Show STAR OF THE STAFF by A heneberger morrison Morr lson was about as likely a cub as ever drifted into the office of the madison world a ath lofty ideas ot the journalistic profession and a firm resolve some day to set the na alon aflame it Is true that he was a little taken aback when after a month of probation he was placed on the salary list at ten dollars a week but he bad read somewhere that dana was once a 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 a 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 get a line on what we want snead was the star of the staff and morrison always regarded him enviously as he came in from an assignment and tore off reams of stuff that was practically railroaded to the composing room with scarce a touch of the editors pencil snead put no discount on his own work there was but one man in the world editorial rooms who did nol share duffas opinion of his pupil for snead himself had been a cub un 1 der duffy that was billings who handled the telegraph when in a good humor he had been known to chuckle over some of it at other times he might have been heard to mutter slush 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 duffas 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 reporters came forward to receive in for the day you morrison he said look up this distress case take it down mrs edith M lendeman 1125 calvert street two children without food two days heres an order on the cashier buy her food and wood it she needs it and write a halt column sure morrison sallied forth that morning armed with the office currency and fought his way through toward the east side it was a peculiarity culi arity of the town that one might find wealth and squalor side by side even in what was known as the exclusive section but it roust be con fessel that morrison was somewhat nonplused ed when he read the number 1125 on the door of a veritable man slon heres the devil to pay thought the reporter as be 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 lendeman lived there and what was his business please he felt like a fool as he blurted it 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 handsome young woman but her eyes were very sad marle she continued this gentleman no doubt is looking tor that italian family in the rear I 1 had no idea they were in such straits it is the rear of 1125 you want the maid will show you guided by marie morrison entered an alleyway which emerged on another running just behind the lendeman house ascending a flight ot rickety steps he brought up at the door ot a squalid tenement an hour later a and a wood dealer had relieved the immediate wants 0 the 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 operators 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 it right and left and piling up the spicy matter for the regular two edition merrl morrl sons story came in for rapid perusal and immediate disfavor D n that cub muttered duffy come on snead he called out cut that story off ive got a good one for you he caught up the assignment book take this down mrs edith M lindenau LInde mau got 1125 calvert street two children husband miss ing starving world sent supplies throw a good heartthrob into it hey gimmle to the office boy tell the foreman these receipts go on the first page with story de vanne caps in bixl now hustle snead tear that off as quick as you can morrison got it when he returned now look here my boy said duffy youve got to brace up gel a little astle into your stuff that story of yours would be all very well on the aws or instance tut it wont go here I 1 had it here Is the story as seen through mr snead s eyes morrison was deeply humiliated took the copy mechanically and rei turned to his desk ills glance fel on the manuscript interest surprise amazement gave place to suppressed but unholy mirth snead a article read thank god cried mrs edith M lendeman ot 1125 calvert street my ahll dren will live in a home made desolate by the desertion ot a husband with gaunt bungert stalking at the door with two tota weal want of the bare necessities of life a reporter for the world appeared athla and in the twinkling ot an eyd that dreary abode was changed into d haven of comfort it was a pathetic story that mrs man had to tell of a husband untrue to clr vow to protect her who had abandond her in the heart of a cruel winter and letl his family to its fate tears flowed doar the woman s as she recited the story of his god knows she told the reporter was a pod wife to him there was more about halt a coll dmn more ot harrowing details but morrison had had enough his glnn was firmly made up walking to duffas desk he laid down the copy very good indeed mr duffy he said quietly but it I 1 could write like that 1 be working tor you at ten dollars a week duffy grunted for gods sake edith what cort ot a ghastly joke Is andrew K lindeman broker and clubman stood in the drawing room ot his former home in calvert street bat and gloves in his hand he flourished a copy ot the world excitedly the woman took it in silence As she read the headlines her face was a study the idiots she cried then the ridiculousness ot the thing struck her and she laughed outright you really think we were starving here did you andrew she said when she had recovered her breath and did you really care strange I 1 thought you had forgot ten you had a wife or children and her eyes regarded him sorrowfully right said the man bitterly blame it all on me its the in the rear A reporter camo here this morning but I 1 saw him insela I 1 cant imagine bow the mistake occurred well ill have something to say over there in the morning good by im going back to the hotel edith the woman looked at him wistfully but said nothing he had almost reached the door when there was a shout and two walte gowned tots rushed through the hall and wore caught in their fathers arms dadd daddy they cried in dolight doln to stay daddi cried one curly bead cause mamma said ou was when you came back does mamma want me to stay da you think mildred oh es dadd I 1 mamma ask dod to send you home to her an instant later daddy was holding a half faint but happy woman in ahli arms duffy was crushed the business manager was wild the entire town of madison was in hysterics allson the business manager had caught the edition but only after some five thousand papers bad reached the streets nobody but a fool would have made such a bull he stormed lendeman a well known broker wife lives in a palace foot man coachman automobiles and all that sort of thing why cost us even to compromise it dlan t anybody in this d d office recognize the name by gad cripple the staff ill als charge every man the telephone bell stopped him allson was standing near by and be jerked the receiver off the hook eh mr lendeman that oh yes send him over right away mr lendeman this is allson bust ness manager I 1 m going to see you how never mand I 1 assure you mr all right sir duffy get bold of that young mor alson and send him to lindemans of flee at once tell him to explain the whole weve got to throw ourselves on hla mercy give the story a two column als play same place as the other first edition gad what a lot of fat heads and allson withered the staff with hla glance as he strode toward the elevator an hour later morrison entered the office smiling its all right mr duffy mr alln demon says for you people to rest easy he wont sue hes satisfied to let the matter drop oh by the way mr duffy ive got to quit you sorry too but mr lendeman has offered me a job just then the elevator stopped at the office floor morrison took it D n that cub murmured duffy |