The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-18
The Gentleman From Indiana
Copyright by Doubleday & Mcclure Co., 1899.
BY BOOTH TRRKzNGT0N

turned) AS che entered the room, he sidled
along the wall and laughed sheepishly at
nothing.
Every chair in the room was ornamented
with one of his blue rosettes, tied carefully
(and firmly to the middle slat of
each chair back. There had been several
yards of ribbon left over, and there
hard knot of glossy satin on each of the
ink-stands and the oorknobs; a blue band,
passing around the stovepipe, impaired an
antique rakishness suggestive of the charl-
oteer; and number Of streamers, suspended
from hook in the ceiling, encouraged a sup
position that the employees of the Herald
contemplated the intricate festivities OF May
Day. 1t needed no genius to infer that these
| garnitures had not embellished the editorial
chamber during Mr.. Harkless' activity, but,
| on the contrary, had been put in place that
very morning Mr. Fisbee had not known of
the decorations, and, as his glance fell upon
them, faint look Of pain passed over his
brow; but the girl examined the room with a
dancing eye, and there were both tears. and
| laughter in her heart
How beautiful" she cried. How beau
| tiful!'' She crossed the room and gave her
hand to Ross 1T is Mr.. Schofe1d, isn't it?
The ribbons are delightful. I didn't know
Mr.. Harkess room was pretty.
Ross looked out of the window and laughed
as he took her hand (Which he shook with
| a long up and down motion), but he was set
at better ease by her apparent unrecognition
Of the fac: that the decorations were for her
"Oh, it amt much, reckon he replied, and
continued to look out of the window and
| laugh.
She went to the desk and removed her
gloves and laid her rain-coak over a chair
near by. is this Mr.. Harkless' char?" she
asked, and, Fisbee answering that it was
she looked gravely at it for moment
passed her hand gently over the back of it,
| o. fhnr uyircY ha in n
other chair, said cheerily:
! DO you know, think the first thing for
us to do will be to dust everything care
fully"
you remember I was confident she would
know precisely where to begn?' was Fis-
bees earnest whisper in the willing ear Of the
long foreman. mot instants ndecision
was there?"
"No, s!ree!'' replied the other; and, as he
went down to the press-room to hunt for a
| feather-dLster which he thought might be
found there, he col!ared Bud Tipworthy, who
not admitted to the conclave of his superiors,
was whistling on the rainy stairway You
hustle and find that dust brush we used to
have, Bud said Parker. And presently as
they rummaged in the hooks and crannies
about the machinery, he melted to his small
assistant. The paper is saved, Buddie-
saved by angel in light brown. You can
tell it by the look Of her.
"Gee!' said Bud
Mr.. Schofeld had come, blushing, to join
them. Say, Gale, did you notice the color
of her eyes?''
Yes; they're gray"
Il thought so, too, show day, and al
Hedge Haloway's lecture; but, say, Gale
they're kind Of changeabe. When she come
in upstairs with you and Fisbee, they were
jest as blue!-near matched the color of oul
ribbons.'
"Gee!" repeated Mr.. Tipworthy
When the editorial chamber had been made
SO neat that it almost glowed-though i
could never be expected to shine did Fjs
bee and Caleb Parker and Ross Schof1elt
that morning-the editor took her seat at tn
desk and looked over the few items the gen
tlemen had already compiled for her perusal
: Mr.. Parker explained the many technicaltie
l peculiar to the Carlow Herald, TRANSLATED
some phrases of the printingroom, and ena
bled her to grasp the amount of matter need
ed to fill the morrows ISSUE
When Parker finished, the three incompe
tents sat watching the little figure with tn
expression Of hopeful and trusting terriers
She knit her brow for a second-but she di
not betray an instant's indecision.
II think should have regular marke
reports she announced, thoughtfully 6
am sure MIR. Harkless would approve. Don
e you think he would?" She turned to Parker
market reports!" MIR. Fsbee exclaimed. e
should never have thought Of market reports
nor, do I imagine, would either Of my-m
associates. A woman to conceive the idea Q
market reports!''
p The editor blushed. t'Why, who would
o DEAR If not woman, speculator, and I'r
e not a speculator; and neither you, an
d that's the reason you didn't think of then
S So Mr.. Parker, there is SO much pressure
and If you don't mind continuing to act q
?, reporter as we'll compostor until after to
It morrow, and if it isn't too wet-you must tax
+ an umbrella-would it be too much bother
s you went around to all the shops-stores,
8 mean-to the grocers', and the butchers an
:, that leather place we passed, the tannery?-
d and if there's one Of those places where the
: bring COWS, would it be too much to ask 70
= to stop there?-and at the -four mill,if it ism
It too far?-and at the dry goods store? An
It you must take blank book and sharpene
8 pencil And will you price everything, pleas
J. and jot down how much things are?"
e Orders received, the impetuous Parker Wa
d departing on the instant. when she stoppe
IS him with little cry: But you haven't an