The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1907-08-13

How do you figure Ia Il? We'll, you
see the chairman of the telegraphers'
executive committee and get the whole
story ON OF him. he's right at Lake
Leven. Names Carleton; do you know
him? Oh, you do; good. Well, pump
him, and don't put him next to your
business. Both sides intend to fight
this thing out on the quiet, unless the
strikes actually declared He'll prob.
ably lose his job for talking"
But l can't make him talk" inter.
rupted Ruth.
"Can't-how do you know you can't?
It'll take some diplomacy, for he's
sharp fellow; but think you can man.
age It. II he wins his point without
strike, the roads going to give him
an assistant superintendency; u he
doesn't, out he goes. They figure, II
he's good enough to beat them, he's
good enough to beat some other road
for business"
But, butts Il necessary to give
his name in the story? Can't / get 1t
and hold him safer"
We'll I'd be sorry 20 lose him a
job but that's not our lookout. Write
1t up as coming simply from one of the
men; he'll have to run chances on be
ing found out afterwards"
'Tm-Im afraid l can't get It for
you; can't you send someone else
down here?" Ruth was making a last
I despairing effort to avoid the dilemma
before her.
Miss Barclay"-and there was a
note in his voice she had not heard
before-"th's is up to you. There are
dozens of more difficult stories ahead
of you. II you can't get them, there
are others who can Pausing a mo
ment TO give the threat of dismissal
its full weight he continued more
| lightly: But | know it's all right.
| Put the ginger into 1t. Don't use the
wire; there's no rush. as the crisis is
some days off yet, l believe. Stick a
special delivery stamp on the story,
and mail it to me. You understand?
Make good lively reading out of it
and say, get Carletons picture. Good
by"
Ruth walked homeward. sorely puz-
zled. Regard for Carleton and news.
| paper instinct, the nose for news"
were at war. What should she do
| pump Carleton. use the story, and take
the chances of his discovery and dis
missal, or warn him to be careful, re-
sign her place and hunt another among
the rivals of the Planet? Both
courses we're distasteful-the first, be-
cause of her friendship for Johnny;
the last, because of loyalty to the
| paper which she had served faithfully
for three years.
The habit of obedience TO others.
and the newspaper instinct that sensed
good copy" drove her-even while
she hated herself-to draw Carleton
out that afternoon, while they were
alone together at her home. Ruth
and the impending strike shared all
his waking thoughts. 1t was not hard
to lead the conversation to strikes in
general and railroad strikes in partic-
ular. Then Ruth saw him hesitate. 1t
was only for BREATH confidence in
her overcame natural caution, and he
told all-of the twelve hundred oper-
ators waiting only on his word TO walk
out; of the railroads crafty attempts
| to outwit him and his own anxious eff
forts to meet move with move on the
chessboard of diplomacy. I'VE didn't
ask much" he concluded, while her
brain, seizlng upon the facts and 70
ures, stored them away for the dra-
matte story which was already taking
form; 1--WE only demand what the Cen
| tral, the b. & o., the Lake Shore and
the other big systems are paying their
men, We have been conceded every
| thing else, but a straight raise of SIS
a month rather sticks in their crop.
Well, it'll soon be over; | expect a
message with their decision any time"
Carleton suddenly realized that he
had been talking very freely for half
an hour. "Of course. you won't print
all this I've been telling you. II you
! do, I'll lose my job
And If ] don't" she burst out, mis-
erably, "I'll lose mine!" Then she
buried her face in her hands.
Johnny understood instantly; he
had been trapped, tricked into an in
terview which might cost everything,
even the interests of the hundreds
who relied upon him. For a moment
he was furiously angry. Then the
girls naive reply and her evident dis
tress touched him, and he forgot her
! treachery in a wave of pity. He
crossed the room and laid his hand on
the bowed head.
Ruth" he said, softly, I've another
job to offer you. 1t isn't as good.
know-to share only $50 month and
act as housekeeper for me; but a
whole lot of love goes with IT,"
She raised her eyes for a moment:
the pink came and went in her pretty
cheeks. The silent glance was
enough. With little murmur of Joy.
Carleton stretched out his arms
The front gate clicked. there were
rapid footsteps on the walk. and the
screen door of the parlor was un-