The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-03-13
THE SCOOP
THAT FAILED
BY Vim. G. StiegIer

Mark Everett was one OF those re-
! porters who are born. not made. From
| his earliest copycarrying days he had
made the public world his own, study
! ing its characters and exploring its
sinister ways until its atmosphere had
become his very breath of life. It's
monotonous routine never dulled his
enthusi asm; its work, however slav-
ish never found him conscious of
fatigue When he reported nothing
doing on a story il meant just that.
Then, one summer, Mark went away
for his vacation. 1t was the first time
he had ever done so-just two
weeks jaunt on the lakes; but when
he came back he was changed He
had seen a new world, and somehow
the luster of the old seemed dimmed.
Former haunts lost their lure, and he
would sit for hours at headquarters,
with his feet on the press table and
m-dream-dream.
Those cold, blue northern waters;
the fragrant freshness OF the winds;
the green-ribbed shores that glinted
in the mist-strained light-how he had
enjoyed them all! Such delightful peo
pie, too, And she-ah. she was best
.of all. Her eyes-how beautiful
deeper and bluer than the lakes them
selves, Sometimes they were yelled
as with the moisture of tears; once
or twice he had seen them glow with
the sunlight Of smiles. She hal
spoken scarcely dozen words to him.
yet the memory of her had lifted WON.
anhood to loftier heights Of reverence,
clothing even the commonest police
court drab with an inviolability that
transformed her from jest to an OBJ
ject of pity. 1t had been all too brief
he might never see her again.
Just such a dream 1t was that the
city editor interrupted one afternoon
about a month after Marks return.
Here's a tip from Detroit on a big
story" he snapped over the telephone.
Morgan the defaulting bank cashier.
is believed to be hiding here Detec
lives have found letter mailed to his
out on it right away and play it for
a big exclusive"
All of Marks news facilities leaped
to quick responsiveness, and his blood
tinecd with the love of excitement as
he set out u50n his quest And luck
vas with him for the proprietress of
he boarding house at 3l4 Denman
place was none other than Maude
Wicherly, whom he knew as a maker
If past police history.
1T won't get you anything to throw
me down on this" Mark urged sig.
niflcantly when she denied having
any guest named Morgan. Then she
suddenly remembered that a man on
the third floor by the name Of Stephens
had received letters from Detroit-he
might be the person sought.
Mark promptly found the door,
which, after an interval of knocking, |
was cautiously opened by small, pale
man with iron gray hair.
How do you do, Mr.. Morgan?" be- |
gan Mark, CURLY, pushing his way into
the room.
The man started back in speeches. J
fright, his face blanching before the
reporters accusing gaze who are |
you?" he finally gasped.
I'm detective, come to take you
back TO Detroit. so you'd better make a
clean breast of the whole business"
Mark advanced a Stephen stopped
as if paralyzed. He closed his eyes
but when he opened
them the vision was still there-not as
in his dreams and memories-yet un.
she.
A wild fear burned in her widened
eyes. as she halted in the doorway of
the adjoining room.
"Mr. Everett" she murmured Then |
she dropped quickly on her knees be
side the old man, who was now sitting
with his face buried in his quivering |
hands. What is it, papa?" she
-u~~~~-~u-zu,--x- -