The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-02-18
EIE Dali II
SHORT STORY
Snappy Heads.
r. RAY BAKER,.
Copyright, 1920. by the Mcclure

r. RAY BAKER.
(cepyright, 1920, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
ssyv JoMEN want to vote like men.
w but they don't make good at
w mems trades" yawned Alex
Winton, as he watched Dixie Lowell
pick.a piece OF type from the case and
place It in the stick" upside down.
Dixie, perched on high stool, bit
her lip and adjusted the letter cor.
rectly.
y Men are SO egotistieal," she return
ed, somewhat sharply. And how
about the women in war work."
Alex sharpened pencil.
"0h, they were all right as elevator
girls and theatre ushers and the like"
he admitted, replacing the pencil be.
hind his ear" Don't misunderstood
me. I'm not saying women lack In
telligence, but do contend that they
seldom succeed in mems work where
skill is required"
The scene was the composing room
% the Elkton observer, Published
Weekly; Editor Samuel Phelps; AS.
y;stant Editor, Alex Winton; Terms
81 Per Year in Advance; Advertising
Rates on Application.
Dixie was collector for Berkwith's
department store. and her duties FIRE.
4 aucntly took her past the observer"
office. Occasionally she stopped to
zee Alex AID TO try her hand at set
ting, type. She was engaged to Alex,
and they we're to be married when he
got there"
eTypesetting is SO fascinating" she
had Just remarked. II wonder If
could learn and work at it,"
Upon which he made the remark set
down as the opening sentence of this
story.
We'll, must CO." she said present
~, having distributed" the type she
had set up. "By the way, Alex, you've
been in the newspaper business some
time, why don't you try 1t in a big
city,
she got down from the stool and
went to the door.
Perhaps l will" he told her, and
there was hint of staggering as
he walked toward the editorial room.
could make good all right"
She opened the door.
Anyhow" she said as parting
shot, women have the determination
that wins. They got the vote; Just
remember that"
Alex has his share of egotism,' she
murmured as she went up the street.
HSttl ! can't help caring lot for the
dear boy"
Soon after Dixie announced she was
leaving .Elkton.
Whenever you get there I'm ready
to become Mrs. Winton," she told
Alex by way of reinsurance. II just
feel that ought to try the big city.
My Aunt Margaret lives there, you
know, and she's been wanting me to
60 for some time. You'd better think
II over and try your hand on the big
{ daflies.''
A year passed. Dixie and Alex cor.
responded regularly. Dixie had job
and was enjoying her work, she told
him. Better come on down and get
into the big game" she urged in
every letter. .4.. f.fi
At the end OF the year Alex decid.
ed she had the right idea.
II can make good on any OF the
papers," he assured himself. This
small town training Is the best thing
possible. ought to be able to hold
any job"
So Alex followed Dixie to the big
city. He could not see that she was
changed bit, but her temerity in try.
Ing to make a place for herself In the
city had made him more in love with
her than ever. He felt ashamed OF
himself for not leaving Elkton sooner.
Where are you working, Dixie?" he
inquired the first night he called on
her at her aunt's home. Got a job
collecting?"
She smiled and countered:
What would you expect a woman
to do-without trade? was a col.
lector In Elkton, so what would l bs
likely to do here?"
Alex found room and started out
to make the rounds Of the newspaper
4 offices. There were only three, one
morning and two evening for strictly
speaking it wSs not large city. 10
was large only from an Elkton view.
point.
At the first place he called-the
Evening Journal"-he was given the
position OF sporting editor for trial.
Newspapermen were scarce, and five
years of experience was deemed SUI.
ucient to warrant trying Alex out. HeI
neglected to tell where he had the ex.
perience, simply stating that he had
handled sports" AS a matter Of fact,
he had handled everything from wed.
utngs and Killings to editorials and
notwithstanding except tele.
graph, of which there was none on the
Observer.
That night be told Dixie that he was
% start work in the morning OF tia
journal"
.Fine!' she said, You'll make good,
too, Alex; and then"
"And then" he echoed, and he !
dreamed all night about Dixie.
The job did not prove SO easy as
Alex had expected. The Ekton Job
server" and the Journal" had radio.
ally different ideas as to how copy"
should be handled. The observers"
headlines were much like lNbels, while
the Journals" had to contain verbs
and be "snappy", However, Alex did
his best and refrained from telling his
coworkers I'VE do it this way in
Elkton."
When the last edition went to press
Alex congratulated himself that he had