Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-05-02

ugly scar
| reached for my pocketbook and
threw II out upon the blotter.
I'VE don't want your money" inter
rupted the foremost Of my antagon-
lists. He had put his gun back in his
broad leathern belt and was fumbling
In his trousers pocket for something
which was eventually forthcoming.
The other gun still looked my way in
gentle reminder.
How long before you go to press?'
continued the spokesman.
Thirty minutes" l responded.
Good" he calculated. Now listen,
You are going to kill every uafavora-
BILE reference in to-morrows paper to
the Genoa water contract! Instead,
you are going to print what we di-
rect"
At once | resolved to refuse utterly.
But the fellow with the revolver drew
the gun directly under my nose and ]
mentally recalled my rash resolution.
"Here!" went on the spokesman,
across the top of the front page we
want this sentence in good black let
ters: The Herald Advises Voters to
Confirm the Genoa Water Contract "
My mind pictured Van Buren's i'm.
placable wrath IL this thing ever ap.
peared.
He threw another sheet at me.
cited:
THE Herald this morning makes
public acknowledgment that It has
been mistaken in its opposition to the
Genoa water contract. After exhaust.
i've examination of all available evi.
dence we have come to the conclusion
that the only available source for n
pure water supply is this neighboring
lake and that the existing exigency de
mands immediate action. Though the
cost be $2,0OO,OO0, we believe the
pending Genoa contract should be con
firmed. We advise every voter to vote
aifirmatively."
The audacity of the scheme appalled,
me and | thought, also, of the per.
sonal consequences If | played the
puppet part laid down for me.
Come on now, whispered the
spokesman. Take this copy to the
night editor and tell him you have
just had a phone message from Van
Buren, ordering this change in policy.
Impress upon him the necessity for
quick action in order to catch the
whole local edition. Remember we are
in the doorway and a single false step
is liable to cause you some pain"
| picked up the copy and started for
McClellands room. | fondly cherished
| hope for relief in this avenue.
Here's pretty mess!" | loudly
shouted into the night editors ears
| wanted to be sure the assaulters
heard Van Buren, has just 'phoned
down that all orr water deal stuff
must be killed and this run instead
He's changed front-says he's coming
out in the morning for the Genoa fel
lows, You'll have to rush this!"
| suddenly bent my head purposing
to drop warning word into McClel-
lands ear. But half way down, my
neck was frozen in its place. | felt
that cold steel beneath my nose and
quickly jerked back bolt upright
THE DEVIL" calculated the night
editor. you've got ten columns up
about the deal on the other side!
There isn't enough here for one col
umn. What'll you fill the rest of the
space with?'
Run in some miscellaneous stuff
you've got all set up" | suggested.
McClelland hastily surveyed the
copy and thrust it into the chute. III
chase 1t up and see that the change
stioks!" he cried, brushing past me
and up the stairs
Good work." gruffly grunted he of
the ugly scar, returning me to the un.
pleasant position of covering before
the metal persuaders.
There was a momentary whispered
conference from which l was exclud-
ed The former spokesman did the
talking.
I'm going upstairs to see that
everything goes according to pro
gram" the former said at length,
turning toward me. You'll stay here
with your friend"-I saw him smile
beneath his mask-"untiI | come
back" Then he added to his fellow
Shoot him If he balks!"
1t was 20 minutes before the villain
returned. l could only draw upon my
imagination for picture of the scenes
upon the floor above.
The night editor had quickly
brought the foreman into conference.
only 20 minutes, Loomis" he had
cried, "and this change must go
through! Here! Set this sentence in
bold-face type across the top of the
front page. Then inside run this par
agraph"-he showed the copy under
LOOMS nose as he spoke-"at the
head OF the editorial column. Fill up
the rest with miscellany"
McClelland watched the operations
with DractiSed eve suggesting now