The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1907-07-26

tied up by a walk-out.
How do you figure in It? Well, YOU
see the chairman of the telegraphers
executive committee and get the whole
story out Js him. he's right at Lake
Lev0n. Names Carleton; do you know
HIN? oh, you do; good. Well. pump
him, and don't put him next to your
business. Both sides intend to night
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 talk" inter
rupted Ruth.
"Cant-how do you know you can't?
It'll take some diplomacy, for he's
sharp fellow but | think you can man
age IT, If he wins his point without
strike, the roads going to give him
an assistant superintendency; II he
doesn't, out he goes. They figure. If
nes good enough to beat them, he's
good enough to beat some other road
for business"
But, butts it necessary to give
his name in the story? Can't get 1t
and hold him safe?"
We'll, I'd be sorry to lose him q
job but that's not our lookout. Write
1t up as comirs simply from one of the
men; he'll have TO run chances on be-
ing found out afterwards"
'I'm-I'm afraid | can't get 1t for
you; can't you send someone else
down here ?" Ruth was making a last
despairing effort 10 avoid the dilemma
before her.
Miss a~clay"-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 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 it. Don't use tie
wire: there's no rush, as the crisis is
some days off yet, | believe. Stick a
special delivery stamp on the story,
and mail 1t to me. You understand?
Make good lively reading out of it
and say, get Cartoons 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 div.
missal, or warn him to be careful, re
sign her place and hunt another among
the rivals of the Planet? Both
courses were 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 a breath; confidence In
her overcame natural caution, and he
told all-of the twelve hundred oper'
ators waiting only on his word 10 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 didnt
ask much" he concluded, while her
brain, seizing upon the facts and tg
ures, stored them away for the dra
matte story which was already taking
form; 1--WE only demand what the Cen
trail, the b. e o., the Lake Shore and
the other big systems are paying theiI
men. We have been conceded every
thing else, but a straight raise OF SlS
a month rather sticks in their crop
Well, it'll soon be over; / expect
message with their decision any time.
Carleton suddenly realized that he
had been talking very freely for hall
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. "Ill 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 moment
he was furiously angry. linen the
girls naive reply and her evident dis
tress touched him, and he forgot hei
treachery in a wave of pity. He
crossed the room and laid his hand OF
the bowed head.
Ruth" he said, softly, I've another
job to offer you. II isn't as good,
know-to share only $50 month and
act as housekeeper for me; but
whole lot of love goes with It,"
She raised her eyes for a moment
the pink came and went in her pretty
4 cheeks. The silent glance wal
enough With little murmur Of JOY
Carleton stretched out his arms
The front gate clicked, there were
rapid footsteps on the walk, and thu
screen door OF the parlor was un
tremendously thrown open. 1t wa
the day operator of the New York 4