Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1910-03-04

kYEESsy I'D HIS true iiSht' wa" '"
rupted once more This time by the en-
trance 81 the "rptnsli hued face OF the
poet reldri.r. Powell
You sent for me. sir?' asked the
new scribe.
80 you've covered a suicide?" said
Brand.
"Powows'' eyes rolled wildly. BE
clasped his hands and his knees shook
in his horror M what he had learned.
"Oh. yessir-u terrible sight! shall
dre-e-e-a.m of il. sir. IT would take q
Dante to write of it. On. r.
"What was his girls name?" asked
Brand in matter Of fact tones.
Madeline"
"Madpline WHAT"
Her last name" the poet asked
aazedly. e" guess don't remember.
Oh. yes. it was .Ienks-Madeline
Jenks." He spoke fcvrriShly.
Brand picked up the poets first
newspaper story ard began to read 1t.
In spite of ;he high pressure Of events
that night III the Advance office. In
spite Of lis ever present fear that Bar
telmy and Dupuy might 10 some way
persuade Nolan to order lie sensat iOnal
bribery story killed. this many sided
young man found the time To bother
with the fantastic young poet reporter
ard his fantastic first article.
Madeline Jerks. eh:' commented
Brand. turning over the pages. We'll,
the first place you mention her name
is on page 3
He plucked off the first two pages
and threw them on the door. Powell
WINGED painfully AZ, the massacre Of
bis first reportoriats ,frspring. Begin
there" said Brand Powell hinged
downward 10 rescue his first two
pages. but Brand kicked them away
from him. "Where'd she live?" be
next asked.
Powell clasped his hands and gazed
plaintively at the ceiling.
"Over chop suey cafe, sir"
Number and Street!'
"Two forty-three and half West
Pearl street"
Brand threw away two more pages.
Powell watching Tim anxiously the
while.
Put that next Here. Madeline
jerks" Brand began to write. IAN in
mate of 243h West Pearl street. What
did she do"
she destroyed herself utterlyv' the
new reporter walled.
Brand went Oh writing.
rs she dead"
ayes, sir"
"Shot and killed herself-whenT
"TOnight at > o'clock"
Brand wrote on.
Last night at . o'clock. Why?"
Powell answered very intensely:
"Oh. she could no longer face the
ghastliness Of her existence. She knew
She
"She was weary of lif@ in the
streets"
II don't blame her." Brand COM
mented to himself. He turned to
Powell. There's your story. Thirty
words-you had 5000. And remember
the story of the creation was told in
600 words"
Powell, picked up the pages Of hia
story which Brand had discarded and
walked dejectedly away.
Mac" Brand ordered. here's Il
dance hall suicide. Put it with local
brevities. will yOu?"
Had Brand at this moment been able
to see through the wall that separated
the composing room from the hall he
would have witnessed sight that
would have deprived him of some OF
the self possession that marked bis
present demeano: A figure clad in an
elaborate evening gown crept softly
up the stairway, stood irresoluteiy at
the landing and then turned in'o the
managing editors office. judith Bar
telmy probably never looked more
beautiful in her life than she did that
night. A flush OF excitement enhanced
the soft alurement OF her exquisite
features, and the low cut neck of her
sleeveless gown completed picture
Of feminine loneliness that. innOcently
enough on her part. was admirably
adapted to the purpose Judge Bartelmy
had in his unprincipled mind when he
sent her to the Advance Office. You
afe my only hope" be had told, her