORS room had
listened to the unsusual sound at such
an hour of bad stub pen scratching
over thin brown paper.
Finally the monotonous scratching
was interrupted by the opening of a
door, and Tanning, the police reporter,
hastily entered. Miss Irwin paused in
her story long enough to look up
''Oh,'' she said, Its you, Tanning.
Been to dinner already?"
"No, ma am, not yet. I'm looking
for Scranton. Hash It come back yet, has
he?"
''Not yet. Anything l can do for you?''
'No, thanks. I just wanted to see
him about a story-that little chap that
was hurt. Read about it, didn't you?
Scranton IS interested. The little chaps
dying. I've just come from the house.
The doctors all say he'll die tonight,
and I wanted to tell Scranton. am so
worried. Pshaw, I'm worried sick. r.
He paused, ran his fingers through his
hair and looked embarrassed.
"Come, now, Tanning, tell me all
about it,, said the thoroughly interested
Miss Irwin.
''There amt much to tell. Oh, you
mean what I'm worrying about? Well,
to put the whole thing in few lines,
I'm afraid he might not die in time for
me to get my story for the morning 5
paper. Just think of what I'd lose
such beautiful story"
Miss Irwin looked shocked, and Fan
ming saw it. His blue eyes took on a
resolute expression, but the muscles of
his face did not move, nor did his red
cheeks grow the least bit redder. He lit
a cigarette and said doggedly:
Eyes, ma 'am; SO long as he's going to
die-they said he won't live through
tonight-he might have enough consid-
Grafton for me to arrange it in time.
Just my luck to get scooped. +" And he
knocked off some cigarette ashes.
Miss Irwin gazed at the boy. in aston
ishment.
"Why, you cruel, cruel fellow" she
exclaimed, in disappointed tone, 81
didn't think you were that sort. -
1t was Fanning's turn to look disap-
pointed. lyon seem to think, because I
talk as do, that police reporter hasn t
any feelings at all, " he said, in an in
jured way. Maybe we've got more
than you think. Now, there amt any
body sorrier than I am for that little
boy. Why, his mother and sister think
I'm the best friend they've got, because
if hadn't said my say. the bully who
hurt the little chap wouldn't have been
held at all. fixed him all right enough,
though; made things pretty lively at the
police court, didn't L? Well, guess.
"Say, if he would only hurry up and
die in time I could write the most ele-
CANT and touching story. You just ought
to see him. Everybody takes SO much in
terest in him, and folks send him books
and toys and jelly and all sorts of good
things 60 eat. When l saw him this even
ing, the bed was covered with play
things, but if you'll believe it, he tiidn' t
seem to care for 'em at all. The only
thing be noticed was bunch of roses
somebody had sent him. He wouldn t
part with 'em, and when 1 saw him ly-
ing back there with the flowers against
his cheek, thought how pretty it would
be for me to have him die with them in
his hand. Say, wouldn't that be pictur-
esque? won't bother you, though, any
longer. If you see Scranton, tell him
about it; he'll be interested. "
The door closed, and Miss Irwin was
again alone. She couldn't take up the
train of thought she had been pursuing
when interrupted, and she still had the
shocked look she assumed at the begin
ming of Fanning's conversation.
"Such hardened fellow" che NUT
tered. land yet at heart really believe
him to be what he says he is
The next morning Miss Irwin scanned
the papers, but saw nothing about the
boy. The evening papers contained long
accounts of his life and death. Miss Ir-
win felt rather sorry that Tanning, with
all his cruel, kind heart, had been scoop
ed. She was sure his account would
have surpassed those she had read, and
she sighed as she thought of the roses.
They had not been mentioned at all.
Several days passed She was anxious
to meet the police reporter. Curiosity
caused her to wonder what he would
say. Finally the chance came. She hap
pened to be waiting for car when Fam
ming passed. She stopped him.
'By the way. Tanning. 1 saw you
were cheated out of your story about
the little boy"
Yes, was. Luck's dead against
me-"
"What time did he die?"
"Three a. M. exactly. just too late
for me to get in even line Twas there
when he died. -
Poor, dear, little fe1lowi How did
he die?''
HE died on space rates, ma a'a1n- =
Miss Irwin thought that she had be-
unod 70 the rar1nrfaris macmillan