The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-04-20
A Reporters EQSfeT
~O~ON~OO0~

called attention, but In her way lay
duty, and, moreover, she must live.
If woman has any latent intuition it
cannot help being developed in a news
paper Office. There where q fallen dy-
nasty or a floor or a suicide means, first
Of all, so many ''stickfuls' of description.
written in a limited number of minutes,
one doesn't find time to arrive at conclu-
sions logically and in order. But Miss
Quinley was quick-witted anyway, and
when she opea.ed the door of the report
ers' room that sparkling morning and
pressed in against the blast of hot,
smoky air that seemed glad of a chance
to escape, it became instantly plain to
her that something unusually important
had happened. A man in MS shirt sleeves,
who was busily engaged in believing
directions down a tube, looked up as
she entered and nodded.
"Big hotel explosion" he volunteered,
laconically.
The girl swung open the gate and
walked directly over to the city editors
office, which was little more than a pen,
made by partitioning off one corner.
She was young and rather pretty, and
her face had a firm, decided look as if
she were living definitely and with a
purpose. Hemans, the city editor, glanc-
ed at her over his shoulder as she cast
q shadow on his paper, but still kept on
writing.
GOOD evening, Miss Quinley," he said.
In the sharp, irritable tone of a person
whose already tense nerves had received
another twist.
Presently, when he had finished look
ing over his assignment book, he turned
to Miss Quinley.
There's plenty of work to be DONE"
he said, scowling. This explosion
changes the whole night. I must put
the men right into it. If you were a
man now-but 1 don't see anything you
would want to do
1T isn't question of whether l want
to do it or not" replied the girl, draw
ing herself up with some spirit, sit is a
question of whether / can do it or not. I"
The city editor fingered a roll of pink
assignment slips doubtfully.
You might go down to the hospital
and get a story about the wounded; it
won't be very pleasant, though" he said,
entatively.
Young Mason, who by reason of his
youth and a certain righteousness of
manner, was the most profitable of all
the reporters to send among women-folk,
came in at that instant and caught the
last remark.
II wouldn't go, Miss Qinley: those
poor wretches won't be a good sight," he
advised her, boldly. They were the best
of friends.
"Why, somebody must do it." she said,
''and l don't suppose man would bear
it much better"
Hemans made gesture implying that
this discussion was out of place.
Have your copy here by u O'Clock"
he said, cutting them short with swift
return of his old sharpness
Half past twelve had come and most
of the men had gone out to lunch. He
mans tramped up and down between the
double row of empty desks and consult
ed his watch every few minutes to the
immediate confusion of Dicky Mason.
1.-TWO men late" the editor burst
forth, feverishly, ''and Miss Quinley-
heaven knows where. Do you suppose
she has forgotten all about the paper
and gone off to start a subscription list
for the sufferers, or tainted, or lost her
way Il SuppOSe she mas tOSL Qer way.
Hemans went back into his Office and
attacked a pile of proof for the sole
purpose Of getting his mind focused.
By and by the men began to straggle in,
and kept him occupied until quite late:
then he doomed up in the doorway once
more and beckoned to Dicky Mason.
Il wish, if you can be spared, that you
would go over 20 the hospital and look
up Miss Quinley, he said. II don't feel
quite comfortable about her not coming
back"
Dicky began to get into his street
coat with an expression of peace on his
face and vengeance in his heart. But
- he dawdled hunting for q match,
there was a little rush in the hall and
Miss Quinley came In almost running.
She went straight up to the city editor
and stopped in front of him. Her eyes
were dark and her face chalky white. 1t
was evident that she was laboring under
the strongest excitement.
MIR. Hemans, / must see you. l must
see you Alone" she said, agitatedly.
Hemans stepped back and allowed her
to pass into the Office before him; there
was door. She motioned to him to
shut it.
what 1 am going to say belongs only
to you" she explained.
Hemans seated himself and made a
play at sorting some papers It was
plain that he did not mean to be i'm
pressed by the strangeness of her man
uer.
"Is your story readyY' he inquired,
cnrtly.
NO." replied the girl promptly, though
her voice trembled, "the hospital story
can wait; 1t isn't perishable, but the one
I'm going to tell you is. was waiting
there when they brought in a young
woman; she had been pinned dowr by a
beam, they said, and her hack was brok-
en-. Because she was suffering so fright
fully they didn't try to move her much,
but just laid her dowl on mattress IN
. side hall. suppos1 she must have mo-
decd me with my p}hcil and paper, for