The midland journal., 1896-06-12
"I think he must be reporter, the

arrival must be Dick Ainesworth, of
the interviewer, Jonesville's other
morning paper. Her acquaintance with
the young man was slight, but she knew
he was hustler"
Quarles' report Of his next scout
proved that her 'surmise was correct,
| Ainsworth had come down in search
of political news for his Sunday edi-
tion, and intended going over to the
picEic, but hearing Of the tragedy, had
concluded to stay In the village and
bag the bigger game. He worked swift
| ly, and by 1880 o'clock his notebook was
full, and he was ready to drive back to
Jonesville. By that time Miss Lumsden,
who had been cool enough while gath
ering the facts and preparing her copy,
was feverish at the prospect of losing
all for the lack of means of getting her
matter to Jonesville.
Defeat at this stage of the game would
have been maddening.
| When the faithful Quarles reported
to the perplexed journalist that Aims
worth's horse was hitched, she made
q desperate resolution. It was moth
| ing less than to ask Ainsworth to take
her up to Jonesville with him. As q
young woman she might have hesitated
at such step; es u newspaper girl,
she thought only Of her duty to the
Phonograph.
She reached the hotel just as her
rival was starting. The young man
had kept himself fully informed con-
cerning the Phonograph reporters
movements, knew exactly her predica-
1nent, and was sure he had every
thing his own way. Nevertheless, he
showed well-simulated surprise at her
appearance.
He bowed politely, exclaiming:
"Why, how are you, Miss Lums-
den? I didn't know you were down
here!"
She extended her hand cordially.
"I came down three weeks ago for o
rest but I've decided to go back to-
day, and have favor to ask of you.
Mr.. Ainsworth, would you mind taking
me up to town with you?"
This in her sweetest tone and with
a winning smile.
Ainsworth, in common with most
successful journalists, possessed the
knack of thoroughly controlling his
voice and features under ell circum-
stances, and there was no trace of as
| tonishment In either, and no relaxa
t}on of his pleasant manner as he re-
piled, after the slightest pauses
Certainly, upon one condition"
"What Is that2" she asked, In an
of-course-she-could- sort OF
| tone.
''That you don't give your paper the
Arnold tragedy"
The girl had more than half-expected
this, but there was plainly expressed
disappointment in the outward curve
of her red lips and the slightest CULVER
Of her eyelids as she answered: ooh, ]
couldn't do that"
Ainsworth, infexible though he had
resolved to be, said mentally: "How
deuced charming she looks! She'll cry
next, and then what will I do?"
Then aloud: ''Miss Lumsden, do
you realize how much you are asking?"
"I think do; and my experience
with gentlemen reporters led me to
hope you might extend the courtesy"
The accent upon gentleman" was
faint but significant.
Indeed, I'm truly sorry can't oblige
you; but you must know that my first
duty Is to my paper"
"Oh, very well. I'll find some other
way, I suppose" She spoke slowly,
| x.Yit1, %la c1s IL No.
| Ainsworth felt that to tarry longer
was to risk defeat. So he leaped into
his buggy, and with polite Good
evening"" whirled away toward Jones'
vile.
| AS the few loungers who witnessed
the swiftly-enacted scene gazed from
the vanishing vehicle to the girls fair
face, and saw tiny tear standing In
each of her bright brown eyes, they
marveled how mortal man could be
such brute. Quarles shook his fist at
the departing journalist, and muttered:
"I'd Nv tossed him out for q nickel. The
Gnarticulate growD to treat lady So"
"Never mind, Quarles, we'll beat him
yet. 1t was mean, though" Suddenly
her face frightened. "Hurrah! I've an
idea." And she trotted brislly up the
road, followed by the devoted Quarles.
Before Ainsworth had covered two
miles of the dusky pike he had changed
his mind 20 times, now resolving to
return and say "Yes," and then de-
cided that duty required him to drive
on as fast as he could toward the Inter-
viewer Office, still miles and miles away.
He was a good-hearted fellow, fully
informed as to the amenities Of jour
nalism, and possessing at least the av-
Frage amount of gallantry. On ON or
iinary occasion he would probably not
have hesitated moment before aiding
fellow-worker on rival paper, es-
pecially If that fellow was q pretty girl;
but this was no common case. He had,
apparently, the monopoly of big sem
sational item, and his course was per-
tectly clear.
With twilight came refreshing cool
ness, that made driving delightful, and
1t was not long before the young man
had, for the time being, forgotten his
pretty competitor, and settled himself
to the task of composing his story. All
went well until he was ascending long,
steep hill, four miles from Huntington.
There adversity overlook him in the
guise of q broken trace. The young
pan's talents did not include me-
chanical aptness, and It took him o
pood half hour to repair the damage.
He had snoroalu Y,ncuma6 hiS iOurnau