The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-19

occasionally get into a quiet corner with
one or other Of the messengers from the
Western Union and play a game OF
"cbineys," It was only when things were
running smoothly and he knew there
would be no demand for him. But he
WIS always within call. Neither the ''old
man"-by which affectionate appellaion
the editor-in-chief was known-nor the
latest reporter ever needed Ed and asked
for him in vain.
Nobody outside the business office knew
Eds other name or cared to know.
When he was sick for week, a Careworn
woman in black had come to the outside
office and received his envelope.
Everybody knew that he used to go to
the evening high school on Thirteenth
street. and to the literary class In the
Cooper union on Saturday nights. Oc-
easionaIly a copy of Caesars Gallo Wars
or an old algebra would be found lying
around the reporters room, ard by COM
mon consent they were regarded as be-
longing to the boy. At o'clock any
afternoon he could be found hurryfng
across Printing House square from the
terminus of the Third avenue elevated
road to get the exchanges at the postof-
fee. It was on his way from the col
lege Of the City of New York, where he
managed by hard work to keep even with
his class.
And SD Eddy pushed and fought HIS
way diligently but politely into a bright
young manhood and his wages had been
raised from 50 to Sc a week
There came a right when the force of
Me office was taxed to the full limit of
slcrVous endurance. The managing editor
assumed more than his usual peremptory
manner toward every one, including 1.-The
old man." 1t was noticed that he gripped
the end Of his always unlighted cigar
with the fierce grip which his square jaws
denoted him to be capable of. Copy was
being piled up on the tables which 1t
seemed it would be impossible to handle
The telegraph instruments licked louder
and faster than usual Reporters hurried
in and out. and the muttered curse OF the
city editor Was heard as his blue pencil
uhirred over characters which he could
not stop to decipher.
Down in the dry goods district the
fremen had been battling since o clock
with a fire which threatened to mark an
epoch in the history of Old Gotham.
The fire had to be covered by the Tele-
graph if it took the entire force.
Jones, go to the Fifth Avenue hotel
and get n story out of Senator jerks
about that veto. Get here before 12"
1t was the managing editor who spoke,
and his direction was given to a young
man who sat with dripping rubber coat
and boots writing I'D the fire.
Mr.. Melville. Several Of the firemen
have met with a serious accident. The
front wall of one of the buildings has
fallen. A number of the men were under
1t. Some of them have been taken out
and carried to Chambers street hospital
VIII 1 let it go till come back?" -..
"Qh HI, no; write it up. Here! Is
there nobody to take this assignment
There vas no one.
Just then Ed arose from his seat, and
with an air of apparent trepidation and
expectancy approached the car Of the
New York Morning Telegraph.
Mr.. Melville
'You!-yes;. here; get outt'
. And in an instant Eddy was speeding
across city hall park on his way to the
Park Place station of the Sixth avenue
elevated, It was hts first assignment.
It was 2 o'clock the following after
noon when n group of reporters sat in
the office of the Telegraph discussing the
big fire and comparing the merits Of the
several reports of 1t which the city press
had published. They occupied every i'm
sginable- attitude; some bestrode their
chairs; some sat on their desks and
smoked cigarettes, while some took that
unPTaceful but exceedingly comfortable
position which every American takes at
least once in his life IN a moment of leis-
ure-with chair tipped back and heels
higher than mead resting on some adj
iacent obtect-the object in this case be-
Ing in every instance reporters desk.
Say, who wrOre up that interview with
Senator jerks ,"
Bet you can't guess
mo. Who?'
''Fhe Kid
What Kid?''
why, Ed Of course
"Oh! go on
That's who did it; and mighty good
story he's made CT 1t. too
When their informant got the others
TO accept his statement in good faith, it
was generally agreed that Eddy would
como out all right.
All wondered If he would get a place
on the local staff. And they had not
long TO wait. For that same night Ed
was sent by the assistant city editor to
report a meeting Of the Tammany hail
general committee.
How little control, after all, the most
far-seeing of us all have over the cir
cumstances which mold our earthly des-
TIMES. This young boy had looked no
farther into the dim alsles of the future
than to picture himself as the comfort
and sustafnment of the closing days Of an
affectionate mother, to whose struggles
and sacrifices he knew he owed all he had
and all that he would be- What dreams
this widowed lady had drearnt Of the
career Of her boy, she alone knew. And
now, in an hour, as 1t were, the fates
had closed IN upon him and In the light
of the burning ruins of Leonard street,
were closely outlined the shape and form
which his future life should take. The
way opened before him IN one of the call
ings which are the distinctive outgrowth
of modern conditions. Whatever heri-
tage of vital energy had come to him
would soon be tested TO the utmost. The
clear eye, the alert and observant mind,
the elastic step and steady nerve which
were his by right of a line of various an
cestry, were hereafter to be his worldly
capital They might indeed win for him
the fortune within sight Of which his
father had struggled when, in the prime
of manhood he had been carried home a
corpse to his wife and his sucking babe.
They might Bat who can .eIl? Life
yields It's secrets only on the threshold
of eternity.
The Telegraph had become a great
paper. Founded to promote certain
- economic doctrines, It had long since be-
come, first of all things, the purveyor ot
the worlds news. It's opinions fastened
to 1t the faith and sympathy of thou
sands. 1t was read By friend and enemy