The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-05-05
Half an hour ana the mail edition

10lI al 0Out ana the mali S0ltl00
would 60 to press. The three columns
were being saved for him, but would
he have the story ready? A mystery
is the most interesting thing in the
career of reporter, and Millard's sense
Of news had found q splendid chance
for scoop. The first story was for
gotten and the room into which he had
failed to gain admittance was now his
only thought. What was in there?
He was still watching the door when
he suddenly saw 1t open from the in
side. He stood perfectly still. scarcely
daring to breathe. Suddenly he saw
the head of the clerk look out His
face was worn and haggard. Closing
the door behind him, he stepped into
the hall. Willard saw the door tightly
shut, but rushed toward the clerk.
For Heavens sake, what has hap
pened to you?" he cried.
The clerk only stared at him vacant
,ly. Millard seized him by the shoul-
ders. whats in there?" he demand
ed, pointing toward the door. :.
+ whats in there?" repeated the
clerk, simply; I'll didn't see any
thing"
wake up, man." cried the reporter:
what has happened to your"
"Hang you, anyhow" echoed the
white figure, chow do I know"
Willard saw that his eyes had a hor.
rible, CLASSY stare. He seemed entire-
ly oblivious to what had happened.
Willard could get nothing from him.
The clerk looked at the reporter for q
moment; then he pulled away from
him and went down stairs. Willard
watched him in pity and wonder. The
clock was now quarter of two.
Like flash Willard saw the man
aging editor across the bay call down
the tube to the press rooms. The pic
ture came to him like dream. He had
Is minutes left in which to solve a
mystery and get the story to the
Tribune Office.
In great moments there comes to
some persons the feeling that they are
able to accomplish anything. In such
way Willard felt that If he could
only get into that strange room he
could face anything. He had crav-
ing to get at the heart of the mys-
terry, and get the story OF over the
wires. In IL minutes he would be
too late.
Why not raise the house? Perhaps
the young women had been murdered!
He started toward the strange roor,
Then his excited brain thought of the
fire alarm. With feverish impulse
he seized the bell rope and pulled it
furiously. Peal after peal rang out
clear overhead, and at the same time
he saw 100 doors fly open and heard
the cries Of female voices. But he
only looked wildly at the strange door.
It opened slowly! Dropping the rope
he plunged blindly forward into the
room and slammed the door after him.
For an instant he paused-dazed.
Before him stood the circus performer
with a glittering knife uplifted. Be-
hind him he caught sight of the two
nurses in heap on the floor One
looked vacantly at him. In the hall
behind, Willard heard the mad rush of
, many feet.
The juggler was dressed in his
tights, and his spangles were dazzling
under >the electric lights. His head
was bandaged, but his eyes were ma
lignant. Suddenly there began to
creep over the reporter sensation so
soothing that its power almost over
came him. The air was charged with
delicious odors, and vivid scene fit
ted across the reporters brain. He
saw the night editor smile at him and
whisper something that he could not
understand. He heard the wires sing
ing overhead in a melodious cadence.
Far away he heard tie roar of the