Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-04-20

I'VE BEEN 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 edl-
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"
"Ahw 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 a relia-
BILE report even if it differed from that
OF the Timesi Do you He stopped
suddenly, turned on his heels and went
out the door, with the remark, Don't
let it 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; colder"
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 1t
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
$50 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 a minute
or two each evening about dinner time,
IL may, and | shall gauge my guesses
by your demeanor II you are very
cordial l shall say the next day will be
clear. II you are not so glad to see me
i shall prophesy cloudy weather. II l
find you bored by my visits the report
will say rain. Do you underestimate
The girl did, and though she sug-
gested the possibility OF fair weather
every day young Elton decided to try
the plan. he grinned cheerfully and
went back to the Office and wrote the
report, Fair today, with southerly
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
10 be steadily wrong, and the manag-
ing editor OF the News took Ii upon
himself TO write little editorial on the
subject, reprinting the reports OF the
two papers in parallel columns. The
reporters slapped young Elton on the
back and told him he should try the
races
Then one night something went
swry at the girls house 1t was only
a trivial thing In itself, but 1t lowered
the spirits of both. The paper prom
ised cloudy weather. and all the next
day ugly, black clouds glowered.
The little quarrel was over by the
next night, but the conversation was
strained. A few evenings later the
girl happened to mention another man
who was not young Elton's idea of
At companion for a woman. He said
80 very frankly. and the girl disap-
peared
The weather report read, Rain to-
day" For twenty-four hours the wa
ter poured down increasingly.
Late the next afternoon young Elton
sat at his desk thinking deeply. He
had been out Of sorts all day, and he
knew very well where the trouble Law.
He looked at the clock thoughtfully
and noted that ii was nearly time for
his call He wondered whether it was
worth while TO go.
Suddenly he rose. slipped on his rain