The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-04-30
YHE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Where Martha FITTED pa.
BY VINCENT G. FERRY.
Downright, 1913, by the Mcclure
Fsewsnaper Syndicate.)


Heved herself Of much value on the
Tsierraut staff. Why she was KEEP
f5ere vas more than anyone was Will
fn9 to say, but some Of the boys hI2teG
fIIs4 n was because she was pretty ana
phi weekes, the city editor. had
real, sDot in his heart for all pretty
gfrls- not that he was ladies' ma2
or a masher-c was just kindly, broth' |
eTIy interest he seemed 10 have in them
an. II was through him that Martha
had been taken on the stan. She had
13een hired first as a stenogra2her Tor
fhe business Office, but she made SO
many plumbers that she would nave
been discharged from the employ o.
tie Telegram If Phil had not sugges-
ted that she might prove Of value as
areporter.
Her good looks had not been the
.onlv thing he had seen. She was soc
fabIe. had q winning personality and
was splendid Observation-Disclosures
tiles that should have made success
fuI reporter. The first week was
enough to show Phil that there were
many things Martha lacked that she
should also have had. bat ne hoQed e~- !
perience would develop them AItel
the first month he gave up the idea o.
putting her on assignments that re-
nIIired head work. If there was story
that required data Martha would De
sure to miss it; she never spelled nan1
a correctly, always got numbers and
even the names OF streets wrong, and
81 by chance she ran across an acct
dent story she always had to go back
to the scene Of the accident to get the
time that it occurred, and other little
necessary details that she never re
membered to get the first time. 1t was
almost necessary to hire another repor-
ter to do her work after her. once IN
great while she wrote a sentence that
didn't have to be rewritten. 1t d1dn
seem to bother Martha much, though.
II she had shown that she knew she
wasn't doing her work satisfactorily
st would have been much easier Tor
Phil to discharge her, but every time
Phil mustered up courage enough TO
tell her. something would turn up to
make him change his mind. Her salary
was such a small one It didn't matter
much he told himself When she asked
for a raise it would give him an oppor-
tunity to let her out AS the weeks
went by Martha showed little improv-
ment- or was it that he got so used
to her mistakes and working after her
that he imagined she was improving? !
Phil had a hard time keeping her mis-
takes out OF the way Of the managing
editor. The managing editor never
could put up with a careless reporter
and. because Phil knew that, he even
stole time fro mhis own work to put
some touches on Martha's that would
pass It, If by chance the editor happen
ed to come across it. He often told
himself that he was fofiSh to do it, for
it-would have been easier for him II the
managing editor had relieved him Of
the unpleasant duty Of giving Martha
her notice-but Just the same he did it.
The Telegram staff was limited to a i
specified number Of reporters, and be-
cause Of Martha it often required
doubling it
Ell you don't get rid OF that girl and
get somebody you can depend upon in
her place, you are going to run up
against tight place some time and
get yourself in wrong over it, one OF
the senior reporters remarked to Phil
one day.
shes an right" Phil answered.
She hasn't fitted in yet"
The tight place came sooner than
they expected it. A lot OF big things
doomed up all at once and every man
on the stair was given night assign |
Ii1ent Phil left convention meeting !
tor himself to cover He was the I2=, !
to leave the repertoriaI room that
night and was Just putting on his hat, !
when the telephone rang. It was the i
managing editor. !
There IS big meeting IN Platts- !
burg tonight to decide definitely on the !
electric road. See that It is covered.
be ordered. /
PIN knew the Importance Of the
story and decided he would have to 90 !
to PIattsburg himself. The next car
left at eight O'Clock, getting him there
barely in time for the meeting. That
wouldn't give him time 20 touch the
convention. He scanned his assign
ment book There was no one else who
could cover it Noth'nr- co':16 he reH-
iected. How about Martha? He would
have to CHARGE her. but be hated to
think Of the story she would turn In
She hadn't. She didn't seem to have
anything she should have had, he
though angr1Iy. She didn't room very
tar away: he would have time to call
md ten her to cover the convention.
ne would write out a list OF things
Tor her to remember to take notes on
and perhaps she would get a half de-
cent story for him to rewrite.
Martha looked her best when she
ooened her door to his knock. Phil
conIdn't refrain from Standing back to
admire her. She Looked lovely in a big
white apron and white cap.
ACome right in. Phil" Martha IN
yited, as she opened the door wide.
RE room looked very inviting, so Phil
aidTi't refuse. After he had gone into
detaiIs Of just what he wanted her to
- and had her write them out, Phil
prepared to go.
won't you stay and have tea?"
SfarfIla ased. 'I have lovely supper
81 ready-steak, fried onions. scallop-
= potatoes, homemade tartS and the
80 cup Of tea you ever tasted. I'm a
5sS55iy cook" Phil had been using his
-. for Arn rnfnntns and when