Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-18

ana soggy But the story they tod
was new and live and startling.
"The Mayor Trapped" shrilled the
headlines. Attempt to Pass Big Bride
Mt Baldpate Inn Fooled by Star Report
err Hayden of the Suburban Com
mits Suicide to Avoid Disgrace"
Give me n paper. boy" said the
mayor. 'Yes-a Star" His voice was
even. his face 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 up at Magee.
$50" he remarked: ''so-reporters.
eh-you and your lady friendE Re
porters for this lying sheet-the Starr
Mr.. 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"
It was a good story-the story which
the mayor. Max. the professor and Ma
gee read with varying emotions there
In the smoking car. The Gt:i 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
lions under the pictures. in the head
lines and in 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 a gigantic bride fund
"alone and unaided."
I'M r. 20
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 n successful close. The victory was
won. How had this been accomplish
ed? Into the Star office had come ru-
nors few days back OF the proposed
payment OF Dig DrT0e ar rHc mn N
Baldpate mountain. The paper had de-
cided that one OF its representa- lives
must be on the ground IL bad debat-
ed long whom to send. Miss Evelyn
Rhodes. its well known special writer.
had got the tip in question: she had
pleaded to go to the inn. The editor.
considering her sex, had sternly re-
fused. Then gradually he had been
brought to see the wisdom of sending
a girl rather than a man. The sex of
the former would put the guilty par
ties under surveillance Off guard. So
Miss Rhodes was dispatched to the inn.
Here was her story. 1t convicted Car
gan beyond n doubt The very money
offered as a bride was now in the
hands of the Star editor and 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
quewan Falls. There was no mention
of the station waiting room nor OF the
tears shed therein on a certain even !
ing. Mr. Magee noted. She had reach |
ed the inn on the morning of the day |
when the combination was to be I
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 stillr' replied the mayor
roughly. He was reading his copy of |
the Star with keen interest now.
I've 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? l do. You got to get
me out of this. 1t may mean Jail.
couldn't stand that. I'd die"
A horrible parody of mans real
'ear was in his face. The mayor shook
himself as though he would be rid
brewer OF the coward hanging on his
lrm. Il
Hush up. can't your" he said. "I'm
lee you through"
You got to-" Lou Max walled
Miss Rhodes story went on to tell
low Hayden refused to phone the COM
'ination; how the mayor and Max dy-
lamited the safe and secured the pre-
ious package, only to lose ii in an
Their moment to n still different con-
ingent at the inn; how Hayden had
ONE. of his suicide when he found ,
hat his actions were in danger of ex-
bitter smile for Kendrick
q that reflected Magee-and how
nally, through a strange series of ac-
idents. the money came into the
ands OF the writer for the Star .
'hese accidents were not given in de- ,
all
An amusing feature of the whole
fair" said Miss Evelyn Rhodes, was :
ne presence at the inn of Mr. Will I,
am Halloweli Magee the New York
ritter of light fiction, who had come )
lere TO escape the distractions of
reat city. and TO work in the soil