The Prescott daily news., 1913-10-24

patch. QQA M'
In the part of
the country where the Dispatch was
printed silence could discount truth
as virtue. 1t made no difference
what a man might know-it was what
he said that got him into trouble. But
how was 1t possible to print the news
without saying something, and was it
likely that one could keep on saying
something without treading upon the
corns of an occasional truth? So, I'D.
on taking charge of the paper she
could not help but feel a certain re-
spons1bility not to say anxiety. She
could not herself slop around in all
sorts of weather and get the news. OF
course she could edit the paper-any
one could do that, as nine-tenths of
the politicians in the district were
ready to swear; but any one would
not dare to gather the news. While sit
ting at her desk. the first morning
after taking active control she heard
cough. and looking up saw standing
near her a thing that looked like a
yellow ghost. She stared at it, not
over frightened, having taken a whirl
at the medical course at school and
asked what was wanted. The man
it was man-bowed and said that
he had come to offer his services as
city editor. And the idea that it would
be well to employ him occurred to
No hA RI
murder that skeleton So, she hired
him.
Miss Lelane opened an envelope and
took out a communication. It told of
a desperate fight that had Just oc
Cured in the hills. A young man
named Ralph Hicks had killed, in a
fair fight, six ruffians who had pro-
voked a quarrel with him. The deed
was full of valor that 1t was good
thing to print and she printed It. A
few days later she received another
communication from a fellow named
Holt Smith. giving another account OF
the valiant Ralph Hicks. This time a
desperate known as the Swamp An
gel had met him at country store
In a neighborhood where the Angel
was owner of all he surveyed, and he
was a pretty active surveyor, Hicks
was affable and inclined to be con-
ciliatory, but the Angel said that he
wasn't feeling very we'll. having just
got up from a shake down OF chills
and fever, and he thought that little
fresh blood was about what he need
ed. Hicks asked him If a doctor had
given him that sort of prescription
and the Angel lowed" that he had
and Hicks shot the Angel between the
eyes and the coroner declared that II
was good shot. This was also print
ed.
The skeleton would, once in while
bring in piece of news. No one
thought of killing him. yet they made
it inconvenient One man hit him
with mallet and dislocated his hip,
and laid him up for day or two, and
another fellow knocked him down,
Just to hear him rattle, but otherwise
no damage was done. Still his posi-
ton was often embarrassing. So he
said that he believed he would re-
sign. Lelane urged him to remain a
day or two longer, till she could find
another skeleton. or some other phys
ical unfortunate immuned against at
tack. He said that he was willing.
Two days later the skeleton came in,
limping and said that his other hip
had been dislocated and that 1t was
now time for him to go. She paid
him off and he went out. At this mo-
ment there entered tall. handsome
fellow with black, ripping hair. She
smiled and asked him to be seated.
Was Ii possible that so fine man
had come to look for death He
smiled at her. 81 understand your
situation" said he. land l am deter
mined to help you. | have had con-
siderable experience in this sort of
work. My name is Ralph Hicks"
She seized his hand. He was the
one man who could dare to print the
news. And she engaged him.
The people were astonished to read
that Ralph Hicks had taken the news
end of the Dispatch. He printed a
card in which he said: 81 want 1t un-
derstood that am going to print the
news"
And he did. There were mutterings
and scowlings, but nothing serious