The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-04

10 tell you, news that must not oe over
heard, and there Is no place 90 safe for
confidential conference as in hanson driv-
ing through the streets Of London. Drive
fee, she e~ said to H the cabmsn pushing up
the door In the roof of the hanson.
Mr. stoneham took his place beside her.
direction indicated. ~
Now. Mr.. stoneham. in the first place. 1
want % golden severe sns. How am to
Good gracious! / doa' Is ow. The banks
are all closed, but there J., "a man at Charing
cross who would PERHAPS Grange a check
for me. There is checkbook in the Office"
Then that's all right and settled. Mr..
Stoneham, there's been some juggling with
the public accounts in the Office OF the board
What! A delfaIcatio1?'' cried stoneham
eagerly.
No: merely shifting round"
.Ah! said the editor in disappointed
oh. you needn't say 'ahr It's very seri-
pSus- II Is indeed. The accounts are calcu
lated to deceive the dear and confidng pub
lie. to whose interests all the daily papers,
morning and evening pretend to be devoted.
Inc very fact OF such deception being
tempted. Mr.. Stoneham. ought to call forth
"Oh. it does. it does: But then it would
De difficult matter to prove. If some
money We're gone. now
My dear sir, the matter is already proved
ana quite ripe Tor your energetic handling
Oh IT. Ihats what the $50 are for. This
sum Will secure for yOu-tO-night mind.
to-morrow-a statement bristling with fig
ures which the board of construction cannot
deny You will be able in a stirring leading
aarlcle 10 express the horror you undoubtedly
Ieel at the Justification of the figures, and
your stern delight in doing 50 will probably
not be mitigated by the fact that no other
paper In London will have the news"
L see, said the editor his eyes glisten-
ing as the magnitude Of the idea began to
appeal more strongly to his imagination
w no makes out this statement, and how
IL al rolx
rect?" ''' va
g., well. there is a point on which wish to
INFORM I'M. you before going any further. 1t is
not absolutely correct. Two or three errors
nave been purposely put in, the object being
10 throw investigators off the track if they
Try 10 discover who gave the news to the
press, Tor the man who will sell me this
document is clerk in the Office of the board
CT Puonc construction. So, you see, you are
getting the facts from the inside"
, Well the traitor seems to be covering up
come TO know him?"
don't know him. I've never met him
In my life, but IL came to nv Knowledge
tnat one of the morning papers had already
nade al It's plans for getting this informa-
I r1on; Inc clerk was to get ESQ for the docu-
ment, but the editor and he are at present
negotiating, because the editor insists upon
absolute accuracy, while. as | said, the man
t Mishes TO protect himself = to cover his
Good gracious!' cried stoneham, at didn't
mink the editor of anv morning paper in
L.
racy of what he printed"
The shrewd and energetic dealer in coins
whose little office stood at the exit from
tnaring Cross station proved quite willing
TO oblige the editor Of the Evening Graphite
with % sovereigns in exchange for the bit of
paper, and the editor, handing to Miss Jen-
her drive off for Brixton (where. at IL Ru-
pert square. the directory had told her Mr.
in a5e b iiive me- while III he turned not to re-
10 his office. TO write the leader, which
would express in good set terms the horror
ne 1elt at the action of the board of public
1t was a little past o'clock when Miss
Baxters hanson drove up to the two-storied
pudding in Rupert square numbered II. She
knocked at the door. and it was speedily
opened by man with some trace of anxiety
on his clouded face, who proved to be Haze
himself, the clerk at the board of public
YOU a.e Mr. Hazel?" she ventured, on
Yes" replied the man, quite evidently
surprised at seeing a lady instead of the
man he was expecting at that hour, but
l am afraid will have to ask YOU to ex-
is a few minutes late and who may be here
at any moment"
You are waiting for Mr.. Alder, are you
Yes" stammered the man. his expression
OF surprise giving place to one of conster-
"Oh. well. that is all right" said Miss
Jennie reass.'ringly. II have just driven
from the office of the Daily Bugle. Mr..
Alder cannot come tonight"
All said Hazel, closing the door. Then
Il am here instead of him. Mr. Alder is
wick-that's the editor. you know
Yes, l know" answered Hazel.
They were now sitting down in the front
We'll Mr. Hardwick is very anxious that
the figures should be given with absolute
"Of course. that would be much BETTER"
cried the man: but. you see. have gone
over all that with Mr.. Alder already: He
said he would mention what l told him TO
the editor.
oh he has done So" said Miss Baxter,
land did it very effectively indeed. In
fact your reasons are quite unanswerable.
You fear, of course. that you will lose your
situation, and that is very important and
no one. in the Bugle office wishes. you to
it is all in the public interest"
looking down on the table.
We'll, have you all the documents ready,
so that they can be published at any timer
Quite ready" answered the man.
Here is Your s ' just 'f the moy
and see that 1t Is correct. I took the en-
velope as IL was handed to me and have
not examined the amount myself"
She poured the sovereigns out on the table,
and Hazel, with trembling fingers, counted
them out two by two
10 iiSht, nc Ile
went to the drawer. unlocked 1t and took
out a long blue envelope.
There" he said. with a sigh that was
almost gasp. There are the figures and
a full explanation OF them. You will be very
careful that my name does not slip out in
any way"
"Oh, no. said Miss Jennie, ooolly drawing
forth the papers from their covering. NO
one knows your name except Mr.. Alder,
Mr.. Hadwick and myself. and 1 can assure
you that L shall not mention your name to
any one"
The man had not the slightest suspicion
that his visitor was not member of the
staff of the paper he had been negotiating
and showed herself so familiar with all de-
tails that had been discussed by Hazel and
Alder that no doubt had entered the clerk S
mind.
Miss Jennie placed the papers back in
their blue envelope and babe the anxious
Hazel goodbye.
Once more in the hanson. she ordered
the man to drive her TO Charing Cross, and
when she was ten minutes away from Ru-
pert square she changed her direction and
desired him TO take her to the office of the
Stoneham busy with his leading article and
impatiently awaiting further details of the
conspiracy he was 10 lay open before the
public.
A glance at the papers Miss Baxter
brought TO him showed Mr.. Stoneham that
he had at least got the worth of his $50
There would be a fiuttering in high places
next day. He made arrangements before
he left 10 have the paper issued a little
earlier than usual calculating his time with
exactitude, so that rival sheets could not
ha ma IN hafr Avs Hl.aI