The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-12-14


der Duffy. That was Billings, who
handled the telegraph.
When in good humor he had been
known to chuckle over some of it.
At other times he might have been
heard to mutter, "Slush."
1t was 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 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, Took up
this distress case. Take 1t down:
Mrs. Edith NJ Lindeman, 1925 Calvert
street; two children; without food
two days. Here's an order on the
cashier. Buy her food and wood il
she needs it; and write 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 one might
find wealth and squalor side by side
even In what was known as the "ex-
elusive section" But it must be con-
fessed that Morrison was somewhat
nonplused when he read the number
1125 on the door of 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 rear. had no
idea they were in such straits. 1t is
the rear of 1925 you want. The maid
will show you"
Guided by Marie, Morrison entered
an alleyway which emerged on anoth-
or running just behind the Lindeman
house. Ascending 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 of 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 disfavor.
"Dn that cub!" muttered Duffy.
Come on. Snead." he called out.
Gut that story OF. 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- sent supplies.
Throw good heart-throb into it.
Hey, Jimmie" to the office-boy,
tell the foreman these receipts go on
the first page with story; De Winnie
caps, in box! Now hustle, Snead!
Tear that of as quick as you can"
Morrison got 1t when he returned.
Now look here. my boy" said
Duffy. You've got to brace up. Get
a little style into your stuff. That
story of yours would be all very well
on the News, for instance, but it
won't go here. had it rewritten.
Here is the story as seen through Mr..
Snead's eyes,"
Morrison was deeply Inundated. He
took the copy mechanically and re-
turned to his desk. His glance fell
on the manuscript. Interest, surprise,
amazement, gave place to suppressed
but unholy mirth. Snead's article
read:
"Thank Godr cried Mrs. Edith M.
Lindeman of lbs Calvert street. my chill
dren will liver
In home made desoiate by the deser-
ton of a husband, with gaunt hunger
stalking at the door. with two tots weak
from want of the bare necessities of life,
a reporter for the World appeared this
morning. and in the twinkling of an eye
that dreary abode was changed into q
1t was pathetic story that Mrs Linde-
man had to tell of husband untrue to his
vow to protect her. who had abandoned
her in the heart OF a cruel winter and left
his family to its fate. Tears flowed down
the woman's cheeks as she recited the
story of his perfidy
God knows" she told the reporter, =
was a good wife to him.
I There was more-about half col
umn more-of narrowing details, buI
Morrison had had enough. His mint
was firmly made up. Walking to
Duffy's desk, he laid down the copy.
Very good indeed, Mr.. Duffy" hs
said quietly. But if / could write
like that wouldn't be working fol
you at ten dollars a week"
Duffy grunted.
For Gods sake, Edith, what sor
of CHASTITY joke is this?"
Andrew K. Lindeman, broker an,
4. clubman, stood in the drawing-roon
of his former home in Calvert street
hat and gloves in his hand.
He fourished q copy Of the Worl'