Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-12-15

I'VE BEEN A FOOL, HE REPEATED To
THE GIRL.
page to the end of the last one on the
final page, could he find any comments
on the weather. He folded the paper
deliberately, swearing softly to him
self, and fifteen minutes later he con
fronted young Elton, the telegraph edi
tor
The weather report" said the latter,
with the air of eXcusing the bureau,
did not come last night"
"Ah." said the managing editor dry
ly.
NO, sir" went on the telegraph edi-
tor Il held the paper till 3 o'clock
waiting for it, but for some reason it
failed to come"
"Ahr' said the managing editor
again. Then his anger burst forth, and
he raved as became a man who held re-
porters and editors under his thumb.
81 suppose" he concluded sarcastic
ally, that it never occurred to you to
fake a report. to realize that any
guess on the weather was better than
none, to appreciate the comments the
Times will make on the incident, to
imagine the disappointment Of every
one Of our readers Why, you fool, do
you suppose any one would have
known that your guess was not relia-
bic report even if it differed from that
OF the Times: Do YOU He stopped
suddenly, turned on his heels and went
out the door with the remark, Don't
let ii happen again
Young Elton stared at the ceiling for
a good five minutes. Then he went
over to his desk with the mail and
straightway forgot all his troubles in
reading a dainty, scented note. She
said some very nice things to him and
asked how he was faring in his work.
The weather report failed to come
that night Young Elton prepared
some slips of paper with various
weather conditions written on them
and then drew one cautiously. 1t said,
"Rain today; cosder."
The managing editor read it the next
morning and wondered if it were reli-
able. 1t was not All day a warm
wind blew gently from the south, and
a blue sky and hot sun smiled genial
ly.
Three nights later the message failed
again, and young Elton guessed it
would be fair. The next day the great
est rain Of the season poured down
from early morning till late at night.
Young Elton's face was beginning to
grow careworn In desperation he
went to the girl and told her the whole
story.
80 far my guesses have been all
wrong" he confded. Now, l have a
plan that certainly deserves success.
It's simple, you understand. l am go
ing to drop in and see you for minute
or two each evening about dinner time,
II may, and | shall gauge my guesses
by your demeanor If you are very
cordial shall say the next day Will be
clear. If you are not so glad 10 see me
l shall prophcsy cloudy weather. If l
find you bored by my visits the report
will say rain DO you understands
The girl did and though she sug-
gested the possibility of fair weather
every day young Elton decided to try
the plan. He grinncd cheerfuIly and
went back to the Office and wrote the
report. Fair today. with southcrly
winds" And although the Times
promised rain the next day was cloud
less and warm.
1t was very clear for a week, during
which time young Elton was called
upon TO guess the weather conditions
several times The rival paper seemed
to be steadily wrong. and the manag-
ing editor )f the News took it upon
himself to write a little editorial on the
subject, rcprintin@ the reports of the
two papers in parallel columns. The
reporters slapped young Elton on the
back and told him be should try the
races.
Then one night something went
awry at the girls house 1t was only
trivial thing in itself but it lowered
tie spirits of both The paper prom
iscd cloudy weather. and all the next
day ugly. black clouds covered.
The lizzie quarrel uas over 10y the
next night but the conversation was
strained. \ few evenings later the
girl happened to ucn.iou another man
who WAS not youu- Eitous idea of "a
fit companion for a woman. lie said
so very frankly. and the girl disap-
mo-, Y.4F