The daily tribune., 1907-08-02

dtSo 10 ncar H. Now therS'H pOn,Q,
thing want you to do down there ha.
tore yeu come back to WORK. Th0ra'a
a strike threatening on the New York
q Western. 90, the tip straight, but
| don't dare use 1t from here. Whof
Tho telegraph operators, They want
a raise all along the line, and 40 other
things. The road isn't disposed 10
grant EN- half the demands, and II
looks as II the whole system would he
tied up by d walk-out,
How do you figure In It? We'll. you
see the chairman OF the teiegraphers'
executive committee and get the whole
story out 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 can't make him tall." inter-
rupted Ruth.
"Can't-how do you know you can't?
It'll take some diplomacy, for he's a
sharp fellow; but think you can man.
age 1t. If he wins his point without a
strike, the roads going to give him
an assistant superintendency; II 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 1t necessary 20 give
his name in the story? Cant get 1t
and hold him safe?"
We'll, I'd be sorry to lose him
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
"Im-Im afraid / can't get It for
you; can't you send someone else
down here?" Ruth was making n last
despairing effort to avoid the dilemma
before her.
Miss Barclay"-and there was a
note In his voice she had not heard
before-"this is up to you. There are
dozens of more difficult stories ahead.
of you. If 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 l know it's all right.
Put the ginger into 1t. Don't use the
wire; there's no rush, rs the crisis Is
some days off yet, | believe. Stick
special delivery stamp on the story,
and mail It to me. You understand?
Make good lively reading out of it
and say, get Carleton's picture. Good.
by"
Ruth walked homeward, sorely puz.
zled Regard for Carleton and news
paper instinct, the nose for news"
we're 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 dlstasteful-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
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. II
was only for breath. confidence In
her overcame natural caution, and he
told ali-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 ef-
forts to meet move with move on the
chessboard Of diplomacy. I'VE dida't
ask much" he concluded. while her
brain seizing upon the facts and fg-
ures. stored them AWAY for the dra-
matte story which was already taking
form; I'VE 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 straight raise OF SIS
month rather sticks in their crop.
Well It'll soon be over: expect n
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 II don't" she burst out. mis-
ernbly. I'm lose minc!" Then she
buried her face In her hands.
Johnny understood Instantly: he
had been trapped. trIcked into an In
, toryew which might cost everything.
even the interests OF the hundreds
who relied upon him. For moment,
he was furiously angry. Then tho
girls naive reply and her evident dis
tross touched him. and he forgot her
treachery in wave OF pity. Ho
crossed the room and laid his hand on
the bowed head