Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-15

btdutt uiu d Ieilldi hdDlJ wen equip
ped force. 1t employed an editor In
chief. an assistant editor, fiction ed
itor. a household editor, receiving
editor. stenOgrapher and a general
office boy.
Frederick Mallory Mason, A. B.,
was the editor in chief, and Tommy
CAST name and degree of education
wanting, was the general office boy.
Margaret Van -Amburgh. 3. NJ. (bache-
Tor maid, held all the other positions.
This able trio kept things moving
amicably-a state of affairs due to the
editors never failing good nature, to
Tommy's love of the ludicrous and to
Miss Van Amburgh's-well,t to her com.
bined prettiness and extraordinary
ability.
Into the midst of this center of ac-
tivities on one particularly eXacting
afternoon minute piece of pasteboard
forced its polite intrusion. Tommy
handed it to Miss Van Amburgh with
reminiscent grin.
.She told me-" he announced, "to
give it to Mr.. Mason, but l promised
the boss not to let any one get by me
this afternoon. She came near 1t,
though. Say, but she's winner"
Miss Van Amburgh glanced at the
name. dropped her work and. ignoring
Tommy's gratuitous observations, went
out to meet Miss Elizabeth Greene.
To Tommy's amazement he soon
found himself ushering the winner
into the editors sanctum.
Him. he soliloquiZed within cal
culated earshot of Miss Van Amburgh
something's up. She amt no aG
thorest, I'll bet my meal ticket"
Tommy" reproved Miss Van Am
| burgh. with dignity, You are not EN-
| ployed to pass comments on Mr.. Ma
| sons visitors. Copy these letters"
Marx my words" he muttered as h'
moistened the copying sheets. she.
got the boss faded-sure."
| And it looked so when an hour latei
| the mysterious visitor, smiling. bu
with tear stained eyes. left the Office
followed by the attentive editor.
| ''Just close up the days business a.
best you can. Miss Van Amburgh," in
| tructed Mr.. Mason in passing. II shall
not be back this afternoon
|
"Wot did I tell yer?' boasted Tom
my. but Miss Van Amburgh was to-
busy to answer.
Things went badly in the Office of TIN
Literary Leaaet the next day. Tn
editor in chief was noticeably dis
traught. He dictated in an absent
minded manner and again left the of
flee early. offering no explanation o
this most unusual proceeding. Tomm,
waited until the door closed tight an,
then whistled.
Gone to meet the winner" he cor
jectured. "I'll bet my
Tommy, dust Mr. Mason's desk an
be quiet about it." directed Miss Va
Amburgh. "You grow lazier ever
day"
In a few minutes only the clicl
click. of the typewriter broke the S
lence. Suddenly a long chuckle cam
from the editorial sanctum.
Tommy, what are you doing?" d.
manded Miss Van Amburgh, facin
the culprit sternly.
Get on to this" said the unabashe
! Tommy. reading haltingIy from son
torn scraps of paper pieced together O
the desk blotter before him. Il foun
1 them in the wastebasket. It's h,
{ stuff: 'Well-that's-the
J about-you-sweetheart. p
81 With sudden sweep of her han
Miss Van Amburgh sent the tellta
!. scraps flying.
j I'll have you discharged, Tommy
! she threatened solemnly. .Go tai
i those letters out of the press and carr
!, them over to the postofice. Ye
, needn't come back
s! Ever" gasped the astonished Tor
: my You amt got no right''-