The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-06-03


to hurt her.
"Oh! yes, I've got facts" as Edkins
started to interrupt him.
MAT upset the waste basket On my
desk one morning, and didn't pick all
the scraps up, and there on my desk
was a letter signed Daisy Thought
I'd have a chance to guy some of you
fellows, so I read II.
"Twas from the editorial rooms of
the Vindicator, and was addressed to
Harding, and said, Meet me at In
the park. l must see you. Daisy
You could have knocked me fat,
but followed 1t up by sending boy
to follow Harding. knew enough not
to follow him myself, and he came
back with full account of Harding
meeting a yelled lady In the park, and
they stood for long time in a seclud-
ed spot talking very eagerly, and
Harding held her hand, and as the
boy expressed IL, looked sweet at her.
Then l put that with the fact that
Harding was the only one who could
get an interview with the Vindicator
on that Maybee affair, and every one
knows that the power behind the
throne there Is a woman. And II
strikes me that we have a pretty plain
case. Harding is struck on the girl,
and she is playing with him for the
benefit of the Vindicator.
See, my boy?"
Edkins drew a deep breath.
Yes, | see whatsyou say, and IL it's
true, by lingo, Judkins, we'll thrash
Harding that is all.
I'm off," and Edkins departed with
an abruptness that was unusual, even
to that eccentric Individual.
The story grew, as 1t was whispered
from man to man, and there was an
uneasiness in the little circle that was
wont to gather at the Hardings', for
all save Harding and his wife We're
acutely conscious Of what the others
were thinking. They alone were bright
and CHEEKY.
But the plot deepened as young Fos-
ter, who had been simply tolerated as
a clever young fellow by the older
men, became frequent caller at the
Hardings.
The boy is In love-" was the verdict
of the older men. "and now we're in a
mess, and how are We going to get out
of it?'
Affairs We're In this condition when
one night Judkins and Edkins reached
the Hardings earlier than usual to
find Harding very i'll at ease, and his
wife's face flushed and her eyes bright.
There was an awkwardness for a
few moments, which even Mrs. Hard
ing, with her quickly recovered COM
posure, was unable to dispel.
Suddenly, without the least cere-
mony, the door opened and young Eos.
ter walked in.
He hardly noticed the men, but
walked straight to where Mrs. Hard
ing sat in her low chair by the tea
table. and, kneeling down beside her,
he caught her hand In his and raised
| it to his lips.
The faces Of the men wore q puzzled
expression, and Judkins burst out,
Its time this thing was cleared up!
For heavens sake, Harding, what is it
all about?"
This is what It's all about" young
Fosters manly voice rang out, with
out giving his superior editor a chance
to speak.
1T means that you are an old duffer,
Judkins, with your clues and your sto-
ries, and all that. Harding here is the
only sane man on the paper.
THE nice little story you trumped up
is all bosh, for here is your Vindicator
girl whom Harding is struck on" and
he smiled down into the face Of Editor
Harding's wife.
Yes, you fellows" he continued,
this is your girl who managed all
the scoops, and played with Harding
for the information she got.
She's the smartest newspaper wo-
man in this country, and the best
woman in the world.
"Do you know what she has done?
mo, of course you don't; you've
been to busy ferreting out your mys-
terry.
"Well, every blessed one of those
scoops you thought stolen she worked
out for herself, and had 1t all in copy
before you ever dawdled here and gos-
siped about 1t.
And when she might have had the
biggest scoop of all, and been known
the country over, and had her price
for 1t all, she gave it up, gave up her
position on the Vindicator, all because
it touched the honor of one of our men.
AS she told the managing editor, when
she absolutely refused to give the
names he asked:
~ have been an editor, but, thank
God, before l was that, and despite of
it, have been a woman also, and am
Editor Harding's wife, and will not
betray the good name of one of his
men,"
The strong voice broke. "It was my
fathers name" he continued land
now my father Is dead"
There was a silence for moment.
Then it was broken by the sweet
| nf In rIf =,