Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-05-26
Max get up and leave the car.

Max get up and leave the car.
Noiselessly Max returned to tn
group and stood silent, his eyes wide
his yellow face pitiful, the fear Of .
dog about to be whipped In his ever,
feature
"Jim." be cried, "Jim! You got b
get me out Of this You got to stant
by me-"
"Why. what's the matter, Lour ask
ed the mayor in surprise.
Matter enough" whined Max. Ok
you know what's happened? Well, II
tell"-
Mr.. Max was thrust aside and re
placed BY a train newsboy. Mr.. Ma
gee felt that be should always remem
Der that boy. his straw colored hair
his freckled beaming face, bis lips witt
their fresh perpetual smile.
"All the morning papers. gents" pro
claimed the boy. "Get the Reutor
Star. All about the bribery"
He held up the paper. It's huge
black headlines looked dull and OLD
and soggy But the story they told
was new and live and startling.
'"rhe Mayor Trapped" shrilled the
headlines. Attempt to Pass Big Bribe
Mt Baldpate Inn Fooled by Star Report
er. Hayden Of the Suburban Com
mits Suicide to Avoid Disgrace"
Give me q paper, boy" said the
mayor. "Yes-a Star" His voice was
even. his tace unmoved. He took the
sheet and studied 1t, with an easy
smile Clinging In fear to his side
Max read too. At length Mr.. Cargan
spoke, looking up at Magee.
"So," be remarked: "so-reporters
eh-you and your lady friendi Re
pOrters for this lying sheet-the Starr
Mr.. Magee smiled up from bis own
copy Of the paper.
"Not l." he answered. but my lady
friend-yes. 1t seems she was just
that A Star reporter you can call her
and tell no lie, Mr. Mayor"
II was good story-the story which
the mayor. Max, the professor and Ma
zee read with varying emotions there
in the smoking car. The girl had serv'
ed her employers well. and Mr.. Ma.
gee. as he read, felt thrill Of pride
in her. Evidently the employers had
felt that same thrill. For in the cap.
tions under the pictures. in the head.
lines and In a first page editorial. none
Of which the girl had written. the
star spoke admlringly Of Its woman
reporter who had done a mans work
who had gone to Baldpate inn and had
brought back gigantic bribe fund
alone and unaided"
''Indeed" smiled Mr.. Magee to him.
self.
In the editorial on that first page the
triumphant cry of the Star arose to
shatter its fellows In the heavens. At
last. said the editor. the long campaign
which his paper alone Of all the Reu-
ton papers had waged against cor.
rupt city administration was brought
to successful close. The victory was
won. How had this been accomplish
I'd? Into the Star Office had come ru-
'nors a few days back Of the proposed
payment Of big bribe at the tnn on
Baldpate mountain. The paper had de-
cided that one Of It's representatives
must be on the ground. II had debat
cd long whom to send. Miss Evelyn
Rhodes. its well known special writer.
had got the tip In question: she had
pleaded to 60 to the inn. The editor.
considering her sex. had sternly re-
fused. Then gradually he had been
brought to see the wisdom Of sending
q girl rather than man. The sex of
the former would put the guilty par
ties under surveillance OF guard. SO
Miss Rhodes was dispatched to the inn.
Here was her story. 1t convicted Car
gan beyond a doubt The very money
offered as q bribe was now In the
hands Of the Star editor and would be
turned over to Prosecutor Drayton at
bis request. All this under the dis
quiehng title. "Prison Stripes For the
Mayor"
The girls story told how. with one
companion. she had gone to Upper AS
ouewan Falls. There was no mention
Of the station waiting room nor OF the
tears shed therein on certain even
ing, Mr. Magee noted. She had rench
ed the inn on the morning of the day
when the combination was to be
phoned Bland was already there
shortly after came the mayor and
Max
"You got to get me out Of this" Ma.
gee heard Max pleading over Cargan's
shoulder.
"Keep stilir' replied the mayor
roughly. He was reading his copy OF
the Star with keen interest now.
1--WE done your dirty work for years"
whined Max. "Who puts on the rub
Der shoes and sneaks up dark alleys
hunting votes among the garbage.
while you do the Old Glory stunt on
Main street, do You got to get
me out of this. It may mean Jail. l
couldn't stand that I'd die"
A horrible parody Of mans real
fear was in bis face. The mayor shook
himself as though be would be rid
forever Of the coward hanging on bis
arm.
"Hush up. can't your" he said "Ill
see you through"
"You got to-" Lou Max walled.
Miss Rhodes story went on to tell
how Hayden refused to phone the CON-
bination: how the mayor and Max dy.
namited the safe and secured the pre-
ciOus package. only to lose It In an
other moment to a still different con
tingent at the inn: how Hayden had
come. Of his suicide when be found
that his actions were In danger OF ex-
posure-"a bitter smile for kendrick
in that" reflected Magee-nnd how
finally. through strange series OF &C.
cidents. the money came into the
hands of the writer for the Star
These accidents were not given In de-
tail.
IAN amusing feature Of the whole
affair."" said Miss Evelyn Rhodes. was
the presence at the Inn Of Mr.. Will
liam Hallowell Magee. the New York
writer Of light fiction, who had come
there to escape the distractions Of
great city. and to work In the soil
tude, and who Immediately on his ar.
rival became involved In the surpris-
Ing drama Of Baldpate."
AL. 80 a-uolpD foot,,ro - rpAoCfpd