El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-06
(By Mana Springer whitel
b6T JUMPING Jehosophatm The city
editor did not say "Jehosophat

- WAaT he ala say COO1OH SS
through the mails. and besides no nice
editor would print it anyway-Iil pct
he's bringing me another woman"
His eyes were fixed on the door OF
the managing EDITORS room. where the
head of the force stood talking to a
small shabbily dressed woman whose
general frailty of appearance was en-
phasized by the dead whiteness of her
face, in which her eyes, black. deep
set, with purple rings beneath them,
were the only touch Of color.
1.-The boss has unionized the compos-
ing room, and now he wants to woman
ize the office'-the man at the next
desk looked around for approval of his
quip.
when I said that the first time,
thought it was mighty clever" drawled
the city editor, with his eyes on his
superior, who, having motioned the
woman TO a seat in his office, was COM
ing toward the city desk.
Want another feminine addition to
the staff. Golden?" The chief smiled
half apologetically. He knew his pol
icy Of giving certain lines Of editorial
work TO women newspaper workers did
not meet with the approval of his city
editor.
well. we've got Miss Coleman for
the sobs. Miss Patchen for society.
Mrs Treat for women's club, Miss
Heathcote for books and Miss Holden
for exchanges. 1t seems TO me were
pretty well supplied returned the city
editor with a grin. but II there's
somebody you want placed. can al
ways make room for one more"
'sIt would be a favor to me-" admit
ted the chief Mrs Hackett is the
widow OF an old friend Of mine. She
had some slight experience in news
paper work before her marriage-and
her education is adequate for any po-
sition- 1 think you may be able to use
her inside the office to do city briefs
and take telephone messages"
"a feminine member Of the mosqui-
to fleet?" queried the city editor.
Exactly smiled the chief. "and
with the mosquito fleet salary. But I
should prefer that you did not send
her outside the office without you
speak to me about it first She will
report TO you at once"
From Mrs Hackstt's first day in the
office she was a puzzle to the office
force. Shabby and nondescript In her
apparel, there was yet the vague hint
that If the woman possessed the mon
ey to dress, she would know how to
absolute necessary ones of her work;
she never picked up a magazine or
newspaper in her leisure moments. as
did the other members Of the staff,
but spent the time sitting in her cor
ner OF the mosquito fleet bench, gazing
at the floor Her face and eyes held
always a fixed, almost expressionless
look. and yet the comment Of the Don
Juan of the staff voiced the thoughts
of many OF the others:
Must have been a id fine looking
woman once"
shes worked under some good news
paper man sometime" said the city
editor one night aftef Mrs. Hackett had
turned in her copy and gone. All
this little routine work she does we'll
But wouldn't she be a frost on a really
good story? Can you imagine that face
and those clothes on big assignment"
It'll tell you what 1 think The
police reporter took his pipe from his
mouth She's gone against the dope
at some time or other. Don't think
she's hitting it now, but you never saw
eyes and skin like that but there was
morphine back Of it somewhere"
It was the very next day that the
unbelievable happened. The last man
had just departed on the afternoon
assignments when the city editors
phone rang.
God God" he said. when he had
listened a moment. Where is she
now? Who's attending her? Say,
Johnson. listen. You round up Har-
den, Billings and Martin. Harden's
over in the council room, Billings in
the bureau Of public works. and Mar
tins coming to join you on that Hast
Of
to the hotel, size up the situation and
call me from there. Billings is to go
with Harden. I'll have Burke meet
them in the lobby. Have Martin call
me up and you keep in touch with
headquarters. Let me know the minute
anything develops. and for Gods sake
all Of you get a move on"
While he was speaking he had
pressed the bell Of the speaking tube
leading to the photographer room. He
put up the receiver and took the tube.
Burke" His tone was Imperative
Get to the Senate hotel as fast as
you can. Governor dead. and his wife
badly wounded; found with revolver in
her hand. lying across his body. You'll
meet Harden in the lobby, and he'll tell
you what to get"
He dropped the tube with a gasp Of
relief as the outer door opened and
the managing editor came in.
Gee! Foster. but it's lucky you hap
pened down early" he said. johnson
just phoned from police headquarters
that governor Adkins has been found
dead in his rooms at the Senate hotel
you know they only came to the city
yesterday-and his wife, terribly
wounded, was lying across his body
clasping a pistol. She had shot her
self three times in the attempt TO make
the thing good. She is at the hotel. 8
they say II will kill her to move her.
She'll probably die anyway, but, of
course. they'll try to get a statement
from her.
who's out on it?'
Harden, Billings and Martin. John.
son will watch the police end Burke
has gone for photos. It'll take some
little time. though Not man in the
office when the phone came"
THE afternoon papers will take the
meat out of the story" said Foster in
cisively. Hear the extras now. The
thing we want is an exclusive inter
Tiew with the woman If she RECEIVERS
long enough to talk You