The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1907-12-26
The Girl Who
Read the Proof
BY Minnie w. Baines-MiLIer
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles,

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 third was on the chase after
sensational scoop" that would turn
the other dailies green with envy, and
subiect more than a 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, mad
been excused and gone home.
The city editor himself was engaged
on pertinent little STORY" designed
to expose the boodling methods of the
opposite party in the Fifth ward.
There were certain appointed days
for these expositions, and this was
one of them So, with his coat off and
his hair standing on end, la porcu-
pine quills. he was boning right down
to it, wishing he had, like Briareus,
hundred hands to bring to the varied
duties of the hour, when the devil
came in with 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 to do with this proof?"
Give it to me; l will read it"
came an unexpected answer from be
hind him"
The city editor jumped as If bomb
had exploded in the rear of him, and
suddenly turned around. What his
astonished eyes beheld was young
woman sitting at the desk back OF
his own She wore 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
Their 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 it.
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
al 10 che fyNn tc
Yet. surprised as he was, he couldn't
help noting the absurdity of the small
young face framed in the ugly style
of acknowledgement hair, which
causes a maiden in her teens to ap-
pear as If, like Buddha, she might have
been 81 one times her own ancestor;
transforms the rosy curves of We
nus into the severe lines of Minerva.
'I?" She gave musical little
laugh. and her serious countenance
relaxed. Il am young woman in
search of something to live by You
were so busy when / 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, ut is not the pleasantest thing in
the world to feel the need for doing
much less to ask for work. Her
voice faltered and came near breaking
on the end of the sentence. The blue
fire in her eyes seemed about to be
quenched In tears. Was she going to
cry? Good gracious.. What was to
be done with her il she went to cry.
ing? The city editor was a single
man and did not know what might be
the proper thing to do in such an
emergency.
Well" said he, little ungracious
ly: III you can read proof, go over
this" and he bundled proof-sheets and
copy onto the desk before her. fee
ing for refuge back to the Fifth ward
boodling scheme.
He had succeeded in forgetting ali
about the young woman behind him
when her high clear voice broke in
upon his consciousness, saying: Dear
me! I've forgotten how TO make the
mark for transposing."
Don't bother!" was the curt reply
He was just ripping a councilman Ut
the back. and was afraid some of his
vituperative adjectives might gel
away.
SIR" was the indignant rejoinder
in tone crisp as celery and cold as
well-frozen sherbet. But the city ed
itor went Oh scratching, and paid nc
attention.
But, by and by, when the corruption
had all been exposed and the story
was complete, this terrible male rep
reaentatiYa of Nemesis who shares