Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1908-12-17

Didn't you see this man set the wo-
man OFF the roofT'
yes" said the reporter, II saw as
much Of that business as any one did,
l guess
'And do you mean to tell me that
such thing as that is only worth
three or four lines OF copy? Didn't
you make any attempt to find out who
the man was or get any story out of
him?"
Chester was getting angry now.
Stanley's voice came clearly across the
hush that lay on the room.
swell. you see, Mr.. Chester. It didn't
strike me that that business amounted
to so very much. Any man would
have done the same thing Don't you
think so?"
The city. editor was now fairly rous-
ed. and his voice rang like q clarion.
"Why. good Lord, man. don't you
know that the News and the Reporter
will everlastingly scoop us on this
proposition? Here's a man that takes
his life into his bare hands to do a
brave thing-to save three women
from being burned alive-and because
you fall down on the story you try to
belittle the whole thingl You ought
to be ashamed, sir! Why, tomor-
row morning the whole city will be
ringing with that mans name, and
here we are high and dry andSscooped
all because it didn't strike you as
amounting to much"
The young man was pale, and he
mopped at his forehead with his hand
kerchief, but when he spoke his voice
was steady.
"I don't think we'll be scooped this
time" said he. "The man slipped
away from them all. They haven't
any more idea Of where he is now than
you have, Mr.. Chester"
"How do you know thatr' raped
out the city editor. "I suppose you
know who he is and all about it, eh?"
"Yes," said the young man very
Quietly. "I know who he is"
The city editor leaned back in his
chair and stared, fairly gasping for
breath
swell, I'm damnedr' said he at
length. "And you can stand there and
tell me thai you know who this man
was and yet you made no attempt
whatever to get the story?"
Stanley bowed his head without a
word
"Then all I've got to say to you is
that you've botched this business in q
way that ought to everlastingly dis
grace the youngest cub reporter on the
street"
slightly, and then, putting out hand
to steady himself, he spoke:
81 guess you're right, Mr.. Chester" +"
said he 81 know as well as you can
tell me that l haven't shown any abil-
fly in this line of work. You've been
very patient with me. and appreciate
1t. l don't suppose there will be any
need for me to write out a resignation,
will there?' And, turning. he walked
out of the room. IN
The sporting editor caught him at
the head of the stairs and laid kind
ly hand on the boys shoulder.
Harry, old man, I'm awfully sorry
am for fact. Don't take what Ches-
ter said too much to heart. He's away
off tonight anyway. But why didn't
you tell him who the man was, Har-
ryY"
The younger man put out his hand,
but WINGED at the grip that met it.
"Joe," said he, II know Pm not cut
out for this business, and it's just as
well quit it now as later, only-only
I'm sorry had to fall down so hard.
1t wasn't because l didn't know it
would have made good story, but I
can't give the mans name"
The sporting editor spoke quickly.
"Why, man, your hand is bleeding!
Let's have look at It,"
Across the palm and the joints of the
fingers ran deep parallel cuts, and as
the sporting editor bent over them a
great light came to him. Their eyes
met and the older mans were full of
tears.
He strobe back to the editorial rooms
Chester" he called, and the city ed
itor looked up. We've got the mans
name, and, by heavens it's more than
scoop for usr'