Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-03-08
THE BEAT OF THE YEAR
BY Robert Livingston Beecher.
Copyright, 1909. by the Pearson Pub
fishing Coz
BY Robert Livingston Beecher.
Copyright, 1909. by the Pearson Pub
CONTINUED From Yesterday

For a moment the two big thrashing
! figures In the deep shadow behind the
| desk were the only signs of life in the
room. Then. from the lips of the man
! lying bound upon the floor, burst forth
another cry for help.
Before a second could come forth,
Bruce had damned the silken scarf
back into the desperate mans throat.
Then he rushed around the desk to
where a fierce conflict was still raging
and out of the darkness came a voice
full OF the fierce joy Of battle, the
voice of McGinnis:
Keep off the grass, lad It's me
own shindy!
Bruce was too wrought up to laugh.
He sat down on a nearby couch and
awaited developments.
Presently. the thrashing and tum-
bling slackened and McGinnis's voice
arose again out of the shadows of the
battlefield:
Bedad, it's sorry | am it's over.
Tie his feet, me boy"
When the job was complete. gag and
/ all, McGinnis rose and stretched him.
self. One eye was half shut, his lips
were bloody. his left ear was torn.
His collar had disappeared and his
cravat would know him no more. But
smile OF boundless satisfaction
beamed down upon the Younger man.
Glory be-" said the Irishman.
slowly. Il wouldn't a-misSed it for
even an OranGemen's picnici
Bruce laid his finger on his lips and
/ listened. No one seemed 10 have
heard the noise Of conflict At least,
oil To in
vestigate.
Bruce looked at his watch. It was
nine o'clock.
His mind reverted instantly 10 the
journalistic features OF the situation.
They wouldn't put this story in the
first edition, anyhow, McGinnis," he
said. They'd print the story that
| Connors IS writing down there now or,
| at least they wouldn't tone II down
much-they'd do that anyway to
throw the other papers of the track.
Probability is they wouldn't use il
even in the second. If the World and
the American didn't see any change in
our two O'Clock second edition. they'd
never hold their staf so as 10 lift any
thing out OF our third at three. When
our stOTy-rhis story-gets on the
street. they'll have shut up shop for
the night-Of course. except the men
on the lobster editions of tomorrow
| afternoon papers. Put we can't help
that. Well beat every morning paper
| to smithereens."
In his renewed reportorial enthusi-
asm the speaker forgot the WEAKNESS
of the flesh.
I'll write the story here. Nc
Ginnis." he went on. "If'I left You
with these three folks and went down
10 the Office now. the thing'd leak out
down there before midnight sure, and
/ someone'd tip off the yellows.' Be-
sides. want 10 see Connors's story set
up in type just as he's writing II"
Bruce smiled grimly
Go out and get something to eat,
McGinnis," he continued. "and bring
me back a bite and a bottle of milk.
I've got a hard three hours ahead OF
me yet"
Some time later. Bruce turned in his
chair az the desk, brightly illuminated
now with an incandescent light in a
green glass shade and looked down
at the figure of their second captive,
still lying on the floor beside the desk.
The policeman had been taken in and
laid on the floor in the bedroom.
Loosen that scarf. will you please,
McGinnis." said the young man.
quietly, 81 want 10 ask a few ques-
tons"
When the scarf had been pushed
down over the mans chin, he wet his
lips again with his tongue. At his
head sQuatted NcGinnis. ready to
choke back any new outcry.
Bruce laid down his pencil and
! munched a sandwich.
Do you know a society reporter
by the name of Dallin. Cecil Dallin? a"
he asked, off-handedly
The man on the floor hesitated.
Why?" he asked.
The first speaker went on as If he
had not heard.
I'm sure you're the man we sus-
pect you are" he said. but il makes
it a trifle awkward in writing a big
story of this kind If We have 10 hedge
about IL. A man who IS alleged by
the police to be sounds fiat. If Dali
lin knows you, he'll identify you"
McGinnis roughly Tearranged the
scarf and Bruce rose 10 his feet.
I'm going out McGinnis." he said,
to phone the Office"
The freshman looked up quickly.
No." added the younger man, not
to give the snap away. There's three
things to be done before VIC do that.
I'm going to find out if Dallin, orr So
ciety man, knows this-our friend
here. If he does, I'll have him warned
not to leave the Office before half-past
one O'Clock.
Then I'll have Bill Steed, ono Of
the reporters who's a chum of mine,
slip out and run up 10 the house Of
our friends father and inquire as to
our friends whereabouts.
Then. whether our society re-
porter's on deck or not. I'll have a
friend of mine in the art department
hunt up a photo OF our friend here
and have ii ready for me when | reach
the Office It's cinch we've got a
picture of him filed away-perhaps a
cut.
:" At any rate. I'll swear the people
| talk 10 10 secrecy about me. II
might cOmplicate matters if It became
known that | was phoning the Office
after having been lost TO the world.
and to ConnOrs, since one o'clock this
afternoon"
Bruce smiled. McGinnis looked
puzzled.
What're yer going to do with this