Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-01-26
TOO MUCH INTEREST

STORY" The typewriter girl was seat
ed at her machine, the newspaper man
was sorting out his notes, and the door
was closed so as to leave them undis
turbed.
'Now, If you will please begin" the
newspaper man said. In these days
of stern reality and suffering and strug-
gle for existence romantic episode
comes upon one with the refreshing de-
light with which a traveller in a desert
beholds an oasis"
Clickety-clickety- click went the keys,
and then
isn't that lovely! Is it going to b.
q novel?"
The newspaper man looked up in
amazement, but it was utterly impos-
sible to be angry with such blue eyes
regarding him in admiration.
NO." he said. please so on. In
the monotonous routine of Tombs police
court cases, however, there was one
yesterday behind which lay a story so
romantic and so picturesque that it
would almost seem to have been ere
ated by a great novelist who had striv-
en- to excel all his past efforts"
When this had been recorded, and
while the newspaper man was wonder
ing what he would say next, the young
lady, smiling most radiantly, prattled
on in this fashion:
That's just splendid. 1t sounds like
a real novel. Did you ever read 'Claris-
sa: or, The Forlorn Hope? 1t begins
something like that, only it isn't so in
teresting. Do you know, l never took
dictation like that before. The last
place 1 worked in 1 had nothing to do
but copy letters. oh, dear, wasn't it
tiresome, thought
The newspaper man felt his collar
getting too small, but after swallowing
something that seemed to stick in his
throat he said as gently as possible:
Wont you please go on? I'm in
somewhat Of n hurry. What have you
got there?
'WhereT in great surprise.
'I mean, please read over what die
tated.
"Oh, how stupid 1 ann In these days
of stern reality'-how do you pronounce
that word-in two syllables or three?
Thank you-'stern reality and suffer
ing -
And she read what she had written.
Then, just as the newspaper man had
settled back in his chair, determined to
dictate to the end without giving her
another opportunity to interrupt him,
she said:
Excuse me, think my hair is COM
ing down."
She went to little mirror in Il corner
of the room, examined her hair careful
ly, and then, after touching up the puffs
of her sleeves and smoothing her waist,
she sighed and returned to her seat.
There, now; I'm all ready"
For the next few minutes she had to
work so hard that she hadn't time to
say a single word. But soon the page
was filed, and she had to insert a new
sheet, and that was her opportunity.
Gracious! How fast you dictateI 1t
| almost takes my breath away. But do
you know l like it. 1 think it's good
practice. Were you there when all
that happened? My! wish could be
n reporter"
! The newspaper man went on with his
dlctation. He was fast growing hop
ping mad, but he hadn't the heart to
say harsh word to the girl. She was
really very pretty, and as she became
interested in the story a delicate flush
mantled her cheeks, and it was n posi-
tive pleasure to watch her. But news
paper man has no time for pleasure
during his business hours, and these
charms did not interest him as much
as they might have done under other
circumstances, so he struggled bravely
| ON.
"Oh," she suddenly exclaimed, stop
ping in the middle of a sentence, did
that really happen?"
Yes, yes! Will you please go on?"
"Well, the idea! L wouldn't have be-
lieved it. Do you know, don't believe
half what read in the papers, but of
course if you say so it must be true"
I'm very sorry can't chat with you,
Miss Brown, but really I'm in a great
hurry"
''Oh, beg your pardon! L forgot all
about that"
For nearly ten minutes there was not
q break in the dictation, save where a
sheet became full and a fresh one had
to be inserted. The typewriter kept
her lips firmly pressed together, as if
she were eXerting all her strength to
keep silent. 1t was clear to see that it
could not last much longer. In the
middle of n paragraph she suddenly
stopped and with brief Excuse me
for a moment left the room. In few
seconds she returned with her jaws
moving conclusively and n piece of
chewing gum in her hand.
won't you have someY she asked
politely.
"N-n-o-and-I'll tell you what-er-
1 guess L won't have time to finish this
story today. I'll come back some other
time"
ooh, you're not going, are you? I'm
awfully sorry. l was just getting in
terested in the story"
every sorry-er-how much? Here.
All right Good dayr'