The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-02-19
BY
JOHN l.. MATHEWS s.

= 's's'-.'F'''-f'
and he caught himself repeating, The
| best two years of his life"
With a newspaper mans quick in
stinct for the pathetic. for the humor-
Gus, for the human interest in a
character or an event, he left a GER
tain citation which he was accustomed
to experience only when he had found
some story" that would stir the laugh
ter or bring the tears of his readers
And indeed it was such story he
| had found. For had not his visitor
/ been a man condemn ed To die. man
with but two short years of life ahead
Of him, who yet had cheerfully accept
ed his late and determined to make
those two years successful and worth
while?
All, well. here it was seven o'clock
and the men would be coming back
soon, and nothing done. GO to work
| Duncan" he said to himself. You've
got forty years and you can't make up
your mind to make any one or all Of
them especially good"
A moment later he called one Of his
copy readers.
Here, Newman" he said, I'll have
to help out on copy, 1 guess. You
take a run up to the Harmony club.
haven't man near there, and therell
be something special when the parade
gets to the turn"
He entered the assignment and
breathed a sigh Of relief. There was
one less to look after. Now if nothing
happened-well, he would get through
somehow
An hour later he was busy at work
at his desk, and did not hear the door
open. lie seldom did, for that matter.
In newspaper Office one hears only
what concerns oneself. Half dozen
reporters were busily clicking their
typewriters, a single copy-reader was
struggling with a mass of copy at the
table, and Mr.. Duncan himself was
literally "swamped" In the mass of
| telegraph "flimsy' and local items
which covered his desk. There was
quick step on the floor, and Mr.. Will
bur Henry Thompson OF Leake stood
beside him.
Goodness gracious, Mr. Duncan.
and you said there was no worl, for
me! Give me some of that copy and
let me help you out. I'm one Of the
| best copy-readers you ever saw"
He waited for no consent, but picking
up a handful Of typewritten paper.
the newcomer walked hastily to the
table, while a couple of reporters turn.
ed and stared at him and the city edi-
tor fairly gasped.
Il say" Thompson demanded of the
amazed coDy-reader, what are the
heads? Got u style sheet? Thanks!
Oh, these are easy"
Duncan had risen to his feet. and
now walking to the table, he looked
over the young mans shoulder. With
a rapidity which was a novelty in the
office, Ihompson's pencil was flying
along the lines, correcting spelling.
Iunctuating, paragraphing now and
then deity inserting Il subhead, now
crossing out line or a sentence. In
the eyes OF a newspaper man it was
indeed beautiful work and the city edi-
tor watched it a moment, and then de-
cided not to interfere.
After a moment Thompson looked
up, cast his eyes about for the basket
in which to file his copy, saw a hook
instead, called "Copy-boy!" loudly
and ''spindled" a story. The boy took
it to the city editor, who hardly
glanced at #.
"All right" he said, and the copy
was taken to the composing-room.
The best two years had begun.
You know" said Duncan. at mid
nfWnf ct
have another man to send. If yet
stuck / can pay you space once i'm
while but if you do any other work
can't pay you"
That's all right" declared Thomp-
SON Don't want pay till / prove my.
self What I want is work. Two
years. Mr.. Duncan. and I'm deter.
mined they shall be two fine years"
For three weeks Wilbur Henry
Thompson performed labors Of love An
he Office of the World Democrat Oc
casiouaIly, when the Office was empty
of reporters and am emergency rose
ihe city editor was able to send him ON
In assignment for which me could give
Him space rates, so Che young man was
able io pay his board. and that was all
He asked re was "a bright. cheerful
youth. and was in "a day % general Ia
torite i'm Che Office. IT'S briskness did
not iail his checrfuIues8 was never
N1n..ns hia optimism was never cou-
guorcd. There was no better cons
turned in 90 The "WDs' desk than
ame from hl8 pencil
ITO bad found boarding. house when
the carnival crowds had departed Ono
day there appeared at table man
whom be recognized as famous
traveller just returned from a long
Journey through Central and south
America
That la the region toward which