The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1906-10-02
A PIONEER
4 YELLOW
JOURNALIST
-Es2zE,sgyysE.sIssEagJ sxazlR17Fg ~
~ EDGAR WHITE

The Linnvine Weekly Express had
gone TO press with a page of original
editorial, tlfroe columns OF church,
society," and personal on the local
page and two outside pages of re-
print, embracing foreign news. mis-
cellany and matters pertaining to ag-
rjeulture anu stock raising.
IT was hard dimes that forced Rich
ard Ninton, an Oxford graduate, to
seek Livelihood by pumping long
priIner wisdom into the quiet minds
of the plain country folk in and about
the Missouri hamlet, but he set his
best eneIgies to the task. Week after
week he filled up his editorial page
with tho product of a mind endowed
to lead mankind, but never a word OF
recognition had he received for It.,
save froia An occasional exchange
that stole his stun and ran it in as
+ original. And that was hardly the
sort of recognition the editor craved.
Finton had ali the yearnings OF the
real Journalist to do something TO
make people talk But there wasn't
anything doing" in Linnville; there
never had been. To Vinton's discour-
aged soul 1t looked as if there never
would be. He remarked this bitterly
10 Jack Stlce, his printer, who had
blown in with the autumn winds, and
stayed because he got three meals a
day, place to. sleep and few dol
lars per- week for incidentals. Stice
had seepAall the world he wanted to,
and more, and was content to settle
down 'WRh Vinton, because Vinton
let himHGik' all he wanted and never
questioned the authenticity of his
yarns. s'Andnpf pSOu were ever nc
auaintedy, yitHts the species you viii
know t9Rt lien Paradise lies in the
discovery OF a. willing listener.
WHAT Ne want is a fresh news
story z Said ithe printer.
"OficoUUe, = said Vinton, but how
In the world are we going to get one
II nothing ever happens?"
Make one"
Il don't like fakes" remarked the
editor, with dignity
No more do /. Never could abide
a pipe-dream. Nobody but goslings
uses 'em when they commence max
ing. copy. l mean to get up some
thing that's genuine"
You might fall in n we'll some
whhre," said Vinton, dryly.
before / met you 1 would as
soql's not. said stice; but I'm too
wei satisfied with life now Wish I'd
struck you sooner"
The subject was dropped and Stice
went over and began washing the
forms"
The overland stage from Glasgow
due at Linnvillo at midnight. was
about to cross the Charlton River
bridge when a masked man stepped
rom behind some timbers, and, low
cling a gun at the driver. commanded
him to halt The horses we're
stopped. The experience was a new
one to the driver, and he acted as
though he wasn't exactly clear as to
what his. obligations were i'm the
premises. Pending the decision he
did nothing The passengers peefed
out the windows and asked what was
the matter. It was q moonlight night
and the highwayman and his gun
stood out clear. The passengers were
ordered to get out and line up ON
the roadside A man I'm uniform got
out of the opposite door of the We
hicie and went around behind no. lie
held something i'm his hand that
sp1rkled in the moonlight. The high
wayman didn't sec him The other
passengers Oboyed Instructions The
driver also got out of his box and
stood i'm the line, with hands upliftod
Tie r0bber stepped back a little TO-
inspect Che lineup more critically.
The man i'm uniform levelcd his re-
vqlver and fired The knight of the
road turned two startled eyes Goa that
objection, whirlcd around and fell to-
tlfb ground The man in uniform
went to- the body. revolver iu hand
Close call for you tenderfeot,"
nc said. Lucky j was along"
AN voiced approval The highway
man was not dead and they put him
on top OF the stage, none too gently.
and proceeded The man in uniform
3 congratulated by everybody. and
I * the homage with diehlty as be.
its a man above che common run.
he wounded outlaw was taken To-