The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-11-02


and dainty touches that set tc rights
her hat and dress-a little pull here and
a pat there-regarded herself with some
complacency in the large mirror that
was set before her, as indeed sha ha..
every right to 80. -of she was al ez-
ceed.ug,y ;retty q
On this snnie had paid
more ...an u..tii.i attsAtion to her toilet,
for she was about to set out to capture a
man, and the man was no other than
Radnor Hardwick, the capable editor of
The Daily Bugle, which was considered
at that moment to be the most enter
prising morning journal in the great
metropolis. Miss Baxter had done work
for some of the evening papers, several
CT the weeklies and number of the
monthlies, and the income she made
was reasonably good. but hazardously
fitful. There was an uncertainty about
her mode of life which was displeasing
to her, and she resolved, if possible. to
capture an editor on one Of the morning
papers, and get salary that was fixed
and certain.
She stepped lightly into the hanson
that was waiting for her and said to
the cabman, "Ofice of The Daily Bugle,
please; side entrance. !"
The careful toilet made its first i'm
preston upon the surly looking Irish
porter who, like gruff and faithful
watchdog. guarded the entrance to the
editorial rooms Of The Bugle. When he
caught glimpse Of Miss Baxter, he
slid off the stool and came out of the
door to her, which was an extraordinary
concession to a visitor, for Pat Ryan
contented himself, as usual thing, by
saying curtly that the editor was busy
and could see no one.
"What did .ye wish. miss? To see
the editor7 That's Mr.. Hardwick.
Have ye an appointment with him2 Ye
haven't. Then l very much doubt If
yen see him this day. mum. It's far
better to write to him. thin ye can state
what ye want, an if he makes an ap-
pointment there'll be no throuble at all.
at all. "
''But surely, said Miss Jennie, in
her most coaxing tone, .'there must be
some way to see even such great man
as the editor, and if there is you know
the way"
'sIndade, miss, an I'm not SO sure
there is way unless you met him in
the strate. which is unlikely. There's
10 men now waitin for him in the big
room. Beyont that room there's another
one, n'beyont that again is Mr.. Hard
wick's Office Now, it's as much as my
place is worth, mum, to put ye in that
room beyont the one where the men are
waitin; but. to tell ye the truth,
miss, said the Irishman, lowering his
voice, as If he were divulging office
secrets, .sMr. Hardwick. who is diff
cult man to deal with, sometimes comes
through the shmall, room an out into
the passage whin he doesn't want to
see any one at all. at all, an goes out
into the strate, leavin every body waitin
for him. Now, I'll put ye into this
room, an if the editor tries to slip out,
thin ye can speak with him, but if he
asks ye how ye got there, for the sake of
hiven don't tell him that I sint ye, be-
cause that's not my duty at all. at all.
Indeed won't tell him how / got
there, or, rather, I'll tell him I came
there by myself; so all you need to do
Is to show me the door, and there won't
need to be any lies told.
They went up the stairs together, at
the head of which the porter stood
while Miss Baxter went down the long
passage and stopped at the right door.
Ryan nodded and disappeared.
Miss Baxter opened the door softly,
entered and sat down near the door by
which she had entered from the passage.
ready to intercept the flying editor
should he attempt to escape.
In the editors room some one was
walking up and down with heavy foot
fall and growing in deep voice that
was plainly audible where Miss Jennie
sat.
"You see. Alder, it's like this, said
the voice. "Any paper may have SEN
sation every day if it wishes. But what
! want is accuracy; otherwise our sheet
has no real influence When an article
appears in The Bugle. want our read
ers to understand that that article is
true from beginning to end. want
not only sensation, but definiteness,
and not only de6niteness. but absolute
truth.
'Well, Mr.. Hardwick," interrupted
another voice, "what Hazel is afraid
Of is that when this blows over he will
lose his situation"-
But" interrupted the editor. ''no
one can tell that he gave the informa-
tion. No one knows anything about
this but you and /. and we will certain
~ keep our mouths shut. -
"What Hazel fears is that the mo-
ment we print the account the board
OF public construction will know he
gave away the figures because of their
accuracy. He says that if we permit
him TO make one or two blunders. which
will not matter in the least in SO far as
the general account goes. it viii turn
suspicion from him. 1t viii be supposed
that come one bad access to the books
and in the hurry of transcribing figures
had made the blunders. which they
know he would not do. for he has rep
utation for accuracy in figures
''Quite so. said the editor, 'sand it
is just that reputation for accuracy that
! want to gain for The Daily Bugle.
Don't you think the truth Of it is that
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