The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-30
The EVENING STORY
An Editors Strategy.
(By M. j. Phillips. }


Hugh Price, on familiar terms with
aldermen, policemen, a mayor. two
congressman and a senator, felt his
heart beat unanimously when thus
stumbled over a chair on his way to
answer. the implied summons. But
then, the various gentlemen enumer-
ated weighed more-much more
than. a hundred and twenty pounds;
their compilations were certainly not
dainty pink and white; and their
hair did not curl enticingly about
their ears. And they did not always
or overlook sweet and fresh and
distractingly pretty.
"Why-yes; that is no." STAN
mered Hugh as the girl looked at
him demurely. 1.-The important point,
Miss Mcclure, is that Mrs Boggs is
at Hilltop for day. believe I would
not say she went on the nine-three
train. That isn't necessary"
Thank you, Mr.. Price" murmured
Audrey Mcclure. as she raised her
eyes. She stole a glance after him as
he went out hurried1y; but Price was
too busy humping against the door
frame to know it.
There was different atmosphere
IN the editorial room of the Ramona
Daily Telegram" since Miss Mcclure
had become society editor. She knew
nothing Of newspaper making: but
the editor had been a friend of her
fathers. He had put her to work
after John McC1ure's death, partially
for old times sake and also for the
satisfaction of seeing the wolf retreat
from the humble porch of the Nc.
Clures.
The three cubs who covered the city
OF Ramona under Prices sternly
| critical eye still wrangled over theil
respective journalistic ability, bui
| without profanity now. Price and the
| managing editor regretfully aban.
doned pipes of hoary age and terrific
| odor. 1t came to be regarded as ba6
at the same time. But despite these
changes, which, an earthquake could
scarcely have accomplished in the Of
fee, Miss Mcclure felt anything but
at home-at first. Crushed by the
| cares Of the society desk, she either
sat staring perplexedly into vacancy
or pecking away gingerly at her new
typewriter with tapered white fore
fingers.
It was to Price that she always ap-
her humbly. During slack times in
the office they brought her their
troubles - mostly love affairs - and
needed promptly when she told them
their ties were not becoming. But
they did not presume to aid or criti-
size their mentor.
The consultations with the society
editor were moments of fearful pleas
ure for Price. For the city editor was
bashful- unbelievably bashful. He got
along famOusly with men; and regu-
larry he won the hearts and inmost
secrets of women who were old or
faded or unattractive. But when a
''girl-story" came up the managing
editor always asked: us she pretty 2"
If she was, one of the cubs inter-
viewed her. for the bashful Price was
useless.
He tried manfully, but vainly to
overcome this handicap SO far as
Mis- Mcclure was concerned. Ger
It was remarkable how much tutoring
she required. Long after the society
page came to be regarded as a model
for that part of the state she felt
| bound to consult him. :.
Perhaps Price would not have been
so self-conscious could he have kept
his mind strictly on the subject In
hand. But when a chap is marveling
| on the wonderful depth of brown
eyes upturned to his own; of specu-
laid his cheek against another smooth
round cheek; or Ntrying to imagine
| the feeling Of a wandering tendril OF
hair curled about his finger-it was
enough that he was able to talk at
all!
'Mr. Price," she said, one rainy
afternoon, when Ramona was as dull
as ditchwater and the telegraph wires
indicated a similar state of SON.
Violence throughout the world, twill
you help me a moment, please?"
Price dropped the pencil with which
he had been butchering the effusion
! of one of the cubs, upset the waste
| basket and hurried to her side. She
| had been part of the force three
months now, but at her lightest word
Price still dropped something OF
overturned something. or BOTH The
! cubs snickered over the habit-in
! secret. Miss Mcclure never seemed
to notice it.
There were about twenty-five par
ties last night she said plaintively
s1've written fifteen of them, and
every paragraph is alike. Can't you
suggest something little different
from "A merry company of young
people assembled last evening at the
home of Miss Clemantine DUNN
An inspiration that almost choked
him with its daring seized Price
Here. let me show YOU" he said
hurriedly. and dropped into the chair
she had vacated. This is Thursday
| isn't it ?" he asked, and attacked the
! typewriter fercely. He arose witt
a sigh that ended abruptly in a gulp
This is what she read:
Miss Audrey Mcclure entertained z
select party at her home Thursday
evening. All who were expected came
despite the rain"
Notwithstanding her occurrences
Miss Audrey was a young woman Of
complete" she remarked. matter-of
factly, and added to the item: 'F'udgs
and lemonade was served
The select party came, despite
the rain, and therefore continued tt
come twice a week Some evenings
prodigiously garrulous. He devouret
large quantities of fudge lemonade