Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-01-14
STURDY M'QUlNN

seem far away.
The wonderful. almost human type
setting machine at which he sat, was
lmotionless, awaiting the lightning
touch OF his fingers. So Is the great
Daily" born each day to live and die,
before the setting of the sun.
The clamor of the newsboys outside
meant that 1t was almost II, time for
1.-THE first edition. They had finished
their crap game and We're jabbering in
many keys and tongues. A motley
crew, indeed. like none since the Tower
of Babel.
sturdy heayed a sigh of relief MS he
finished the last word of long col
Iumn. 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
BE had done his work faithfully. but
aistlessly, for week past. Yes. 1t 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
hand man through many years of
nerve-racking work. never missing n
day, and always willing to share the
burden of his overweight chief.
There was something so reassurlng
about this big mans calm voice; the
echo Of self-reliant and resource
full nature.
No one dreamed of associatlng senti-
ment with the homely. quiet type
setter, but Sturdy was in love.
IN love, as only man Of his shy, re-
served temperament can be; with a
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 1t wasn't right
for them to see each other any more.
They were sitting on 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
q sob, Us she laid her hand OH his
broad, strong shoulder, and asked him
ito forgive her for making him SO I'M
happy.
Was there any one else. he had ask
ed2 No. 1t was only her duty - h;zs
for whom she cared so much w.. ~,
quite enough. SturJy 6od ,.tan n .na
blow silently, as -afl brave .anen n, eat
fate, but Mary had to -,ln.sa..a......Ssiii
home. fof-'thIs crumblieR of tenderly
cherished hopes had made the trees
dance and the walk evadea him. They
said goodbye at the gate, just ms they
had done many times week for two
years.
Not that night, nor tie next. did
Sturdy realize 1t Vas 70 be for always,
and that the little house he had Sc
,retly picked out, dreamed about and
worked for would never be home"
OF home meant only n place where
iary would be waiting for him when
he day was over.
He bore the first two days patiently,
It'll a sort of numb resolution, but
uld stand 1t no longer. The third
ming he stole up and hid in the
adow OF some trees opposite her
ouse. feeling like thief, but thief
no steals because he is hungry.
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 a moment to say good
bye to girl friend. then went in and
quietly closed the door. Just then a
man passed. looked keenly at the ST.
lent watcher, as II interested In his
-tudy of the little house opposite.
The dull routine of the days work
did little to tighten Sturdy's burden.
The buzzing In his head grew worse
and the whir of the machinery harder
to bear His nerves were overwrought
from lack of sleep. Another day was
almost done, hard. trying day, and
1t was relief to go 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 few
scribbled sheets. Sturdy absently took
his share and began to play the KEYS
before him.
PERSONAL-Wil young lady in
white dress. black hat. who parted
with friend last evening about 8. Mt
Elm and Chestnut-sts.. be ut same cor.
ner this evening at o? Admirer.
1t was unusually deserted the next
evening out by Elm and Chestnut-sts..
except for dapper young man stand.
ing on the corner, gazing up at house
acykss the way. Suddenly, as If
spI ing 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 1t takes to tell 1t, the dapper
youth lay in crumpled heap Mt the
feet of Sturdy McQuinn.
A crowd had gathered at small ur.
chin's cry of fight" and just as stur-
dy was preparing quietly to depart
a policeman stepped up and marched
both victor and victim off 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 her
,avenger. A strange. new light burned
in her eyes as she paced the floor, long
ing for morning.
Early the next day. Mr. Stevens, the
foreman of the composing-room, was
wanted at the telephone.
A puzzled expression spread over his
face as he heard his absent typeset.
tiers embarrassed request that he come
down to the district police station. A
cab was soon speedily covering the
distance, and the newspaper man was
received with great Difference at head
quarters. Yes; the prisoner had vic.
ilently assaulted a man. without nroy