The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-02-09

Klunk was the city editor. He was
| 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 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 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 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! l say now" he protested. He
looked at her with more care, and
noted that she had been pretty once.
She told him her story-of having
been married to man who had grown
tired of her, and who abused and beat
her. Discouraged and weakened, she
became dissipated. Her husband
fOreod hor from, hor hov,a oc4 <h-o.x
ened her against the use of his name.
Frightened. she promised to obey his
wishes; after that she never saw him
again. She had gone down-down-
until
"Oh! 1 want to live" she said.
lust to do things for you, Mr.. Car
roll. l want to do something for you
to show you how grateful l am"
She did not know then that she
would never recover, but finally she
learned it. Realizing that she was
about to die, She wanted to speak to
Carroll; and in doing so she put a lit
tie package into his hand.
"Him-he's got money now. He'll
give you money If you give him those.
He can pay-make him pay, the
brute! He beat me-he don't want
people to know-that 1 belong to
him"
She choked spasmodically.
His manner"
Carroll bent over her and heard the
whispered syllable When he realized
what she had said, the papers dropped
from his hand and he clutched the
bed. He looked at the woman. and
saw that she had died, quite peace
fully.
Carroll left the house and returned |
to the office.
Welt" snarled Hunk why didn't !
you get here before? There's a big |
story that you've got to get-see? |
One of your fine friends has made |
fool out OF himseif-married a |
chorus-girl secretly and the things
just got out. They've been married
secretly for nearly a year. His names
Lester Middleton-you know him well |
enough"
Carroll knew him entirely too well.
-Ao q ihRtsSi Va AoSts t-oSiG mluUlclOh.
Testers sister, was much more to him |
than he liked to believe. 'If things
had been different" he had often
thought. IF had anything"
AS for Essie, she looked on Carroll
as the best of all men, the quintes-
sence of manIiness.
Il don't want the assignment" said
Carroll.
You'll take 1t, or you'll hand in
your resignation" snapped Klunk.
Carroll looked at him, his hands
clenched. He had no great opinion Of
this young Carroll; but to be
at the beck and call of such little
-oad as Klunk called up all the loath-
ing in his nature.
He went out of the Office and took
4 car up Charles street. He got u9