CHAPTER XX.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1574, 5 August 1882, Page 5

CHAPTER XX.

While these scenoH were taking place at the Hesperus Extended, events of a very different character were transpiring in Grit. After the great meeting, Hector, Bunakum, and some of his principal supporters repaired to the dingy office of the Gritty Gullg Trumpet, wheie, assembled in the den known as the editor's room, thoy began to discuss the affairs of the night. The Trumpet of next day would bo one of the be&t numbers ever issued. There was the great meeting, the tenible accident at tho Hesperus Extended mine, and, of course, there would be a hplendid leader from the pen of Grit's mightiest journalist, Hector Maciunis, whciein the opposite party would be annihilated, and tho course of the electors made clear. Grit had now a pas company ; of course there had been gas there in the early days, but not such fis could be utilised for light. The Trumpet office absolutely flared with it. There was gas everywhere, which was a comfort, as there was nothing else to speak of. Tho exterior of tho building was not very prepossessing. Once, indeed, the facade had been thought the very acme of architecture. It was of red briek — as if the dnsfc of of Grit was not red enough — and the mason had by an ingenious arrangement fixed certain of tho bricks to form the words Gutty Gutty Tiumpct. The red dust of years had settled upon the building until it now looked like an ugly lobster drowned in dirty anchovy paste. Upon window, coign, and door the insidious dust had fallen until there was not tho semblance of the original design left. To add to the disconvfoit of visitors a flight of well-worn steps led to the sanctum, and, as there was no light outside, accidents were the rule ; and he was a lucky man who escaped bcathlcs when ho visited tho Lyceum of Grit. By the sido of the building ran a narrow lane, fit for deeds of darkness, and immediately at the back was the stage door of the theatre, whence at night seedy supers issued to fctcli in the powter pots of beer from the hotel at tho corner for the stars. Gritty ppople would tell you with pride that thoy had seen G. Y. Brooke borne in thero from a. cab when in one of his drinking moods ; and to this day the hotel boasts that Julia Matthews was a boarder when she was a trollopy girl in short clothes. Altogether it was a classic locality. But tho in.side of the Trumpet ofiico was to the outside world a mystery, and the general public could tell nothiug about it, except that Hector Macinnis made the paper there. In tho iimoceuco of their souls they believed that ho wrote, set up, printed and delivered tho Trumpet. Hector Mncinuis found the ofiico in a state of " pi," to use a professioniil term. The compositors had been out of copy for hours, the ovoiveor was fretting aud. fuming and consuming beer, the apprentices were larking, and tho hubeditor was in despair. Up to this time tho editor and reporters had not put in an appearance. Reprint would not do, so the whole establishment had to be idle, consoling themselves with the reflection that they would not get home until tho sun had risen next morning. But they knew they had no remedy, although Hector Macinnis was a benevolent champion of liberty, and a warm advocate of tho eight hours system. He never allowed his lofty soul to consider his own office. That was out of the pale. So he kept his reporters, his writers, his compositors and bis printers waiting for him at his pleasure, without in the slightest degree considering that they were men just like the miners and carpenters for whom he expended so much breath. But then consider : the miners and carpenters could send him into Parliament, and the poor printers couldn't, being only .i drop in the ocean of Gritty humanity. 0, true poverb !— "A saint abroad, a devil at home." In a few minutes, however, tho Gntfi/ Gully 'Trumpet ofh'ce Avas the scono of the greatest activity. The repot tera who, after the meeting-, has hastened to the Hesperus Extended to ascertain the particulars of the accident, rushed in and at once began transcribing notes, as if all the electricity in the office had concentrated in them, and their pens flew over the paper like steam-engines. The cverseer stood over them, howover, like a ghoul, devouring their slips, which he cut up in pieces, and handed to his expectant compositors, who rushel to their frames and set with a rapidity that must have thrown the reporters into despair, if they had had time to look round. All this time the great mover himself sat in the editor's sanctum, drinking wine with Bunakum and his friends, and totally heedless of the agonised face of the overseer, who now and then rushed ' past the open door in the vain hope of nrousing his sympathy. The sub-editor hopp9d about — for he was lame — and strove to keep up a jolly appearance, when he felt all tho pangs of the damned. Nbr did Bunakum and the rest heed this in the slightest. Why should the champions of liberty, of the horny handed, of tho eight hour system, pay attention to the wants of these poor creatures P Why, indeed? But as Dr. Rouse was moved by the spirit of 100 to adjourn, tho party at last broke up. "I will be round at the Patriot, presently," said Hector, as he saw hia friends safely down the steps. The overseer now hoped there would be some chance of finishing before daybreak. But Hector coolly passed them by, and, Bitting in his chair, began to go through tho piles of newspapers thiafc lay before him. The overseer rushed out, and swore by himself in the passage, then adjourned to *eek the solaco of • tho pewter, •• ; *- ' *• ' \ After a while Hector Mncinhis did

think that ho ought to begin his leader, inasmuch as it was time for him to join the company at 100, and casting away the last paper, ho dipped his pen in ink — and was about to write when — What face was this that rose before him in the hour of victory ? What accusing eyes gazed upon him out of the bookshelf? What form arose from out the shadows of the lamp ? Pshaw ! There was nothing there. The loader must bo written. But it is not easy to put down the ghosts that arise to mock us, if they have their origin in our own guilty souls, With an impatient exclamation Hector Macinnis fixed his eyes upon the paper, aud, taking his pen in hand, began to write the leader which was to electrify Grit next day. He had thoroughly digested the matter, and " throwing it off " was to him an easy task. Soon the page was covered with his peculiar, but regular handwriting, and, striking the bell, the overseer appeared. A smile of intense satisfaction spread o ver that worthy a face as he glanced at the sheet, and he clutched it with inexpressible delight. It was immediately cut up into little pieces 8 , and the compositors put to work on it, setting the matter so quickly that ere Hector had finished the last slip the proof was in his hand. He soon hurried through it, and then began looking over the files. He became tired of these, however, and, throwing the papers to one side, put on his coat and hat, and strode aAvay amidst the blessings of his employes, who were trembling that he would write a second leader. It did not take him long to reach the Pahiot, which was still full of light, the politicians not having departed. They were arguing in the bar — at least as many of them as were able to argue. But Hector passed by, and went to the room where the select men, including Dr Bou"-e, woro indulging a little in the shape of a game of 100, which was now the popular amuseinGntofthehigherclassof Grit, varied by an occasional tussle at poker. Hector Macinnis cared little for cards, but when trouble or anxiety came upon him he indulged in a game. As he did not care to sleep that night, having to be up early, he resolved to drive away all apprehensions of the morrow in what he called a " tit- up." As he was passing he noticed Maggie, who was serving the men in the bar. Her face usually so bright, was far fiom cheerful, and the redness of her eyes showed that .she had been weeping. A shado came over Hector's face as he noticed this. He knew why she was so gloomy. But it was not a cause of sorrow to him. And the night parsed on, Hector playing with great care and winning. Indeed this was no wonder, for the others were so far advanced that they could hardly distinguish a king fiom a jack. Ho accepted this as a sign that he would be successful. The dawn began to find its way into the close room and to pale the gaslight, before the players thought of separating. Then, after a hoarty wash and some slight refreshment, the held a meeting, when final arrangements were made for the groat contest. The party, too, had the satisfaction of reading Hector's leader, which was pronounced a masterpiece. After that, how could Mr Miall and his friends stand a &how ?