The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-05

uate of the San Francisco High School;
except for brief excursions to the seaside
or farms to escape the cold winds of mid
summer for a little she had never been
out of the city. The country as depicted
on the scenes of the theaters was far more
intimate in her mind than any of the mar
wells of her state. Finding that she was
Obliged to support herself and her mother
almost coincidently with graduation, she
determined to become newspaper woman.
She haunted the office of the Searcher I'M
Ill the city editor gave her an assignment,
ito get rid of her" as he expressed it;
but in reality because he knew the value
of tenacity in a reporter. Since then she
had interviewed murderers in their cells,
political bosses. society women, ex-nebri-
ates, who had taken the Keely cure paid
bi-weekly visits 10 the morgue in search
Of stories" had, altogether, developed her
natural intrepidity, and a style that was
the prsde of Pacific coast journalism She
whitfield her stories 10 a point, had a
startling collection of adjectives, kept hui
NOR and pathos in stock, the former of
which she used with liberahty, the latter
With artistic economy, and could work up
as dramatic climax any gifted maker
of tales. In time she became the most
noted newspapers woman of her state,
signed her contributions, and received
large salary. Small wonder then that she
was chosen for one of the most remarkable
assignments upon which newspaper had
ever sent reporter.
The state had been agog for year over
a series of the boldest train robberies that
had ever been enacted within its famous
boundaries Four times the eastern-bound
train passing over the Southern route had
been held up by masked men and despoiled
of its thousands; but only two months
since had the crime been fastened on Jim
Bennett, a well-known citizen of Bakers
field and grape-farmer in a small way lie
was arrested, after the wounding of the
sheriff and one of his assistants, and the
killing of another, and locked up. He
broke jail the same night, and was known
TO be hiding in the Sierras. Four search
parties had gone after him. Two had
struck his trail and followed 1t to the foot
of bare and solitary peak on the apex of
which was a log cabin. Through field
glass they had distinctly seen Mr.. Bennett
sauntering about, smoking pipe. As there
was no brush TO conceal the approach of
the enemy, the first party had merely re-
turned to Bakersfield and reported The
second party, more keen for glory, had
ventured half way up led by Tom Hark-
ness the most fearless sheriff in Southern
California, and been disastrously routed by
MT Bennett and his loyal friends-several
of whom had followed him into eXile-who
lay al fun length behind feiled redwood
and fired leisurely between pipes and
'chaws." The Governor was considering
ba NJ Wis of he
when the state was startled by a fifth
train robbery, at which a haul of $780, 900
was made, and at which Mr.. Bennett Off
ciated without the formality of a maskand
sent his compliments TO the est cormor-
ants who owned the railroad and were the
est thieves that ever went uuhung
They'll have the militia out now, sure's
fate" said the city editor of the Searcher,
the morning after the robbery. They
may give Tom Hardness one more chance,
but that's all" He sprang to his feet,
his eyes flashing with the enthusiasm of
his ilk when the outlines of a great
story" spring from the Imagination. Wen
have an interview with Bennett We
must have an interview with Bennetti
The Searcher's out of sight now; a scoop
like that and she'd be the monarch of Pa
cihc coast journalism without any adver-
Using"
Two young men who were writing at
desks came rapidly forward; but Sylvia
Hunt ran past them and planted herself
squarely before the editor.
Il want it," she said, decidedly; land I
can succeed where a man would be sure
to fail. They would never let a man up
that peak alive, but they won't fire on a
woman
The editor did not reply for a moment,
although his eyes flashed again. After ali,
though not gentleman, he was a man,
and had, in remote brain cell, an in
6r7ft 1a1 Of
lection of the male for the female one
of the volunteering reporters gave a short
laugh and turned on his heel The other
Redeemed and bit his lip. He was a tall
young man with a pale face and a slight
stoop--a college graduate and the begl
man on the city staff He did not look
at the city editor; his eyes were fixed on
Miss Hunt
"Wel?" demanded Sylvia, with slight
stamp of her foot, what are you hest
tating ABOUT? l am going. of course. I'm
the only person on the paper than has
the ghost of a show; and l suppose you re
not calculating on a failure?"
mo, I'm moi" replied the editor, blunt
ly. You can have it. It's 10 o'clock.
Go home and get what you want and come
back here for instructions. You'll take
the 1890 train I'll telegraph to Bakers
field to have a guide ready for you"
Sylvia left the room Immediately The
young man followed and stopped her IN
the corridor.
'Well2" she said, coloring and turning
her head aside; Il known what you're
going to say, but I'm going, and 1 haven't
time to talk about it,"
Il have no hope of dissuading you" he
said. Il merely want TO say that 1 am
going with you"
You're not going TO do anything of the
kind. Do you think I shah have the edge
taken off my scoop like that? I'll tell
the c. r. moi TO allow it."
II shall go with you if l have to resign
from the paper. As far as your SCOOP Is
concerned, no one need know that 1 am
with you except the c. e. The others
VIII think I'm off for a vacation"
"Oh, botherr' Miss Hunt tossed her head
and walked away; but she colored again
Sylvia, guide known as Hickory Pete
and John Harrison, crack" reporter of
the San Francisco Searcher, were slowly
ascending the foot hills of the Sierras on
horse back. During the long ride south
on the train, and the drive 10 the foo,
hills. Miss Hunt had refused to converse
with her knight; but as the majestic red
woods closed about them, their primevat
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