Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-15

h@64&BI satisfaction: the feeling of man who
has dined too well for his purse. But
Ford was something of gourmet and was wont,
in moments Of recklessness, to make believe he
a millionaire.
Lighting Culebra, another extravaganza, the
young man set out for the office of the Tribune,
on which paper he held the proud position of
"star man." which position, by the way, is met
with much less in real life than in story.
On his way down the street on which the
Tribune office was located, the reporters atten-
tion was attracted by man in front of him; a
shsbbily ydressed chap about whom there was
nothing unusual except that he was walking at
pace which even his followers long stride could
scarcely hold. AS the stranger crossed inter-
secting street he invountariy turned his head to-
ward photographers window, where the glare
of electric light had caught his eye.
Several PAGES in the rear Ford heard the man
gasp and saw him start back with look of hor-
ror on his face; then continued on his way at an
even faster pace than before.
The reporter looked into the photographer
window to see what had caused the other man. s
strange actions. He saw nothing which might
account for the strangers evident shock, only
one thing, in fact, which could have been appar-
ent to a person walking by-a large, lifelike pic
ture of girl on horseback; beautiful young
society girl with whose name and family the
newspaperman was necessarily familiar, and
whom he had frequently seen while covering
horse shows, where her fathers horses won
many ribbons and her riding elected warm ap-
plause.
1t seemed almost impossible that there should
be any connection between the photograph of
this beautiful, highly-bred young woman and the
emotions of the shabby stranger, but Ford's
training had taught him that the boundaries Of
the possible are over the hills where the rainbow
ends He felt unaccountably sure that it was
the picture which had startled the man in front
and his journalistic instinct prompted him to
learn more about the latter.
By this time, though, the stranger had such a
good lead that Ford had to board car to over
take him. The man swung on past the Tribune
office and turned to the right, taking his pur-
suer far into the southern section of the city,
where he entered small house in humble, but
respectable street. The reporter made note of
the address and then turned back toward the
office beratng himself, now that the excitement
of the chase had subsded, for inquisItlve fool.
As the elevator ratified up to the big, ugly, pa
per-httered room where the local news of the
Tribune was gotten into shape, Ford wondered
if that night would be repetition of score of
others that had preceded it, when live news had
d
ND features for more than they were actually
worth that the paper had been able to get out
a brght-looking page
As the reserve staff was sitting around smoll-
ing and discussing the days events in a desultory
fashion, the City Harl telephone rang. One Of
the men answered it and began taking notes.
For a few seconds there was no sound but the
scratching of the reporters pencil on the paper;
then everybody started up. t4-
MY God!" the man at the phone had shout
ed "Say that again" And after pause,
"Spell that name"
There was another pause, during which the
name was being spelled after which the reporter
asked the City Hall man if he was sure he had
it straight Then he called a sharp goodbye,