The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-09-12
Seven
TO
Baldpate
By
EARL!DERR BlccERs
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cssysisAA 1913. - The UsSAs-pssrill
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CHAPTER XIV.
Miss Evelyn Rhodes, Reporter.

- and drawing out his handker.
Chief passed Il across his forehead. "a
pleasant thing to think about--a pleas
ant thing to remember"
Il thought I'D Join you," said Pro
fessor Bolton. why, David, what Is
IL? What's the matterY
Nothing" replied Kendrick wildly
There's nothing the matter. Let me
-by-please." lie crossed the swaying
PLATFORM and disappeared into the 9th.
or car.
The train slowed down at a small
yellow station. Mr.. Magee peered out
the window. "Hooperstown." he read.
"Reuton-Ten Miles," He saw Mr..
Max get up and leave the car.
Eoiselessly Max returned TO the
group and stood silent, his eyes wide,
his yellow face piriful, the fear of a
dog about to be whipped In his every
feature
"Jim." he cried. Jim! You got to
get mo out OF this You got to stand
by me-"
"why. what's the matter. Lou?" ask
ed the mayor In surprise.
Matter enough" whined Max. do
you know what's happened? Well. III
tell"-
Mr.. Max was thrust aside and re.
pinced by q train newsboy. Mr.. Ma.
gee felt that he should always remem-
Der that boy. his straw colored hair,
his freckled beaming face. his lips with
their fresh perpetual smile.
"All the morning papers. gents" pro-
clnimed the boy. Get the Reuton
Star. All about the bribery"
He held up the paper. It's huge
olack headlines looked dull and old
and soggy. But the story they told
was new md live and startling.
The Mayor Trapped" shrilled the
headlines. Attempt TO Pass Big Bribe
at Baldpate Inn Foiled by Star Report.
or. Hayden Of the, Suburban Com
mits Suicide to Avoid Disgrace"
Give me u paper. boy" said the
mayor. "Yes-a STAR" His voice was
even, his tace unmoved. He took the
sheet and studied IL, with an easy
smile. Clinging In fear to his side
MAX read too. At length Mr.. Cargan
spoke. looking mp at Magee.
So" he remarked; "so-reporters,
eh-you and your lady friendy Re-
porters for this lying sheet-the Starr"
MIR. Magee smiled up from his 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"
lt was good story-the story which
the mayor. Max. the professor and Ma
gee read with varying emotions there
In the smoking car. The girl had sery-
ed her employers well. and Mr.. Ma.
gee. as he read, felt thrill of pride
I'm her. Evidently the employers had
fe't that same thrill For In the cap.
tions under the pictures, In the head.
lines 2ad In FIRST page editorial. none
or which the girl had written, the
Star spoke admiringly Of its woman
reporter who had done mans work
who had gone to Baldpate inn and had
brought back a gigantic brlbe fund
"alone and unaided."
"lndeed?' smiled Mr.. Magee to him
self.
In the editorial on that first page the
triumphant cry Of the S.ar arose 10
shatter It's 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 a successful close. Tho victory was
won. How had this been accomplish.
edf Into the Star office had come ru-
mors a few days back OF the proposed
payment Of "a big brlLe at the inn on
Baidpate mountain. The paper had de-
cid,d that one of Its representatives
must be OH the ground IL had debat-
ed long whom to- send. Miss Evelyn
Rhodes. Its well known special writer.
had got tue tip In question: she had
pleaded To- 80 TO the inn. The editor.
considering her sex. had sternly re-
fused. Then gradually he had been
brought To see the wisdom Of sending
n girl rather than man. The sex Of
the former would put the guilty par.
ties under surveillance Off guard. So
Miss Rhodes was dispatched To he inn.
Hero was her story II convicted Car.
gan beyond doubt. The very money
offered as "a bribe was now In the
hands OF the Star editor ana would be
turned over To- Prosecutor Drayton at
his request. All this under the dis
quieting title. Prison Stripes For the
Mayor"
The girls story told how. with one
companion. she had gone to Upper AS
qucwan Falls. There was no mention
OF the station waiting room nor Of the
tears shed therein on a certain even.
ing. Mr.. Magct rOtcd. She had reach.
eel the Inn OH the morning of the day
when the combination was To- be
phOned. Bland was already there.