The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-01-23
What Did the Box Contain?


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Our new proofreader came in mo-
destly, quietly, and in the nick Of tine.
Not one of our force could hope sue ,
cessfully, to cope with so intricate a
piece Of: work as typographical revi-
s1pn Of parts Of the Koran, and when
the gentleman produced documentary
evidence OF his fitness from establish
ments in different parts Of the world
I was much pleased: Imray Khan was
his namey a member Of No. s in good
standing. Tall he was and broad
shOu1dered. His hair was jet black,
but no blacker than were his eyes,
which unnaturally big and lustrous,
struck me at once as being the softest
in expression I had ever before seen.
His nose and mouth were clear cut, the
one expressing strength of character
and the other determination. His face
was sallow, his forehead broad and
high. and there was an air of 1oftiness
about him that instinctly caused re-
spect. The address of this new addi-
ton to our force was in purest Eng
lish, albeit marked with. that indescrib-
able something attendant upon the
speech of all Orientalists. His age I
could not guess: so put the question
to my assistant Doctor Rathbone-a
gentleman who, while following the
profession of proofreading, had nearly
finished a course in medicine.
Il should Judge him to "a be about
ffty,' said the doctor; at which I
shrugged my shoulders. >Qu1en sabe?
Imray Khan was a: man who took ex-
cellent care Of himself evidently, to
judge from the neatness of his person
and the obvious strength Of his frame.
His manner was quiet and unobtru
siVe as his work was irreproachable.
While he invited no ones. acquaint-
ance, his dignity was natural, forcefu1
and unmistakable. Desk No. 3 was
the one to which I assigned Imray
Khan-that desk which, bearing title
"unlucky," is known and dreaded by
all men who ever worked at Reed &
:Bartlett's.
|. Rush orders necessitated night work
at the establishment: night work
caused a shifting Of the force. I di-
rected Imray Khan to report on the
| morrow-the Sd Of the month-at Z
at night. And here occurred an Incl
dent small in itself and hardly worthy
Of notice, which puzzled me not lit
| tie.
"Sor,", said sin the new order Of
things you will report for night duty,
! beginning tomorrow, the 3d. and
would have continued in a compliment
tary speech appreciative Of the superb
work he was doing had I not seen his
face take on an ashen hue, while his
! whole frame gave evidence of having
| rnchiVo6 a r1f he
| remained motionless; and his depart,
! ure. later, was almost abrupt. was
at first amused and then annoyed at
| the shock, so simple business move
had caused my associate, and turned
! the matter over to the doctor
| There is no accounting for the SEN
| sitiveness OF the ultra-learned," said
| that matter-of-fact :gentleman; and
the incident was Forgotten until the
! following. night, when I had CAUSE
heaven knows!--for Remembrance.
J. Quietness reigned I'M the -proofroorn
l saYe for. the buaY hum Of :the5 readers.
aputY called: ms: to deck No: g. facing
the tE'ast: liver, and: i was attracted by
the beauty of5the early autumn hight
On the river myriad lights from passing
craft glowed. against a back ground
:
windows were raised and the balmy
air came in :fitfuHy. A dreamy haze
| enveloped the city that lay beyond the
river, canopy that soon would eur
tain a sleeping world
| It was only for an instant that
stood thus. Yet in that brief space OF
time there floated. from that canopy
of mist spotlessly white pillar which
| - -.
the building. A portion of it, find
ing voice as it came through the win
dow, moaned in eerie tones as it en-
veloped 1mray Khan and myself. Sim
ultaneously the first. three strokes OF
the hour rang out from a clock in q
nearby tower. "You will finish galley
9X," I had in mind to- direct, but
strange to say, no sound escaped my
lips. I stood rooted there, chilled tc
the marrow and without power OF
speech or muscular action! My vision
was not obsaured, however; before me
the face Of Imray Khan took on ar
ashen hue Stimulating death; horror
was depicted in his eyes-abject hui
mility, collapse. Bowed was that elias
steal head now, his shoulders plunged
forward. while on his mighty chest hi:
| arms were CtOSSeu DIS IL ueEhly dlll
submissively to receive an impending
blow! The last. stroke of. was struck
The atmosphere cleared, *'* y
was again sitting in my chair lis
tening to query submitted by thu
doctor. "Eh?" I cried, bounding u,
and looking wildly around. Where il
that u.s. what has become Doctor
did you observe anything peculiar il
!. n,&,
Nothing quoth: nay practical friend
nothing except the 4tail4end of a mast,
fog blanket which Old Humidity. wa
pleased to send us from the ocean,"
left the room to drink brandy
When I returned I looked sharply a
1mray Khan. Calm and alert, tina
| gentleman was pursuing his work
Neither the Doctors hard comma,
sense nor my own reasoning, however
could convince otherwise than" tina
some terrible crisis in the life of ou
/ new proofreader had been met an