The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02

6Aio llo Ia
Heaven knows!" discouragedly.
Come. doctor, suppose you and l
go down to Days for a little turn
at billiards."
Nothing would suit me better"
All aboard, then! Goodnight,
Olga. Keep your hair on; l mean your
own hair. We're going to win out,
don't you worry. In all games the min.
ute you begin to doubt you begin to
lose."
That same night Norton sat at his
desk, in his shirt sleeves, pounding
away at his typewriter. From time
to time he paused and teetered his
chair and scowled over his pipe at
the starlit night outside. Bang! would
go his chair again, and clickity-click
would sing the keys of the machine.
The story he was writing was In the
ordinary routine; the arrival OF a
great ocean liner with some political
notables who were not adverse to de-
nouncing the present administration.
You will have noticed, no doubt, that
some disgruntled politician is always
denouncing the present Administered
ton, it matters not If it be Republican
or Democratic. When you are out
Of a good job you are always prone
to %denounce. The yarn bored Norton
because his thoughts were miles
southwark.
He completed his story, yanked out
the final sheet, called for a copy boy,
rose and sauntered over to the man.
aging editors door, before which he
paused indecisively. The "old man"
had been after him lately regarding
the Hargreave story, and he doubted
If his errand would prove successful.
However, he boldly opened the door
and walked in.
"Humph!" said the "old man." twist
ing his cigar into the corner of his
mouth. Got that story"
Norton sat down. Eyes, but I have
not got it for print yet. Mr.. Blair,
when you gave me the Hargreave job.
you gave me carte blanche"
II did," grimly. But, on the other
hand, l did not give you ten years
to clear it up in"
Have 1 ever fallen down on a
good story?" quietly.
m, can't remember" g%rudgingly.
We'll, i1 you'll have patience I'll
not fall down on this one. It's the
greatest criminal story I ever handled,
but it's SO big that it's going to take
time" ~
Gimme an outline"
II have promised not to-" with a
grimness equal to the "old MANS,
IF a line of this story trickles out 1t
will mean that every other paper will
be moving around, and in the end
will discover enough to spoil my end
Of it. I'll tell you this much: The
most colossal band of thieves this
country ever saw Is at one end Of the
stick. And when l say that counter
feiting and politics and millions are
involved, you'll understand how big
it is. This gang has city protection.
We are running them all into a o r
ner; but we want that corner SO deep
that none Of them can wriggle out OF
it." p
"Umhm.. Go on"
II want two months more"
The "old man" beat a tattoo with
his fat pencil. Sixty days, then. And
If the yarn isn't on. my desk at mid
night, you"
Hunt for another job. All right.
l came in to ask for three days
leave" ..
You're your own boss, Jim, for sixty
days more. Whadda y mean counter
feiting?"
Those new tens and twenties. II I
stumble on that right, why, I can turn
it over without conflicting with the
other story"
Well, go to it."
I'm turning in my regular work,
day in and day out, and while doing
it I've gone through more hairbreadth
escapes than you eve heard of. They
have been after me. I've lodged fall
ing safes; I've been shanghaied, poi
soned; but l haven't said a word"
Good Lord! Do you mea all
that?".
Every word, sir"
I'll make it ninety days, Jim; and
if this story comes in I'll see that you
get a corking bonus"
I'm not looking for bonuses. I'm
proud of my work. To get this story
is all I want. Thatll be enough.
Thanks for the extension in time.
Goodnight"
So Florence received a long night
letter in the morning.
And the doctor arrived at about
the same time. And called promptly
upon his patient.
"Fine!" he said. 1.-THE sea air was
Just the thing. A doctor always likes
to find his advice turning out we'll"
He glanced quizzically at Florence,
who was the picture of glowing health.
Suddenly he frowned a%nxiously.
You need not look at me-" she
laughed. Il never felt better in all
my life"
Are you sure?" he asked gravely.
why, what in the world do you
mean?"
He did not speak, but stepped for
r., rd ond took ber nv tho wrist hold.