Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-01-03
The Story of a Story.
BY ALBERT LEE.

sorting inc week mauuscfiYI' AAo
was smoking his after-luncheon
cigar and humming quietly as he
glanced at the various superscr1p-
uons, watching unconsciously for any
familiar handwriting OF postmark
Presently there was sharp rap at
the door, followed almost immediate
by the entrance of the assistant AIT
oditor, who bore every outward ap-
pearance of being extremely annoyed.
whats up now?" asked the editor.
"I'm in hole. Leighton" replied
the assistant. II can't get anything
out of Won Beck"
whats the matter with Won Beck?'
"Sprained his ankle. or fell Off his
bicycle, or something-I don't know!
He's week late with that illustration
for Forbes's story, and the plates for
that form have to be cast the first
of next week. Here it is Wednesday,
and he sends word he's laid up
The assistant art editor waved his
arms in a gesture Of despair.
HE does not work with his feet,
does he?" asked Leighton.
II wish he'd work little with his
head sent Johnny up with note
this morning, and he brought it back
unopened. The janitor had orders
not to let any one up to see Van
Beck"
"Well?" queried Leighton, patiently.
"Well, what shall do? I'd go up and
haul him out of bed myself If could,
but can't. Chapman's away, and I've
got to stay here in the Office. There's
no use sending any more boys up.
Suppose we throw out Forbes's story,
and put in that article on toadstools-
isn't this the toadstool season."
"Rot, Mac" retorted Leighton. You
know we can't throw out Forbes.
I'd rather print the story without the
illustration. But can't we get hook
on Won Beck some way? He ought
to be able to finish the drawing in
bed"
"Of course" answered Mac, eff any
body could go up there and pound the
Importance of it into his Dutch head
Leighton looked with a panied ex-
preston at Mac, and then gazed
thoughtfully out of the window. A
gentle breeze was shaking the leaves
of the potted geraniums on the tene-
ment fire-escape across the way.
"You are not very busy this after
noon, are you, old fellow?" resumed
Mac, persuasively.
Nothing but manuscripts an
swered Leighton, turning from the
geraniums.
"Why can't you chase up to Won
Beck's? You could take a batch of
that stuff along with you, and read
it on the elevated"
Leighton turned in his chair, and
asked:
where does Won Beck live?"
"Ninety-something street" said
Mac, with alacrity 'I'll find out" and
he rushed, shouting for his stenogra-
pher, down the little passage that led
to his own department Leighton
sighed and picked up pile of long,
thin enveloves. He snapped heavy
rubber band around them, put on his
coat and, taking his straw hat,
strolled out into the hallway, where
Mac was fuming and eXpostulating
with weary looking young woman
who had spent two minutes of vain
search for Won Beck's address among
the BIS. Then Mac seized the book
himself, and scrawled the house and
street number on n piece of paper.
Leighton walked slowly through the
narrow streets and across the City
Hall park to the elevated railroad
station, and ensconced himself by an
open window, in cne of the double
seats of the rear car of the train. 1t
was comparatively early in the after
noon. and there were few other pas
sengers. He pulled out an envelope.
opened the manuscript, and set to
work reading slowly, unconscious of
his surroundings. AS he finished his
study of each contribution, he made
cabalistic mark upon the envelope.
for the benefit of his clerk. and re-
placed II in the bundle on his lap.
AS the train drew uptown, the cars
filled slowly and finally at Fourteenth
street some one took the seat next
TO Leighton. Ho merely glanced in
that direction. saw that II was young
woman In pink shlrt-wa.st and
sailor hat, moved a little closer to
his window, and proceeded with the
reading of the story that her approach
had interrupted. 1t was evidently not
to his taste, for he soon began glane-
ing rapidly over the last few type
written pages. then folded the paper,
marked the envelope and started on
the next. He was conscious of the
fact that his neishbor was stealing
furitive glances over his shoulder, but
this did not annoy hlm-she was
welcome to such information as her
curiosity might acquire from his
rapid turning Of the pages. He read
steadily and scratched here and
there with his blue pencil, and looked
occasionally out OF the window to
keep his bearings. lie disposed OF
several articles on scientific and
social subjects. which did not seem
10 interest his neighhor very much.
for ah.. ILlrnal Ia her a afiaInnlal nan..