Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-04-03
SHORTEST Way HOME
BY KATHERINE HoPsoN.

Were sorry to lose you, Stewart,
but don't blame you for going. It's
good chance-better than we can Of
fer you here. perhaps for years
Mr.. Denham, managing editor of the
Recorder, shook hands with Dick Stew
art cordially. The younger man, aft
er thanking him, passed out of the
Office with little glow of pride and
happiness
'Old Denhams mighty good sort,
and he's right I'm lucky chap to
get the place." he unused as he left
the private office. The outer office,
which had been well occupied when
Stewart passed for his interview with
Mr.. Denham, was now practically de-
serted. The men had gone to I'LL
their assignments-exce Fred Da-
Wis. He was clicking away at his
typewriter.
Good luck to you,'' he said, look
ing up with his keen, peculiar smile.
Stewart left the Office to fill his
last assignment before taking his new
position. He was sent to cover the
suburban territory of Rockbridge, and
departed with more than usual alac-
rity. Margaret Wheaton's path lay
in the same direction today.
When she came six months ago to
fill the position of society reporter
for the office, he had fallen in love
with her big brown eyes, her kindli-
ness, her spontaneous gayety, and the
general dearness of her. But he rec
ognized the fact that Fred Davis
also had fallen victim to her charms.
No wonder he congratulated me SO
heartily on my new job; for 1t leaves
the way clear for him." Stewart
thought with a cynicism foreign to
him.
"Well, at last l have a man-size job,
and am justified in speaking to Mar
garet."
He quickened his steps toward the
interurban station, and was SO occu-
pied that he failed to notice a tall.
slender, keen-eyed man dodge into the
waiting room, and then watch to see
which car Stewart entered be-
fore getting on himself and entering
the smoker. Nor did he see him re-
peat the same watchful perform
ance before they both alighted at
Rockbridge.
Stewart hastily covered his own ter
ritory. then hastened to the church
where the Patton Whitney wedding
had just taken place, the reporting of
which was Margaret's object in COM
ing to Rockbridge. She had come
down on an earlier car, and Stewart
had timed himself SO that hes might
arrive on the scene when she was fin
ished with her work Then he could
return to town with her.
He found reporters from other pa
in the fragrant flower decorated
church in which strains of the we'd
ding music seemed stin to linger.
Hargaret. was not there and he
made inquiries. Some one told him
she had just gone; but whether to
the station or to the Whitney home
where the reception was to be, he
couldn't say. Stewart looked at his
watch
There won't be another car for
three-Quarters of an hour yet.
guess she's gone to the house"
Accordingly he made his way to the
place IN question. 1t was one of the
largest, most pretentious homes in
the suburb. Many persons in we'd
ding attire were streaming to the
reception when he reached the house,
and he made his way through the
guests and onlookers with which the
walk was lined From one of the care
takers he learned that Margaret had
been there. BY announcing himself as
a representative of the Recorder he
gained entrance. Everybody except
the girl he was looking for seemed
to be there, and the most careful
search failed to reveal her.
Say, how many people does your
paper send out to write up these So
cial affairs?' asked ore of the guests
whom he knew.
"One-usually. Why?"
We'll, you're the third this after.
noon who has presented himself in
that capacity. / believe the first one
was her." laughed the man.
Miss Wheaton. of course, our reg
ular society reporter. But l don't
know any other from our office who
would be here"
"Oh, he was a tall. slim chap, with
shifty dark eyes,
The description fits Davis, but he
was sitting in the office when Left
Stewart rapidly retraced his steps
| to the station, and found to his cha
| grin that in his search he had not al.
lowed himself enough margin to catch
the next car. and missed it by about
| three minutes. He could see it dis.
appearing in the distance
Yes, Miss Wheaton got on the
car drawled the station agent in an
swer to the question
WAS any one with herr"
Yes, that tall chap who reports
| the sporting news"
Stewart turned away from the win
| dow IT'S certainly Davis" he con.
cluded grimly But how in the world