The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-03-11

III tuc d1I.
81 know that" said the city editor.
This is strictly on the q. t., but the
old man sent for me only last night to
talk to me about that very thing. He
says the boy hasn't shown any natural
aptitude for newspaper work, and I'M
less he makes good he'll have to be
dropped" And the city editor went
back to his blue pencil again.
From down the smoky street came
the mutiied roar of human voices. The
sporting editor threw up the window
and leaned out.
Cheering, by George, Hear 'em,
Chester? There must be something do
ing down there; fireman making a
grand stand play most likely. l can
see your scare head tomorrow, Our
Brave Fire Ladies' HeyY
Ten minutes later one of the Office
boys dashed in, breathless and excited.
Say, Mr.. Chester, you otter been
down tn street There's three women
up on tn top floor Of tn building
what's afire, an everybody thinks
they're goners, cause tn streets is
tore up wit sewers, an tn firemen
can't get in there wit tn towers. A
man gets through tn ropes an runs
across tn street wit his coat over his
head, an before they could nab him in
he goes at tn front door. TIL next we
saw of him he was up on tn roof
a-lettin' down a piece of rope to tn
window where tn women was. Tn
rope was only short one, an so he
haLIs 'em up on TIL roof where he is,
an then we sees what he is goin' to do.
You know TIL three story brick what's
next door? Well. they's wire runs
from tn top of tn big buildin' down to
tn brick on a slant, about So" And
here Bobby indicated an angle of about
40 degrees. HE bitches tn lIttlest wo-
man on to this wire wit piece of
rope an cuts her loose. didn't watch,
because | was scared it wouldn't hold
her, but it did, an she got down all
right. Then he sends tn next one
down. Nobody said a word. We was
just holdin' our breath. While he was
tyin' on tn last woman tn whole in
sides of tn buildin' caves in, an
thought they was both gone for sure,
but when tn smoke clears away there
he is way on tn edge of TIL wall, WI
fire all around him, and tn last woman
Is half way down. TIL rest of tn rope
4 he was savin' for himself must have
went down into tn fire. for he looks
around for it just once an then swings
out an comes down that wire hand
over hand like circus actor. When
tn crowd saw that he was a-goin' to
make it all right, they cut loose, an |
bet you could have heard 'em over in
Jersey. They swarms around tn brick
buildin' to meet him when he comes
down. but somehow he makes a clean
getaway, an there don't nobody know
who he is nor nothin'"
And Bobby paused for breath, much
abashed to find that every one had
drawn near to listen.
The city editor threw up his hands
and groaned
Nov. isn't it just my luck to send
Stanley out ON story like that? Why,
Billy Kimball would have got three
columns out of that besides a signed
interview with this unknown person
and maybe picture Of him thrown in.
Dexter, you go out and get what you
can of this. will your
An hour afterward a tall broad
shouldered young fellow came quietly
into the room ard laid bunch of copy
on the city editors desk. Chester look
ed up and nodded a greeting. his prac-
ticed fingers already sorting the pencil
ed sheets.
Looks little sloppy, don't it?" said
be. Whats this-bloodY
The young man dlved his hands into
his coat pockets and replied hurriedly.
that way. but | cut my hand down
there, and | haven't had time yet to
have it fixed up"
Chester had reached the bottom
sheet, and when he spoke again his
voice came like the click Of a steel
trap.
How does this happen, Stanleyi
Didn't you see this man get the woman
off the roof?'
'Yes." said the reporter. Il saw as
much Of that business as any one did,
Iguess"
"And do you mean to tell me that
such a thing as that is only worth
three or four lines of copy? Didn't you
make any attempt to find out who the
man was or get any story out of him"
Chester was getting angry now. STAN
ley's voice came clearly across the
hush that lay on the room.
well, you see, Mr.. Chester, 1t didn't
strike me that that business amounted
to so very much. Any man would have
done the same thing. Don't you think
soT'
The city editor was now fairly rous-
ed, and his voice rang like clarion.
'Why. good Lord, man, don't you know
that The News and The Reporter will
everlastingly scoop us on this PROPOSE
ton? Here's a man that takes his life
into his bare hands to do brave thing
Ito save three women from being
burned alive-and because you fall
down on the story you try to belittle
the whole thing! You ought to be
ashamed, sir Why, tomorrow morn
ing the whole city will be ringing with
/
and dry and scooped all because it
didn't strike you as amounting 10
much"
The young man was pale, and he
mopped at his forehead with his hand
kerchief, but when he spoke his voice
was steady.
81 don't think Wen be scooped this
time" said he. THE man slipped away
from them all. They haven't any more
idea of where he is now than-you
have, Mr.. Chester"
''How do you know that?" raped
out the city editor. 81 suppose you
know who he is and all about it, ehT
"Yes." said the young man very
quietly; Il know who he is"
The city editor leaned back in his
chair and stared, fairly gasping for
breath.
sWeI, I'm damnedr' said he at
length. "And you can stand there and
tell me that you know who this man
was and yet you made no attempt
! whatever to get the story7'
Stanley bowed his dead without q
word.
'Then all I've got to say to you is
that you've botched this business in a
way that ought to everlastingly dis
grace the youngest cub reporter on the
street"
Stanley stood q moment swaging
e