Morgan County republican., 1907-10-24

for dear life, but he couldn't keep up
with the calls for copy from below. 1t
was one of those days when, to use
his own expression, everything was
"balled up" in the Office. One Of the
sub-reporters was sick, another was
attending the funeral OF his father,
and q third was on the. chase after a
sensational scoop" that would turn
the other dailies green with envy, and
subject more than few well.meaning
young men, who failed to get there, to
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 all the forenoon with
an incipient 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 boodling methods Of the
opposite party in the Fifth ward.
There were certain appointed days
for these eApositions, and this was
one OF them. So, with his coat of and
his hair standing on end, a la porcu.
pine Quills, he was boning right down
to It, wishing he had, like Briareus, a
hundred hands to tring to the varied
duties OF the hour, when the devil
came in with a handful Of proof.slips,
and laid them on his desk
This seemed to be the last straw
that broke the camel's 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 "a soliloquy.
What in the thunder"-I am sorry
to be obliged to write It. but that
was what he said--"what In the thun.
der am l to do with this proof?"
Give 1t to me; will read IT,"
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 at the desk back Of
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, like 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 1t.
you? Who are your" asked the
city editor, In extreme surprise, for
getting his manners. and scrutinizing
her with power Of cool stare In 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.parted hair, which
causes maiden in her teens to APP
pear as II, like Buddha, she might have
been 81 one times her own ancestor;
transforms the rosy curves of We
nus into the severe lines of a Minerva
"I?" She gave musical little
laugh, and her serious countenance
relaxed. II am young woman in
search Of something to live by You
were so busy when l came In.
didn't like to disturb you with in.
quiries."
"Humph!" calculated the city edit.
or In that disagreeable 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.
I'm sure" said she. little spirited
ly, 1T is not the pleasantest thing In
the world to feel the need for doing
much less to ask for work" Hel
voice faltered and came near breaking
ON the end Of the sentence. The blue
FIRE In her eyes seemed about to bt
quenched In tears. Was she going Il
cry? Good gracious! What was t
be done with her II she went to cry
ing? The city editor was a single
man and did not know what might b,
the proper thing to do In such al
emergency.
WELL" said he, q little ungracious
ly; 'if you can read proof, go owe
this" and he bundled proof.sheets an,
copy onto the desk before her, flee
ing for refuge back to the Fifth war
boodling scheme.
He had succeeded In forgetting al
about the young woman behind hin
when her high clear voice broke 4
upon his consciousness, saying: "Dea
me! I've forgotten how TO make tn
mark for transposing."
Don't bother!" was the curt reply
He was Just ripping a councilman u
the back, and was afraid some OF h!
vituperative adjectives might &c
away.
| "Sir?" was the indignant rejoinde
in tone crisp as celery and cold a
well.frozen sherbet. But the city e'
itor went on scratching, and paid n
, attention.
But, by and by, when the corruptio
, had all been exposed, and the stoI
was complete, this terrible male re
| resentative OF Nemesis, who share
. with her in this age the duty Of cha
tising all offending malefactors. su
sided into his proper person Of NEE
I gentlemanly young man, and In h
? suayest tone addressed her. sayinf
Nov, madam. what can I have Il
pleasure OF doing for you?" as
8 turned on his swinging chair, In h,
q direction.