The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-02-19

Somewhere back in his ultra-child- |
ish days, young Carroll had found a
copy of "Morte dArthur" in his ia
theirs library; and from it he created
world of romance of his very own.
His uncle, an ardent churchman,
had chosen to forget young CarroI's
existence when the latter chose news
paper work in preference to a high
stool in the avuncular bank. Other
folk followed this relatives example.
Young Carroll realized that he had
given up great many things worth
while for beggarly pittance and IL
hours labor each day, not to mention
the unspeakable Hunk
Klunk was the city editor He was
a small, mean man with ferret eyes
behind steel-rimmed spectacles. His
stature was miniature and so was his
mind; but he had served on the Morn
ing Transcript in every capacity from
copy-boy to his present position.
No New York newspaper was this
Morning Transcript; but one Of the
leading dailies in city not 200 miles
south of Mason and Dixon's line.
The city editor had treated Carroll
rather decently at first under the mis-
! apprehension that the youth was do
ing this work more as a freak than
anything else. When Klunk realized
! that Carroll was without means Of
subsistence except the wretched sal
airy that the Transcript paid him, his
hatred for the man who was what he
was not broke out, and he chose to
make Carroll the Office scapegoat and
butt.
The chivalry that was Unborn, a
part of the man, would not permit Car
roll to disregard the mute appeal of
the woman who had toppled and fallen
in heap before the house where he
had his cheap rooms. In the light of
the gas-lamp, he saw that she was
dirty and frowsy. He spent some time
trying to rouse her, but found it IN
availing.
There was no policeman in sight
With a sigh of disgust, he picked UP
the limp bundle and carried the
woman into the house and up the
three flights of stairs; then he reused
his housekeeper and told her about it.
This busy woman had a vast amount
of respect for young Carroll. While
she went upstairs to look after the
woman, Carroll went for the doctor
who having now arrived, pronounced
it a clear case of alcoholic exhaustion
and said that to move the woman
might prove fatal. So Carroll gave
over his room to her and took another
one.
Next day he found her crying softly
why are you so good to me-" she
sobbed. He was vaguely embarrassed
"Oh! I say now" he protested. HI
looked at her with more care, ant
noted that she had been pretty once.
She told him her story-of having
been married to a man who had grown
tired of her, and who abused and bea
her. Discouraged and weakened, sh,
became dissipated. Her husband
forced her from her home, and threat
ened her against the use of his name
Frightened, she promised to obey hi
wishes; after that she never saw hin
again. She had gone downtown
until
"Oh! I want to live" she SAID
Just to do things for you. Mr.. Cal
roll. l want to do something for yo
to show you how grateful 1 am
She did not know then that sh
would never recover, but finally sh
learned it. Realizing that she wa
about to die. she wanted to speak t
Carroll; and in doing so she put Ii
| flo packapa into hiS hand
"Him-he's got money now. He
give you money if you give him thos,
He can pay-make him pay, tn
brute! He beat me-he don't wal
people to know-that l belong t
him"
She choked spasmodically.
His manner"
Carroll bent over her and heard III
whispered syllable. When he realize
what she had said, the papers droppe
from his hand and he clutched tn
bed. He looked at the woman, an
saw that she had died, quite peac
fully.
Carroll left the house and returne
to the office.
; Welt" snarled Klunk. "Why didn
you get here before? There's a bi
story that you've got to get-see
One of your fine friends has mac
a fool out of himself-married
chorus-girl secretly and the thing
just got out. They've been marie
secretly for nearly year. His name
Lester Middleton-you know him we
! enough"
Carroll knew him entirely too we
AS matter of fact. Essie Middleto
Testers sister. was much more to hi
|, than he liked to believe. IF thing
had been different" he had oftt
thought. IF l had anything"
AS for Essie, she looked on Carrie
as the best of all men, the quinte
! sence of manliness.
. Il don't want the assignment" sa
Carroll.
You'll take it, or you1l hand
your resignation" snapped Klunk
7 Carroll looked at him, his hanI
Nod ~ ovs,fo,