The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-03-22
The Beat Of
the Y ear
BY Roberf Livingston Beecher
eo,r.leHr. -. 81 rar r.A.ses ,r,l.sarse GO.

cut of Greening, | think you said.
/ Now. If We had picture of the girl
/ the story'd be about perfect guess
we could get out a cut in time"
Bruce put his hand in his inside coat
pocket and then held out a photograph.
Here it is. sir, he said
A pitiful cry burst from the man in
the chair.
Don't" he cried. Don't use It.
Don't put her picture in It'll kill her.
For Gods sake. Don't show it to me.
Don't know what she looks like9''
He shut his eyes and the tears ran
down his cheeks.
The Managing Editor studied the
face for moment in silence Then he
turned over the photograph and looked
keenly at the back Then he laid 1t
down gently on the desk
WE'LL be said, guess there's
nothing further to keep us here"
The Night City Editor rose from his
seat and turned towards the door
Just moment, though" added the
previous speaker. There was one
thing noted. while Joyce was speak
ing. want to look into"
The Night Editor sat down again
and the Managing Editor began rum
masing among the papers and docu.
ments lying on the desk before him
which Bruce had brought from the
Fifty -eighth Street dat. Finally. he
picked up letter and balanced it in
his large hand.
This Is stamped. addressed, and
sealed" he said, quietly, and under
ordinary circumstances no newspaper
man should open it Now, however. I
believe l am Justified We would get
it later anyway, after it had been
through the coroner's hands. 1t NAV
be simply social letter.
He broke the seal and drew out A
large number OF pages OF thin rice
paper. covered With writing In a small,
neat hand.
The Managing Editor went halfway
down the first page Then he looked
across at the Night City.
I'd better read this aloud, = he said
He cleared his throat and began:
Ny Dear Jack:.-I am greatly dis.
appointed that ron cannot meet me In
jersey City tomorrow night, as I gug
gested. II is an especial grief to me
because you are, as you know. nv best
friend, and this was an occasion when
mans best friend was expected ID
be present Do you smell rat al
ready?
did not tell what I wanted you
for, because, as you wifi see. when you
get deeper into this note, it vas ad
yisable that the utmost secrecy be pre-
Eerved, and / feared-as I would fear
In regard to any man (not to mention
any womaD so it's no siur on you
jack feared that II / told you what
it was all about, some of your particu
lar pals might worm It out Of you in
an unguarded moment. OF course
they may worm 1t out of you now, but
| didn't have to let the kitten out OF
the portmanteau then, and feel II
my duty to you to do so at this pre-.
eDt time
OF course, Philadelphia il not Tar
from jersey City and you could have
returned the same night, but I know
from what you say. that 1t is irnposst
Bile, so that's an end ont.
To make clean breast of n nv
dear fellow. I'm going 10 BE- married
In fact, by the time this reaches you
~ will have been. Well. knew /,
would surprise you. Not, of course
that you ever thought me cut out for a
bachelor, but because you have never
had any inkling, either from me. our
mutual cronies, or the society columne
Surprise No. O. she is not in gu,
set What do you say to that? II
you're the good fellow know you are
you'll say: what Of that, so long al
she's the right sor.s There. knew
you would. So congratulate me with
all your heart, for she Is the right
sort,' IL ever a girl was.
You know the old man. He has &c,
his heart on my marrying that mutual
friend OF ours on Riverside Drive. and
he won't take no from me. In fact. he
went so far seven months ago, as to
(. threaten to disinherit me IL didn't
lead her shrinking form to the altar
go you can imagine not only what he
4cou1d sag. but what he might do If |
crossed him in this, the dearest wish
of his proud old heart.
Indeed, we had 1t hot and heavy
this very evening. and he gave me ia
understand. and in pretty plain terms
my pater has very pretty knack
with words at times-sAst be s1
pecfed me 10 propose in short order.
was his only son, wasn't II |
was ] would inherit all his millions
! IL behaved myself. wouldn't r. had
been given to understand that would
He was entitled 10 flial obedience
wasn't he? He was. Well, then 20
and marry the Heiress OF the Drive.
His logic seemed unanswersble II
him and the best could do was To
pacify him az best could and assure
him that ] would make desperate
even heroic, effort 10 fall In love with
her. Inasmuch as It was the night
before my own marriage TO somebody
Who Was very far from either living on
the Drive, or being an Heiress. felt
somewhat guilty, but what else could
I do9