The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1913-12-11

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In was with the E-vr1 NlOHNaYl@l
city editor, which SM$$\ " # MGsMa
meant the entire c%N,M SSoR <AsaSlE$sgYY
In nine months ET ~ e.
four city editors "a
had been killed in [z>
the street, and >;SS ~
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no wonder that q aI$. ~
Q IN . porary =. M
said that the pa ~ 49, TNsN
per was rightly VA VIM
patch. QTh lM'
In the part Of
the country where the Dispatch was
printed silence could discount truth
as a virtue. It made no difference
what 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 1t
likely that one could keep on Saying
something without treading upon the
corns of an occasional truth? So. up
on taking charge Of the paper she
could not help but feel a certain re-
sponsibility not to say anxiety. She
could not herself slop around in all
sorts Of weather and get the news or
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 thing that looked like a
yellow ghost She stared at 1t, not
over frightened, having taken w1lirl
at the medical course at school and
| asked what was wanted The man
| 1T was a man-bowed and said that
he had come to offer his services as
city editor And the idea that it would
| be we'll to employ him occurred to
her. No one could have the heart to
murder that skeleton. So she hired
him.
Miss Lelane opened an envelope and
took out communication. 1t told OF
| q desperate fight that had Just oc-
| CURED In the hills. A young man
named Ralph Hicks had killed. in a
fair fight, six ruf1ians who had pro-
voked quarrel with him. The deed
was fulf Of valor that it was a good
thing to print and she printed 1t. 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 a country store,
| In neighborhood where the Angel
I'll I,o =
was a pretty active surveyor. Hicks
was affable and inclined to be con-
ciliatory, but the Angel said that he
wasn't feeling very well. 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 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 it
was good shot. This was also print
ed.
The skeleton would, once in while,
bring in q piece of news. No one
J 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-
tion was often embarrassing. So he
said that he believed he would re-
sign. Lelane urged him to remain
| 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,
ltmping, and said that his other hip
had been dislocated and that 1t was
now time for him to 60 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 1t possible that so fine man
had come to look for death He
| smiled at her. II understand your
situation" said he, "and I 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
card in which he said: "I want it un-
derstood that am going to print the
news"
And he did. There were mutterings
and scowlings, but nothing serious
happened.
LelaDe was happy in her work, for
her paper was prosperous One night
they we're sitting alone in the editor
ial room. Ralph had ceased to write
and was musing. Suddenly he got up,
walked over to Lelanes desk, and
without embarrassing preliminaries,
said. IT love you and beg Of you to be