The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-02-04


who went ahead, felt the cold wind
blowing out of that revolver on the
back of his neck every step, and he
wasn't in the mood for frivolous con-
versation. The only remark made by
the stranger was to the effect that he
was damned if he didn't believe he'd
shoot him anyway; which the tele-
graph man was prayerfully pleased to
consider a selfish and nprolitable
jest.
stale tobacco smoke of the jet-black
and deserted composing-roOm, and
halted while the telegraph man turned
on the electric light. 1t then passed
on again to the speaking-tube to the
pressroom, where the telegraph man
carefully explained that he was free
from guile in calling up the people
downstairs, because the press always
had to be stopped when a correction
was made. The stranger said nothing,
but poked the end of the tunnel into
the cerebellum of the telegraph man
with great elOquence. Then the tele-
graph man rang the electric bell.
Hello he said to the head stereo-
typer, you'll have to have them stop
the press and put on another page"
1t was Ais O'Clock. The language
of the head stereotyper was unparlia-
mentary in the extreme. What was
the use, he argued, at this time of
morning.
It's d correction. I've just got to
make it," said the telegraph editor,
feeling the ring of the revolver barrel
crowded into the back of his head.
Really I've got to, it's very impor-
tant.'
The head stereotyper appreciated
the necessity of a very important cor
rection, though his tone of voice didn't
indicate it,
We'll, get a gait on YOU he said,
among other things, it'll only be in
the city anyway"
Downstairs the rafting of the big
press diminished and stopped.
The procession in the composing
room formed again and marched to
the switch that turned on the current
to the dynamo. and the gearing of the
'ype-setting machines started up. The
performance occupied some eras for
the telegraph man, but at last it was
done.
Then the procession FORMED again
nd 70
proof machine. 1t wasn't a very artis-
tic piece of printing that appeared,
but, as the telegraph man reminded
his chief pro TEN, it was his first at.
tempt and you couldn't expect too
much. His chief finally passed it, But
he was particular about its position.
Il want that where everybody's
goin' to see it," he said. Now,
where's the place your boss puts what
he writes?"
The telegraph man murmured 1t was
the editorial page, and the stranger
said that was what he wanted
So the editorial form was hauled
out, and the correction went in at the
leads. The telegraph man iabbed out
a small editorial on the foreign ques,
ton to make place for it, hammered
down the page as level as he could
screwed it up and sent it down the
form elevator.
When they heard the press starting
up again, the telegraph man ex-
planned that the correction was made.
But the stranger intimated that he
did his business in a more thorough
manner.
When do I see the paper?" he
asked.
why, if you want to, you can see 1t
right now. Just let me go down after
it. I'd be very glad to get it for you,
said the telegraph man, starting for
the stairway Immediately, in his
anxious effort to oblige
oh, no you don't" said the stranger.
The telegraph man didn't.
Amt there any other way TO gej
that paper up here?" asked the former,
wi a meaning flourish of his re
volver.
.ell-yes-there is They can
~"- 49, NV the pneumatic tube il
the news room, I guess" admitted the
editor.
i ms idea being satisfactory, an ad.
journment was made to the news room
and the paper was called for down the
speaking tube. 1t came up immediate
ly, fresh and warm from the press.
Surprising" said the telegraph man
to himself, with horror, that correc.
ton doesn't satisfy him now"
But, fortunately, the contributor was
very much satisfied with his appear
ance in print He read it over himself
first. and then invited the telegraph
man to read ii aloud in order that he
might get the general effect, The
telegraph mans elocution wasn't very
artistic; in fact, he found some diff
Guilty in reading at an, but apparently
it delighted the stranger, for he en-
cored continually. Indeed, the tele-
graph man had floundered through
this bit of unique journalism dozen
times, and could hardly wag his
tongue, when his guest was finally
Satiated.
We'll, guess that'll do" he said at
last Then, having instructed the tele.