Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-16

the veranda of Baldpate Inn l spoke
Of one summer hotel Irritation that was
going to prove more than that. Let
me-"
Her laugh interrupted.
you don't even know my name
Whats the matter with Evelyn
Rhodes?' suggested Magee.
| Nothing. It's perfectly good
name. But it isn't mine. / just write
under it,"
81 prefer Mary. anyhow" smiled
Billy Magee. She called you that.
It's Mary"
Mary WHAT"
you have no idea" said he. "how
immaterial that is
They came upon throng blocking
the sidewalk in front of tall building
, of stone The eyes of the throng
were On bulletins it muttered much
as they had muttered who gathered
in the station.
THE office of the Star" explained
! the girl THE crowd is looking for
new excitement. Do you know, for
two whole hours this morning we had
on exhibition in the window a certain
PACKAGE package of money!
II think smiled Magee, I've seen
| it somewhere
81 think you have. Drayton came
and took it from us as soon as he
heard. But it was the very best proof
we could have offered the people.
They like to see for themselves. It's
a passion with them. We've done for
Cargan forever"
"Cargan says he will fight
"Of course he WILL" she replied.
But this will prove Napoleon's Wa
terloo. Whether or not he is sent to
prison-and perhaps he can escape
that, he's very clever-his power in
Reuton is broken He can't possibly
win at the next election-it comes
very soon. I'm so glad. For years
our editor has been fighting corrup-
ton. in the face of terrible odds and
temptations. I'm so glad it's over
now-and the Star has won.'
Through you," said Magee softly.
"With-some one-to help she
smiled. Il must go upstairs now and
find out what new task is set for me-"
Mr.. Magee postponed the protest
on the tip of his tongue, and, climb
ing the gloomy stairs that newspapers
always affect. they came into the city
room of the Star. Through the paper
had been long on the street. the en-
element of the greatest coup of years
still fingered in the place Magee saw
the deferential smiles that greeted the
girl, and watched her as she made
her way to the city editors desk. In a
moment she was back at his side.
I've got my assignment" she
smiled ruefully. They descended to
the street. Its wonderful" she went
on, how curt a city editor can be
with any one who pulls off a good
story The job I've got now reminds
me of the experience of an old New
York reporter who used to work on
the Star
With difficulty they threaded their
way through the crowd, and moved
along beside the green-decked win
dOws
"He was the first man sent out by
his paper on Park Row on the Spanish
War assignment" she went on, land
he behaved rather brilliantly, be-
lieve. Well, he came back after the
fight was over, all pulled up and I'M
portant, and they told him the city
editor wanted him. They're going to
send me to the Philippines he told
me he thought as he went into the
presence When the city editor or
dered him to rush down to two
alarm fire in Houston Street he nearly
collapsed know how he felt. feel
that way now
What was it--a one-alarm fire?"
asked Magee.
NO" she replied "a sweet little
story about the Christmas toys. I've
done it to death every Christmas for
three years. Oh, well, can do it
again. But it'll have to wait until
after Mrs. Norton's lunch
She led him into street where
every house was like it's neighbor,
even to the Rooms sign in the win
dows, and up the steps Of one she
could have recognized only by count
ing from the corner. They entered
the murky and stereotyped atmos-
phere of boarding house hallway,
with its inevitable hat-rack and the
uncollected letters of the homeless on
a table Mrs. Norton came breezily
forth to meet them
"Well, Mr. Magee,' she said. 81 GER
tainly am glad you've came. I'm busy
on that lunch now. Dearie, show him
into the parlor to watt
Mr.. Magee was shown in. That
roomir house parlor seemed to moan
dismally as it received him. He
strolled about and gazed at the OBJ
jects Of art which had at various times
accrued to Mrs. Norton's personality;
a steel engraving called Too Late.
which depicted an angry father ar
irving at a church door to find his
clipping daughter in the arms OF stall
wart youth, with the clergy looking on
approvingly: another Of Mr.. John
Drew assuming a commanding posture
as Petruchio in The Tanning of the
Shrew: some ennuied labby angels
riding on the clouds; child OF I'M
healthy pink clasping lovingly an in
f1ammable dog: on the mantel minia-
ture ship, under glass, and some lady
statuettes whose toilettes slipped down
And, on an easel, the sad portrait Of
a gentleman, undoubtedly the late
lamented Norton. His uninteresting
nose appeared to turn up at the con-
,&,oI @dor % onnLory n which II