The Carlisle independent., 1907-10-24

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 subject 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 ineipient attack of the grippe, had 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, a hundred hands to bring 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- tion 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; I 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 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 silk shirt waist, "of some kind or other" He guessed at the wide skirt and tan shoes below it.
 You? Who are you?" asked the city editor, in extreme surprise, for getting his manners, and scrutiDizing her with power of cool stare in his eyes, equal to 4 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 a maiden in her teens to ap- pear as if, like Buddha, she might have been 51 one times her own ancestor; transforms the rosy curves of Ve nus into the severe lines of Minerva.
 "I?" She gave musical little relaxed. q am a young woman in search of something to live by You were so busy when I 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, it 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 if she went to cry ing? The city editor was single man and did not know what might be the proper thing to do in such an emergency.
 Well" said he, little ungracious- ly; If you can read proof, go over this;" and he bundled proof-sheets and copy onto the desk before her, flee ing for refuge back to the Fifth ward a boodling scheme.
 He had succeeded in forgetting all 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 councilman up the back, and was afraid some of his vituperative adjectives might get away.
 "Sir?' was the indignant rejoinder, in a tone crisp as celery and cold as well-frozen sherbet. But the city ed