The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-09-05
A PIONEER
YELLOW
JOURNALIST
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BY EDGAR WHITE

The LinnVille weekly Express udu
gone to press with page OF original
editorial, three 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-
riculture and stock raising.
1t was hard lines that forced Rich
ard Vinton, an Oxford graduate. to
seek a livelihood by pumping long
primer wisdom into the quiet minds
of the plain country folk in and about
the Missouri hamlet, but he set his
best energies to the task. Week after
week he filled up his editorial page
with the product Of a mind endowed
to lead mankind, but never word OF
recognition had he received for 1t,
save from an occasional exchange
that stole his stuff and ran it in as
original. And that was hardly the
sort of recognition the editor craved.
Vinton had all 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 it looked as if there never
would be. He remarked this bitterly
to Jack Stice, his printer, who had
blown in with the autumn winds, and
stayed because he got three meals a
day, a place to sleep and a few dol
lars per week for incidentals. Stice
had seen all the world he wanted to,
and more, and was content to settle
down with Vinton,> because Vinton
let him talk all he wanted and never
questioned the authenticity Of his
yarns. And If you were ever ac-
quainted with the species you will
know that their Paradise lies in the
discovery of a willing listener.
What we want is fresh news
story" said the printer.
"Of course" said Vinton, "but how
in the world are we going to get one
if nothing ever happens?"
Make one"
"I don't like fakes" remarked the
editor, with dignity
mo more do I. Never could abide
a pipe-dream. Nobody but goslings
uses 'em when they commence max
ing copy. J mean to get up some
thing that's genuine"
You might fall in we'll some
where" said Vinton, dryly.
Before I met you 1 would as
soon's not" said Stice, "but I'm too
we'll 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 Linnville at midnight, was
about to cross the Charlton River
bridge when q masked man stepped
from behind some timbers, and, lev
cling gun at the driver, commanded
him to halt. The horses were
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 in the
premises. Pending the decision he
did nothing. The passengers peered
out the windows and asked what was
the matter. 1t was 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 in uniform got
out of the opposite door Of the We
hicle and went around behind it. He
held something in his hand that
sparkled in the moonlight. The high
wayman didn't see him. The other
passengers cbeyed instructions. The
driver also got out of his box and
stood in the line, with hands uplifted.
The robber stepped back little to
inspect the lineup more critically.
The man in uniform leveled his re-
volver and fired. The knight of the
road turned two startled eyes in that
direction, whirled around and fell to
the ground. The man in uniform
we.lt to the body, revolver in hand.
"Close call for you tenderfcet,"
he said. Lucky I was along"
All 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
was congratulated by everybody, and
took the homage with dignity, as be-
comes a man above the common run.
The wounded outlaw was taken to
a doctors house, and curious crowd
followed in. When the black mask
was removed from his eyes there
were cries Of astonishment by the
town people. 1t was Vinton's printer.
There would have been talk OF a
lynching had not the death bullet
done it's work. ExecratIng language
fell from the lips of the excited spec
tators. 1t was case Of the viper
warmed in the kind mans bosom,
they said. His evil looks had been
mentally noted, some remarked, but
they said they had never liked to
mention it, owing to respect for Vim