Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-01-02
DAILY SHORT STORY
AN EDITORIAL HreHwAYMAN

/ Kansas IN pioneer days on UOrSeDack
was held up one afternoon by a man
with gun, who not only went through
me in first class shape, but insisted
that follow him into the woods where
he had his retreat. He seemed of Zero
cious disposition at first, and i believed
he intended to murder me, but in q
| little time he thawed out, and 1 began
TO see that he was not such bad fel-
low after all.
When supper had been prepared and
disposed of he dug among the leaves
and brought out an old satchel. The
contents consisted Of a dozen copies of
the paper which had busted him, lib
eral supply of print paper for writing
on and half q dozen lead pencils. He
took some of the blank paper and a
pencil and scrubbed away for few
minutes and then said:
Although | am out Of the sanctum
the old habit still clings. 1 want you
TO see my style and criticise it. Lister
TO this: Mr.. Joseph Gillian. our esteem
ed fellow townsman, called at this of
flee yesterday TO report that while he
was on the highway between Joplin
and Neosha last Tuesday he was sud
denly confronted by highwayman
armed with a shotgun. who ordered
him into the woods to be despoiled and
probably murdered. Mr.. Gillian. who
was taken completely by surprise, APP
peared to cheerfully acquiesce, but just
as he entered the woods he quickly
drew his pistol and turned in his saddle
and fired point blank at the daring
burglar AS soon as he pulled the trig-
ger he put spurs to his horse and in
the confusion of the moment made good
his escape. The robber fired two
charges of buckshot at him|
What do you think of that?" asked
the editor as he finished reading.
ITS very fair"
But not up and up. It's too heavy
too Shakespearean. Our eminent fell
low townsman. Mr.. Gillian, would buy
five extra copies of the paper to send
away to his relatives. but the article
would not produce widespread interest
That was my falling nothing wide
spread about my writings. I'd like to
see your style. Just dash off some
thing based on the same facts"
I wrote side header about half
the length of his. and when he had
read it he said:
That knocks all my plans in the
head. l was going TO offer you a part
nership in this business. thinking you.
too. were also too Shakespearean in
style for this section. but l find I'm
mistaken. It's an elegant little article
mot n word too little or too much"
The man had such n queer streak
about him that 1 couldn't make up my
mind whether he was robber. as he
or had gone daft over his
troubles and was wandering about as
ray people often do. There was no
,ause to fear him, however, and we sat
md smoked till Il late hour and had a
good visit When morning came and
we had disposed of breakfast. he urged
ne to accept 500 as a present. and
when | firmly refused he wanted me
% take a gold watch. In those days a
ramp printer with 81 ahead of the
game was n millionaire. My refusal |
seemed to hurt his feelings. but he |
shook hands heartily on parting and |
wished me all sorts of good luck. In |
lue time L reached Neosho. went from |
here to Fayetteville, Ozark and |
GAINESVILLE and about the middle of |
December brought up at Van Buren,. |
)Re day l was sent over to Fort Smith |
o interview n man who was to be
anged ten days later. When admitted
o the presence of the condemned /
vas almost paraItZed to discover in
i'm the whilom editor of the Echo. His
urprise was likewise great, but as
DON as he had rallied a little his face
airIy beamed with smiles as he said:
What a godsend. Why my dear
oy. I'd rather see you than any other
IAN on earth. 1t wasn't an hour ago
hat l was saying I'd give day off
ne few left me to see you. You have
ONE to interview me-"
And what has happened?" l asked.
Gun accidentally went off and killed
man. Pure accident, but | couldn't
lake 'em believe it. l am to be hung
n the 10Th. Too bad, of course, but
s too late for lamentation. You've
cen sent over today TO get a prelim-
Iary-how the condemned looks and
,els-no hope of reprieve-going to I.
lie gallowS like brave man, and so .
nth and so on?" l.
That's it,
"All right. You can do yourself
'oud on that. Make about a column
Id put on three scare heads. all full
ce caps. And now about the other .
e actual event. There won't be much (.
it. Don't try pad in ii. You cant :
axe over half column of loaded 2
inion without padding. The salient
atures will be: Reading the death
arrant, GOODNESS of the condemned,
arch to the scaffold. ringing down the
Irtain. See? Don't attempt anything
Make it all meat"
I'll do my best I
I'm sure you will. And one thing !
ore. You are the only living man :
no knows / used to fill an editorial 4
air or tried to. i think you had bet z
r be silent on that point. You could
int moral by saying unsuccessful