The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1907-11-02


with the calls for copy from below. II
was one Of those days when. 70 use
his own expression, everything was
"balIed up ID the ONCE. One Of the
4 Fub-reporters was sick, another was
attending the funeral OF his father.
and a third was on the chase after
sensational scoop that would turn
the other dailies green with envy, and
subject more than few well-meaning
young men who failed 70 get there. 70
editorial scoring The young woman
who read the proof. and varied the
occupation BY broadening her finger
tips on the keys Of the typewriter.
after sneezing al the forenoon with
an inclpient attack Of the grippe. had
been excused and gone home.
The city editor himself was engaged
on a pertinent little STORY designed
to expose the b0odling methods o. the
opposite party in the Fifth ward.
There we're certain appointed days
for these exposifions. and this was
one cf them. So. with his coat of and
his hair standing on end. Ia porcu-
pine quilts. he Was boning right down
70 II. wishing be had like Briareus,
hundred hands to bring 10 the varied
duties of the hour. when the devil
came ia with a handful of pr0ofslips.
and laid them On his desk.
This seemed 70 be the last straw
that broke the camers back. One woe
was certainly treading upon an
others heels. so fast they followed.
The city editor groaned, and followed
up the grOan with that which despera-
ton alone excused ~ sohloQuy.
what in the thunder"-I am sorry
10 be obliged 10 write il, but that
was what be said-"what in the thun-
der am ] 10 do with this proof9r
Give il 10 me. I will read t.
came an unexpected answer from be
hind him"
The city editor jumped as II bomb
had exploded IN the rear OF him. and
suddenly turned around What his
astonished eyes beheld was a young
woman sitting al the desk back q
his own. She wore a big black hat
with -four and twenty black birds
more or less. standing on their heads,
with wings extended and tails in air.
upon either side its crown. He fur
ther noticed. for ike most men,
the city editor was great on details
of dress. that she had on a silk shirt
waist "of some kind or other" He
guessed at the wide skirt and tan
shoes below IL
"Youg who are your asked the
city editor. IN extreme surprise, for
getting his manners. and scrutinizing
her with a power 81 cool stare Ii his
eyes. equal to brown stone fronts"
Yet surprised as he was. he couldn't
help noting the absurdity Of the small
young face framed in the ugly style
Of fashionably-parte hair. which
causes a maiden III her teens TO ap-
pear as IL. like BHddha. she might have
been 81 one times her own ancestor 4
transforms the ROSY curves Of We
nus into the severe lines of a Minerva /
'I?" She gave a musical little
laugh. and her serious countenance (
relaxed Il am a young woman IN
search Of something to live by You
were 50 busy when ! came in, 7 (
didn't like 70 disturb you with IN
Quiries
"Humphl~ eiacuRted the city edit
OF in that disagreeapie tone denying
Fate has placed her patent on, and to +
which the young woman took immedi- /
ate exception For alas. It is not +
always that meekness IS one Of needs +
distinctive qualifications.
'Im sure said she. a little spirited 4
". "it is not the pleasantest thing in 4
the world TO feel the need for doing
much less to ask for work" Her f
voice faitered and came near breaking +
on the end Of the sentence. The blue +
FIRE I'm her eyes seemed about to be /
ouenched IN tears Was she going 10 +
cry? Good gracionsi What was to
be done with her If she went TO cry
ing? The city editor was single I
man and did not know what might be
the proper thing to do in such an
emergency
Well said he. a little ungracious- +
ly; III you can read proof, go over
this" and he bundled proof-sheets and I
COPY onto the desk before her. fee
ing for refuge back to the Fifth ward
boodiing scheme.
He had succeeded IN forgetting all
about the young woman behind bin.
when her high clear voice broke in
upon his consciousness. saying; Dear
mel I've forgotten how to make the
mark for transposing.'
Don't botherlv was the curt reply. /
He was just ripping a councilman up /
the back. and was afraid some Of his 4
vituperative adjeetiyes might set
away
"Sir7" was the indignant reioinder. /
in a tone crisp as celery and cold as
wellfrozen sherbet But the city ed /
itor went on scratching. and paid no
attention.