Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-12-10

STAR OF THE STAFF
BY A.. ELLIS HENE5ERoER.

Morrison was about Is likely a cub
as eve drifted into the Office Of the
Madison World with lofty ideas Of
the Journalistic profession" and a
firm resolve some day to set the ma
ton aflame. It IL true that he was q
little taken aback when, after a month
Of probation. he was placed on the
salary list" at ten dollars q week.
bnt he had read somewhere that Dana
vas once q city editor at little more,
and he took courage.
Duffy, the managing editor, TOLD
him he was to be congratulated on
getting any salary at all in SO short
q time.
why, on the New York -" he
told Morrison. college students serve
SIX months without pay, and are glad
Of the opportunity. Anyway. you
haven't caught the World style. Watch
Snead's articles and you'll get q line
on what we want"
Snead was the star Of the staff, and
Morrison always regarded him envi.
ously az he came in from an assign
ment and tore on reams of stun.
It was a bleak day in January. A
heavy snow had fallen, blockading the
car lines and putting business to the
bad all over town. Snead tramped
into the office with the police reports,
which he threw in a heap on Duffy's
desk for inspection, and settled HIM
self to write an article on East Side
distress.
Duffy glanced the reports through,
and entered the various assignments
on his book. This completed, the re-
porters came forward to receive In.
structions for the day.
"You, Morrison" he said, look up
this distress Ease. Take 1t down:
Mrs. Edith M. Lindeman, 1125 Calvert
street; two children; without food
two days. Here's an order on the
cashier. Buy her food and wood II
she needs it; and write a half column,
sure"
Morrison sailed forth that morning,
armed with the office currency, and
fought his way through the snowdrifts
toward the East side. 1t was a pc
culiarity of the town that n might
find wealth and squalor side by side
even in what was known as the lex.
elusive section" But 1t must be con-
fessed that Morrison was somewhat
nonplused when he read the number
1125 on the door of a veritable man.
sion.
Here's the devil to pay" thought
the reporter as he consulted his notes
again. But there were the figures
staring him in the face.
A maid, neatly attired in cap and
apron, answered his ring. Yes, Mrs.
Lindeman lived there, and what was
his business, please. He felt like a
fool as he blurted 1t out.
"A mistake, Of course" he finished,
with a laugh.
Quite a natural one, though" said
a quiet. voice behind the maid. A
woman, evidently the mistress. came
forward. She was a strikingly hand.
some young woman, but her eyes were
very sad.
Marie" she continued, this gen.
tleman no doubt is looking for that
Italian family in the rea had no
idea they we're in such straits. 1t Is
the rear of 1125 you want. The maid
will show you"
Guided by Marie, Morrison entered
an alleyway which emerged on anoth.
er running just behind the Lindeman
house. Ascending a flight Of rickety
steps. he brought up at the door Of a
squalid tenement.
An hour later a groceryman and a
wood-dealer had relieved the imme-
date wants Of the Sonnatini family,
and Morrison, with two receipts made
out to the World, was hurrying to the
office to write the story Of his life.
Duffy was knee-deep in copy, but
he liked that. He handled all the
local" and kept the linotype opera
tors crying for quarter most Of the
time.
Morrison had finished his story and
was Off on another assignment. Snead
was grinding out a suicide, with the
usual tear trimmings. Duffy weeded
out the copy rapidly, casting the
"slop," as he called 1t. right and left
and piling up the spicy matter for the
regular two o'clock edition. Morri-
sons Sonnatini story came in for
rapid perusal and immediate dlsfavor.
"D-n that cub!" muttered Duffy.
Come on, Snead," he called out.
Cut that story off. I've got a good
one for you"
He caught up the assignment-book.
"Take this down: Mrs. Edith M.
Lindeman-got that? 1925 Calvert
street-two children--husband miss
ing-starving-World sent supplies.
Throw a good heart-throb into It.
"Hey, Jimmie" to the %ofice-boy,
tell the foreman these receipts go on
the first page with story; De Winnie
caps, in box! Now hustle, Snead!
Tear that off as quick as you can"
Morrison got It when he returned.
"Now look here, my boy" said
Duffy. you've got to brace up. Get
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