El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-27
BY Charles r. steggall.

]
| - darkness, and, although it is
= - not usual to address the devils
as such in newspaper offices, through
out that of the Evening Meteor he
was universally known by the cogno-
men of his satanic majesty.
Only the previous afternoon, just
as the last page of the first edition
of the paper was about to be stereo-
typed, he had carefully laid a piece of
string along the floor. and tripped up
! certain enemy of his who was stag
gering beneath the weight of the
form containing the page in question.
the result being that. to the supreme
delight of the Devil, the page was
Immediately converted into pie" In
other words, the type was scattered in
hopeless confusion on the ground, and
had there not been four or five col
umns of pad in the way of fiction,
and some standing advertisements
ready set up in preparation for emer-
gencies. they couldn't have got the
paper out at ALL
Come here, you young imp!" said the
foreman a little later to the Devil;
take these proofs down to the boss in
the editorial room"
The editor was known throughout
the establishment as the boss" while
the foreman was usually spoken of as
''the old man" by his subordinates,
though, as matter OF fact, he was
vOurfO6T than many of them
The Devil went down the stairs three
at a time, whistling horribly out of
tune meanwhile. He was a choir boy
at a neighboring church. and his mu-
steal repertoire comprised a really re-
markable mixture of hymn tunes, an
thems and the latest ribald ditties
from the music halls
81 am staying here late tonight" said
the editor. after glancing at the proofs.
and want someone to stay and go up
to the station to meet the midnight
train and fetch a parcel"
look of intense Indignation at
once pervaded the Devils dirty little
face.
"Oh, if I'm to have extra pay I don't
mind staying, SIR he said patronizing
ly, as visions of something gorgeous in
the way of his supper menu, and a
choice selection of penny dreadfuls"
as aids to digestion, passed quickly
through his mind
Very WELL go and get your tea, and
come back to the office when you have
had it, said the editor, filling in an
order on the cashier which sent the
Devil away happy, and whistling out
Of tune more horribly than ever.
At II o'clock the editor was still at
his desk, and, though he had been at 1t
all day, he looked as fresh as new
paint. He was a glutton for work.
Save the Waterman in the timekeep-
ers office, the editor was alone. He
glanced at his watch. and rang a bell
connecting with the room where the
boy was awaiting his orders.
Run down and see if there are any
kilograms in the timekeeper's office"
said the editor, as the Devil opened
the door.
Very good, sir" he responded, and,
without deigning further TO reply, he
bestowed upon the editor a horrible
grin as he slammed the door after him.
Downstairs he found some kilograms
in the office, but the night Waterman
was absent, gone, presumably, for nQ-
uid refreshment before his adjacent
house of call closed for the night. Out
OF pure cussedness the Devil violently
closed a door of communication which
could be opened only with a pass key.
The boss will have to let me out,
reckon" he murmured resignedly, as
re carried the kilograms upstairs.
Tearing open the envelopes in the
manner peculiar to those accustomed
to deal with a mass of "flimsies" the
editor quickly absorbed their contents.
81 want the Cuban article which was
set UP To-Day and held over. Do you
think you could find the proofs?" he
asked.
Dunno, sir; there's a pretty good
few of 'em upstairs, promptly replied
the Devil.
Perhsp I had better go and look for
1t myself" murmured the editor impa-
tlently; and, with the sooty-faced little