Evening star., 1914-03-08


mered at typewriter. Both of the news
paper men looked up at the intrusion.
4Ah,, Gentlemen said O'Neill, coming
forward, what can do for your
"Who are your Minot asked.
@Whato Can it be? Is my name not
household word in San Marco? am man.
aging editor of The Mail His eyes light
ed on Paddock's giddy attire. ave can't
possibly let you give ball here tonight, if
that's what you want.
Every humorous" said Minot @But our
wants are far different. won't beat around
the bush. You have some letters here writ
ten by friend of mine to lady he adored
at the moment. You are going to print
them in tomorrow's Mail unless my friend
is easy enough to pay you ten thousand
dollars. He isn't going to pay you anything.
We've come for those letters and we'll get
them or run you and your boss out of town
in twenty-four hours-you raw little black
mailers!'
aBlackmailers!7 O'Neill's eyes seemed to
catch fire from his hair. His face paled.
@I've been in the newspaper business seven
teen years, and nobody ever called me a
blackmailer and got away with it. I'm in a
generous mood. I'll give you one chance to
take that back"
Nonsense! 1t happens to be true put
in Paddock.
3I'm talking to your friend here"
O'Neill's breath came fast. "I'll attend to
you, you lily of the field, in minute. "You
you iar-are you going to take that
back?"
aNo!r cried Minot.
He saw wild Irishman coming for him,
breathing fire. He squared himself to meet
the attack. But the man at the typewriter
leaped up and seized O'Neill from behind.
STEADY, Bob" he shouted. @How do
you know this fellow isn't right?'
Unaccountably the warike one collapsed
into chair. Course it! know he's right
he groaned. @That's what makes me rave.
Why didn't you let me punch him? 1t
would have been some satisfaction. Of
course he's right. l had hunch this was a
blackmailing sheet from the moment my hot
fingers closed on Gonzales money. But so
long as nobody told us we were all right.
He glared angrily at Minot. 4You-you
killjoy!r he cried. "You skeleton at the
feast! You've put us in a lovely fix!'
WELL, I'm sorry,' said NIinot; 4but l
w don't understand these heroics-H
3It's all up now, Harry, moaned O'Neill.
@The free trial is over, and we've got to
in this hollow lotus land, ever to live and lie
reclined-I was putting welcome on the mat
for fate like that. Back to the road for
US! That human fish over in The Chronicle
office was prophet, You look un1ucky-
maybe they'll give you jobs on @The Mail. -
Remember"
4Cool off, Bob,' Howe said. He turned
to Minot and Paddock. @Of course you
don't understand. You see, we're strangers
here. Drifted in last night broke and hun
cry, looking for jobs. We got them-under
rather unusual circumstances. Things
looked suspicious. The proprietor parted
with money without screaming for help, and
no regular newspaper is run like that. But
when you're down and out, you know
Il understand" said NIinot, smiling |
@And I'm sorry called you what did.
apologize. And hate to be a-er-a kill |
joy. But your employer is blackmailer,
and it's best you should know it,
Eyes put in Paddock. @Do you gentle |
men happen to have heard where the editor |
of Gonzales late newspaper published in
Havana is now?'
1--WE do not said O'Nei1l; 3but maybe |
you'll tell u.s."
II will. He's in prison, doing ten years
for blacIunail. l understand that Gonzale |
prefers to involve his editors, rather than
himself"
O'Na;11 car,a o,ar ood hold o,,t b;e I,pd