The Washington times., 1910-12-19
CHAPTER II (Continued.)

CHAPTER II (Continued.)
TN this train o. thought he reached a
cafe. Through the window he could
see a group Of men seated at a table
playing cards. and drowsy cashier
seated at her desk A cat lay curled
in front Of the stove a waiter stood
behind the players and watched the
game IN a corner another waiter was
reading an illustrated weekly. 1t was
cold outside Within the cafe there was
tep5d calm Shivering with fatigue
and cold, Barton entered and took a
seat The smoke-Iaden atmosphere was
peTvaded with an odor Of food, coffee
and ~absinthe, actentuated by the heat
from the stove 1t was an Odor which
ordinarily he loathed, but which now
seemed strangely inviting to him He
ordered a cup Of coffee and brandy,
rubbed his hands, distractedly picked
Up an evening paper from a neighbOr-
ing table, dropped il again, leaped 10
his feet. and exclaimed, half aloud
by jove, I've got it!'
One Of the players turned around The
waiter stopped, thinking that he was
called, and said
Right away sir
NO, 1 don't want you Have you
''Yes, sir The door to the right at
the end OF the corridor"
Thanks
He sIipped between two tables, walked
down the corridor, found the booth;
closed the door behind him, and picked
I'D the receiver After an eXasperaLlng
interval, he heard a voice:
Number, pleaSeE
Give me us Main"
He heard the busy. hum Of the cen
tral Office, and the click Of the receiver
IN his ears At last q voice answered.
fHaTCT''
Changing his voice. he inquired:
rs this lis AIaIn2"
Yes What DO =Cu WanI!
rs this the Plane-E
Yes
u want 20 speak to the night editor"
Another voice interrupted the conver-
Fation-the voice Of central asking Tor
4 number.
am spe-kIng- HaIlOI Is this the Planet2
I wan TO speak TO the night editor
I'm possible. He's down in the com
posing room. He has left orders not to
TEL lin It's mater Of the utmost
Importance
s'I'u see. What name snail I give2''
Barton had not thought OF that But
without the slightest hesitation he re-
Piled
TEL him its the managing editor, NJ.
Very well, sir II tel him Hold
the wire"
He heard the Ccv fused murmurs of the
nGAEEaDG DLLce--d vague TQTnDle OF
machinery, rustling Of papers. and loud
calls He saw the hurry and confusion
as plainly as Il he had been at the other
end Of the wire He recognized every
sound he heard
IN Chenard2' asked the night ed
itOr. somewhat out Of breath
No, this is not NJ Chenard,-' Bar
ton replied, Disgusting his voice Il
beg your pardon for calling myself your
managing editor I gave his name in
order that I might speak 10 you per
sonally, for what have 70 say is OF
greatest Importance -
Wei. who are your
'N hether my name IS Dupont OF Du-
rand is Of no consequence Besides.
We are losing time"
This sounds Ike q joke
For Heavens sake cried Barton
don't ring OF! I've got q beat for you
something that no other newspaper
VIII have until tomorrow afternoon Are
you on the press nOw2"
we are about 20 run of tonorrow's
paper It's now all made up I've no
''You'u frave TO cut out something and
put in what I viii now dictate to you:
"A frightful crime has been commit
ted at No. . Boulevard Launes, in a
house Inhabited by an old man OF about
sixty The victims throat was cut
from his ear to his chest. The motive
OF the crime seems 10 have been rob
lone minute, please What's the ad-
dress again2''
NO - boulevard LanueS-
Thanks But how am 7 20 know
that this is all true2 I can't print this
without some proof There's no tine
70 verify what you say Tell ne where
you picked this UP. Halloi HalIoi Don't
ring Of HaIloT''
7 can't give you any proof" answer
ed Barton 7 NAV be the murderer
myself What difference does II
mslce2 Let ne tell You this. viii buy
the first number Of the Planet now on
tina press, and If The news I have given
you has not been printed. 7 viii pass
Il along TO the Telegraph. your rival
After that. you viii have to settle ac-
counts with N Chenard-
zone minute, please. When did you
FIRST
Barton hung up the receiver. left the
booth entered the cafe, and drank his
coffee with the air Of a man satisfied
with himself. He called the waiter and
paid him with a bin, the last n his
wallet, merely for the sake o. making
a. impression. Then he turned up his
eat collar and went out As the door
sfammed behind him, he said 10 him
self
Barton, my boy, you are q great
reporter