Page:Lynch Williams--The stolen story and other newspaper stories.djvu/54

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

The Stolen Story

"takes," gave them to several compositors, who put them in type as fast as they knew how. In a few minutes the galley proofs were down on Stone's desk, with Haskill bending over Stone's shoulder saying, "Isn't it beautiful! Isn't it beautiful!"

Stone made a printer's sign on the margin to turn a "u" right side up and said: "This much is ours, anyway."

Haskill said, "Think we'll get it all?"

Stone glanced down at Woods. "Hello," he said, "what's that boy up to?"

A few minutes before, one of the numerous office-boys had brought in some copy from the man covering a spiritualist convention uptown. Now he was walking slowly up and down behind Billy Woods. Presently he turned and walked up to the desk. He was an odd-looking boy with a peculiar, matured face. He looked very solemn. "Please, Mr. Stone," he said, "kin I go home now? My old mother is sick and I promised her——"

"Well, I'm afraid you lied to her if you're not lying to me, for you're to stay here till we go to press to-night."

36