Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-05-11
SCOOP ED.

Don't fall down on that story, Bur-
ridge said the city editor. THE Star
is certain to play it up. Hustle out and
get your bearings and then telephone in
Tor wilkins to join you and make some
sketches. Find out all you can about
the woman who was killed, and if she
was good looking get a picture of her."
The young reporter hurried out on the
murder story just teephoned in from the
central station. lie saw Briggs of The
Star and two or three of the other pa
| pers' representatives on Clark street
car, and he ran and swung on to the
train just as it entered the tunnel Fall
down on the story" he kept repeating
| to himself. "Well, ! should say notr
And he began planning a lead for his re-
| port that should eclipse every other. He
| kept away from the other men purposey
and lost sight Of them when they trans
ferred at North avenue.
The murdered woman still lay i'm lit
tie wood colorcd house down by the river
| 1t had been terrible crime, and the po-
lice batiied at first were now keen as a
| pack of hounds on the murderer's trail.
| Burrdge was going to look i'm on the
! squalid place whore the victim lay and
| then join the man hunt The other re
| in their veins. had not stopped to see her
! Burridgc found a crowd of scared looking
! people around the hut, but they were SUI
! perstitous and afraid of the unshriyen
dead aud had not been in.
| He pushed his way through to the door
and entered. The dreadful shape lay on
the floor where it had fallen when the
struggle was over. lie glanced and turn
ed faint with horror. If she proved to be
good looking he was to get a picture of
her. But no one could tell what that
blood yelled face had been by looking at
! it now.
He saw n picture in a tawdry frame
on the wall-a girls weak, pretty face
below which was written: Minnie, with
| love to Arthur" Minnie" That had
been her name But ARTHUR"
He stuffed the picture in his pocket.
! Perhaps here was a clew the police might
make use of. Anyway, it would furnish
new material for conjecture in his paper.
! He must hurry now and turn that in.
Very minute counted now. He turned
to the door, then stopped suddenly. 4
| muicd wall came from an inner room.
He struck the door and then stared
around blankly. He could not see any
living thing. But, ah! There was heap
of clothes in the middle of the bed. lie
lifted them and found baby where it
had been hidden as the last thought Of
that poor doomed mother outside.
The child must have been there all
night. II was a wonder that it had not
smothcrod. Burridge took it up in his
arms and the little seeking mouth caught
his cheek. The reporter felt that APP
peal and forgot his newspaper. He went
out carrying the baby in his arms and
tried to induce the women at the gate to
take it and feed it,
But they drew away from ii in dread.
Not one would even touch the helpless
innocent that was now crying with hum
ger.
4 milk cart was going by, and Bur
ridge hailed it and re-entcrcd the house
with bottle Of milk He stepped gin
gcrly over the blood stained floor and,
with the little one still cuddled in his
arm. hunted for a cup TO put the milk in.
| The dishes were neatly disposed in the
little pantry, and soon he found a cup
which he filled and presented with some
ceremony.
Here you are. little chap" he said.
"Takc a drink of this and you'll feel bet
ter"
But the baby gurglcd and chokcd until
its pulgy features were purple. and the
young man suddenly realized that there
must be some other method of procedure.
He gravely tasted the milk himself and
then lighted the gas range and put the
cup over the flame.
''Too cold for YOU. wasn't il. old man p
ne said sympathctically. Then, when
the right temperature had been reached.
he turned out the blaze and after mo-
mcnt's thought went To find a spoon.
Slowly the warm milk trcklcd down the
little throat, and soon the baby rewarded
him with the coocs Of contentmcnt. He
glanced at the dead woman and again at
the child.
. Il can't leave You here, partner" he
= said Come on; Won see where we can
go" With the baby in his arms he
J went out and visited one asylum and
= refuge after another but not one would
take the baby in. II was almost night
before he finally found a shelter for the
poor little stranger, and when he went
down town the last edition Of the paper
was on the street.
! "Well. ! must face the music" he saiG
to himself, with the sinking Of the hear
every newspaper man experiences, soor
or late. when he has to explain" thing:
9 TO his chief.
r The city editor looked mp as he cam,
s in and handed him n little slip of paper.
: Heres an order on the cashier fol
e your salary, Burridge" he said. There
d won't be any need of your showing VI
! again"
e Then his righteous anger rushed int
d his voice as he fired the parting shot a
2 the reporter who had "fallen down"
r "A man who will let his paper sc
r scoopod on n big story like that has NJ
d right to ever write liner
Y Burridgc went out, sick with humlia
II ton and chagrin.
"WeH this finishes me in this town.
he said to himself; "but, by George,
l. don't see how could have left that littl
n chap up there alone" And mechanical!
q he took the car that went in the direction
q of the new residence Of the baby.-Chi
e cago Journal.
r, Electro medical treatment is given pa