The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-02-12

Heaven knows!" discouragedly.
Come. doctor, suppose you and
go down to Days for a little turn
at billiards?'
Nothing would suit me better"
All aboard, then! Goodnight
Olga. Keep your hair on; 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 sonA political
notables who were not adverse to de-
houncing the present administration.
You will have noticed, no doubt. that
some disgruntled politician is always
denouncing the present administra
tion,- matters not if it be Republican
or Democratic. When you are out
of 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 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
II 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 Yes. but have
not got it for print yet. Mr.. Blair,
wheE you gave me the Hargreave job
you gave me carte blanche"
Il did, grimly But, on the other
hand, did not give you ten years
to clear 1t up in"
Have ! ever fallen down on a
good story?" quietly.
M, can't remember" grudgingly
We'll, if you'll have patience I'll
not fall down on this one. It's the
greatest criminal story ever handled
but it's so big that it's going to take
time"
Gimme an outline"
Il have promised not to- with "a
grimness equal to the "old mans"
IF line of this story trickles out it
will mean that every other paper will
be moving lround 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 | 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 cor
ner; but we want that corner so deep
that none of them can wriggle out of
it."
"Umhm. Go on"
Il want two months more
The "old man" beat 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 light.
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. If
stumble ON that right, why, 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 ever heard Of They
have been after me. I've lodged fall
ing safes; I've been shanghaied, poi
soned; but haven't said a word"
Good Lord Do you mean all
that?"
Every word, sir"
IN 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 / 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. THE sea air was
just the thing. 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 anxiously.
You need not look at me-" she
laughed. 81 never felt better In all