Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-25
he eroner declared that it was a good

the coroner declared that It was a good
shot This was also printed, and by
this time Hicks was at the threshold
of reputation. Sometimes in society,
at receptions or at teas, Miss Lelane
was asked if she had heard anything
more of that fellow Hicks. Every one
was interested in him.
The skeleton would, once in a while.
bring in a piece of news. No one
thought of killing him, yet they made
1t inconvenient. One man hit him
with a mallet and dislocated his hip,
and laid him up for a day or two. and
another fellow knocked him down,
just to hear him rattle, but otherwise
no damage vas done. Still his posi-
ton was often embarrassing So hs
said that he believed he would resign.
Lelane, urged him to remain a day or
two longer, till she could find another
skeleton. or some other physical un-
fortunate. immuned against attack. He
said that he was willing to stay till his
other hip was ~dislocated, but after that
she would have to make other arrange
ments. He went out and lust then
came another communication regarding
Ralph Hicks. He was on a railway
train when three robbers came In with
pistols and demanded money or life.
Men fell down and the train was at
the mercy of the ROBBERS till Hicks. who
had beer taking a nap. awoke. Then
the scene changed. He was so tickled
to for something useful TO do that
he broke out into a rude laughter. But
he did not stop at this, He shot two
OF the robbers, tied the other one,
threw him upon the wood box and told
the conductor that he might so ahead
whenever he got ready. This piece OF
news tickled the town and the name
of Hicks was heard in every gathering.
Two days later the skeleton came in.
hmping, and said that his other hir
had been dislocated, and that it was
now time for him to go. She paid
him off and he went out, and Lelane
sighed because she had no more skele-
tons. But at this moment there enter
ed a tall handsome fellow with black,
ripping hair. She smiled and asked
him to be seated. He sat down. and
then in a business-like manner told her
that he had come to apply for the city
editorship. She answered him with a
start and a gasp. Was it possible that
so fine a man had come to look for
death. He smiled at her. II UNDER
stand your situation" said he, ''and
J am determined to help you. | have
had considerable experience in this sort
of work. My name is Ralph Hicks"
She seized his hand. He was one
man who could dare to print the news.
And she engaged him.
The people were astonished to read
that Ralph Hicks had taken the news
end of the Dispatch. He printed a card
in which he said: ut has long been
my hCDAtG w lNt III NAtIo NONA H. ctllu L
hope that | shall be permitted to be one
of you. l am not naturally blood thirs-
ty, and | can prove that l have never
looked for a fight. OF course, there are
times when / feel disposed to shed
blood. l suppose we are all that way.
more or less, but l never bleed a man
just to observe the crimson tide. And
as I say, l hope that you will permit
me to live among you In peace, and |
am going to try, but I want 1t under
stood that I am going to print tho
news"
And he did. There were mutterings
and scowlings-and some of the des-
perate threatened him, but nothing was
done. and within a short time Ralph
had won the hearts of the people. and
whenever two men thought it was nee
essary t. fight, some n would suggest
that it be left to the decision OF Ralph,
whether or not the fight ought TO take
place, and it was agreed by the author
tiles that he had been the cause OF
many rec~onciliations in the community.
Lelane was happy in her work, for her
paper was prosperous. But was that
all that made her happy, the prosperity
of her paper? Was it not the fact that
within the eyes of Ralph she saw a
tender glow whenever he looked at
Ter? One night they were sitting alone
in the editorial room. Ralph had
ceased to write and was musing. sud
denly he got up, walked over to le-
lanes desk, and without embarrassing
preliminaries, said. Il love 0 and beg
of you to be my wife"
oh was all she answered at that
time. but a sweet understanding came
to them. there alone in the midnight
of tho "ganctum."