Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-01-20
STURDY M'QUINN


motionlcss, awaiting the lightning
touch If his fingers. So is the great
Daily" born each day to live and die
before the setting of the sun.
The clemor of the newsboys outside
meant that it was almost -, time for
the first edition. They had finished
their crap game and were jabbering in
many keys and tongues. A motley
crew, indeed, like none since the Tower
of Babel
Sturdy heaved sigh of relief as he
finished the last word of a long col
umn, for the click of the keys made
him nervous, for the first time in the
many years he had been sitting at the
same machine
He had done his work faithfully, but
listlessly, for a week past. Yes, it was
just week tonight. How long week
may seem when you must watch each
dawn.
The foreman noticed this change and
wondered. Sturdy had been his right
nand man through many years Of
nerye-racking work. never missing a
day, and always willing to share the
burden Of his overweight chief
There was something so reassuring
about this big mans calm yeiee, the
echo Of a self-reliant and resource
full nature.
No one dreamed of associating senti-
ment with the homely, quiet type
setter. but Sturdy was in love.
In, l. ID, CIV
served temperament can be; with
served temperament can be; with
sleeping lees of his heart.
A week had passed since that mis-
cradle night when Mary had told him
they must part. She didn't love him,
and never would, so it wasn't right
for them to see each other any more.
They were sitting on a bench in the
park. How well he remembered every
detail The purr of the summer breeze
in the trees, the stray curl that brushed
his cheek; the dainty hat. and pretty
muslin dress, and Mary's voice, almost
a sob, as she laid her hand on his
broad, strong shoulder, and asked him
to forgive her for making him so I'M
happy.
Was there any one else, he had ask
edf No, it was only her duty to him,
for whom she cared so much but not
suite enough. Sturdy had taken the
blow silently, as all brave men meet
fate, but Mary had TO almost lead him
home, for this crumbling of tenderly
cherished hopes had made the trees
dance and the walk evade him. They
said goodbye at the gate, just as they
had done many times week for two
years.
Not that night, nor the next, did
Sturdy realize it was to be for always,
and that the little house he had Sc
cretly picked out. dreamed about and
worked for would never be "home,"
for home meant only place where
Mary would be waiting for him when
the day was over.
He bore the first two days patiently,
with sort of numb resolution, but
could stand it no longer. The third
evening ne stole up and hid in the
shadow of some trees opposite her
house, feeling like thief, but a thief
W00 SlGdiS DeCdUSt 10 uuLlIl.
He had not long to wait before Mary
crossed the street. almost at his elbow,
but did not notice the silent figure I'M
der the shadow of the trees.
She stopped moment to say good
bye to a girl friend, then went in and
quietly closed the door. Just then a
man passed, looked keenly at the ST.
lent watcher, as If interested in his
study of the little house opposite.
The dull routine of the days work
did little TO tighten Sturdy's burden.
The huzzing in his head grew worse
and the whir of the machinery harder
TO bear. His nerves were overweight
from lack of sleep. Another day was
almost done, hard. trying day, and
IT was n relief to so home and be quiet.
The air tubes belched forth their last
batch of matter" generally lads"
which came in late. and appear under
the head of TOO Late to Classify"
Busy looking little boys ran in all
directions. handing each man a few
scrubbed sheets. Sturdy absently took
his share and began to play the keys
before him. .
PERSONAL---VERY. young lady In
white dress. black hat who parted
with friend last evening about s. at
Elm and Chestnut-sts.. be at same cor
nsr this evening at .? Admirer.
IL was unusually deserted the next
evening out by Elm and Chestnut-sts..
except for a dapper young man stand
ing on the corner. gazing up at house
across the way. Suddenly, as If
sprung from the earth. man stepped
up and dealt him singing blow be-
tween the eyes. 1t was an uneven
combat from the first. and in less time
than II takes to tell it. the dapper
youth lay In q crumpled heap at the
feet OF Sturdy McQuinn.
A crowd had gathered at a small ur,
chln's cry of fight" and just as Stur.
dy was preparing quietly to depart
policeman stepped up and marched
both victor and victim of to the sta
tion-house.
No one had heard woman's scream
from behind the closed blinds OF the
little house opposite. but Mary had
seen both the Personal and hel
avenger. A strange. new light burned
in her eyes rs she paced the door. long
ing for morning.
Early the next day. Mr.. Stevens. thu
foreman of the composing wa:
wanted ut the telephone.
A puzzled expression spread over hi
face as he heard his absent typeset
tiers embarrassed request that he come
down TO the district police station. 4
cab was soon speedily covering th'
distance. and the newspaper man wa
received with great Difference at head
quarters. Yes: the prisoner had vic
iIeatly assaulted man. without prov