Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-13

ed open the door.
! To the knowing nostrils Of the TIVE
birds of passage was waiter the odOl
they loved, the unique inky odor Of {
newspaper shop. Their eyes behelt
a rather bare room, typewriter OF
two, a desk In the center of the room
was small table under an electric
lamp. On this table was a bottle anG
glasses, and at it two silent men play
ed poker. One OF the men was burly
J and bearded; the other was slight
pale, nervous. From an inner room
came the click Of linotypes-lonesome
linotypes that seemed to have strayed
far from their native haunts.
The two men finished playing the
hand, and looked up.
Good evening"" said O'Neill, with a
smile that had drawn news as mag,
net draws steel in many odd corners.
Gentlemen, four newspaper men
meet In strange land. l perceive you
have on the table a greeting unques-
tionably suitable"
The bearded man laughed, rose and
discovered two extra glasses on a
nearby shelf.
Draw up" he said heartily. THE
place is yours. You're as welcome as
pay day"
Thanks O'Neill reached for a
glass. LET me introduce ourselves"
And he mentioned his own name and
Howe's. a..r"
Call me Mears,'' said the bearded
one. 'I'm managing editor of the
EmlH Av.l ut to- al wv -
Elliott"
Delighted" breathed O'Neill. "A
pleasant little haven you have found
here. And your staff don't see the
members Of your staff running in and
out?"
"Mr. o'Neill," said Mears impress
sively, "you have drunk with the staff
of the Mail"
you two?" o'Neilrs face shone
with Joy. GLORY be-do you hear
that, Harry? These gentlemen all
alone on the premises" He leaned
over, and poured out eloquently the
story of the tragic flight from Mobile.
II call this luck" he finished Here
we are. broke, eager for work. And we
find you minus a."
O'Neill stopped. For he had seen
a sickly smile of derision float across
the face of the weary city editor. And
he saw the bearded man shaking his
head violently.
Nothing doing" said the bearded
man firmly. Sorry to dash your
hopes-always ready to pour another
drink. But-there are no vacancies
here. No, sir. Two Of us are plenty
and running over, eh. Bill?"
PLENTY and running over" agreed
the city editor warmly.
Into their boots tumbled the hearts
of the two strangers in a strange
land. Gloom and hunger engulfed
them. But the managing editor OF
the Mail was continuing-and what
was this he was saying?
mo boys-we don't need staf.
Have just as much use for a manicure
set. But-you come at an apportune
time. Wanderlust-it tickles the soles
of four feet tonight, and those four
feet are editorial feet on the Mail.
Something tells us that we are going
away from here. Boys-how would
you like our jobs?"
He stared placidly at the two strang-
ers. O'Neill put one hand to his head.
"See me safely to my park bench,
Harry" he said. 1T was that drink
on an empty stomach. I'm all In a
daze. I hear strange things"
II hear EN-, too," said Howe. See
here"-he turned to Mears-"are you
offering to resign in our favor?'
1.-THE minute you say the word"
Both Of you?"
believe me-" said the city editor,
"you can't say the word too soon"
WELL" said Howe, 81 don't know
what's the matter with the place, but
you can consider the deal closed"
Spoken like a SPORT" The bearded
man stood up. "You can draw lots
to determine who is to be managing
editor and who city editor. It's an
excellent scheme-l attained my proud
position that way. One condition |
attach. Ask no questions. Let us go
out into the night unburdened with
your Interrogation points
Elliott, too, stood The bearded
man indicated the bottle. Fill up,
boys. propose toast. To the new
editors of the Mail. May Heaven
bless them and bring them safely
back to the north when Florida's fit
full fever is past"
Ddzzily, uncertainty, Howe and
O'Neill drank. Mr.. Mears reached
out a great red hand toward the
bottle.
Pardon me-private property he
said. He pocketed it. 1--WE bid you
good bye and good lusk. Think OF US
on the choo- choo, please. Riding far