The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-08

ran away to be married.
But it wouldn't matter if 1 did
Daisy was almost sobbing. You see
now that l am of age there is no ono
| to keep me. and not having any fam
| lily but only few bald-headed ex-
guardians. l couldn't be stopped. But
! Theresa's aunt keeps her eagle eye
| on her all the time. She'd just lock
her up and make her life misera BILE
Hard luck" muttered Theo, medi-
| tating fixcdly over the slowly ascend
| ing fumes of his cigar. well, Ill
| tell you what to do, little girl. There S
| is an easy mark. If he is he'll hold
| out that story You go back to that
| office alone, as you went before. Use
all your feminine responsiveness, but
don't get hysterical about it and Gol't
let them know who you are. Perhaps
it will be all right
Half an hour later Daisy was again
looking intently into the callow face
of the youngest reporter of the office
of the Morning Trumpet. But don't
you see how dreadful it will be :?
Why, 1 am really surprised that you
would think of betraying a conf
dence. l never would have thought of
such thing if it hadn't been that
Mr.. Drew suggested it.
Il thought no one but you was in
the secret besides the bride and
groom" commented the reporter, TAX
ing mental notes of the name Of Mr..
Drew.
And the best man." assensed
Daisy.
Drew. the senator's SOM"
Yes. That isl can't tell. I think
you are very unkind. Please don't
use our names. oh, you mustn't.
Why, I never saw any one so incon-
siderate."
You never were in a newspaper
office before, miss" grinned the re-
porter. Folks don't generally tell
their secrets to a newspaper man IN
less they want them made public.
Honestly I'd like to accommodate you,
but we haven't had any real good
local first-page stuff for long time.
The public is getting tired of wars
and strikes and explosions. and now's
my chance to give it to them. And
that Mr.. Drew being best man just
sets it off. I'll use his picture with
the story. We've got it in the morgue."
'Where?" queried Daisy.
ooh, the place where we file away
the cuts. Theo Drew's pretty pronli-
nent here, you know, and we keep all
those pictures on tap in case of death
or something of that sort. I'm ever
so much obliged to you for the addi-
tional information, miss. Good after
noon"
Daisy's eyes were misty with tears
when she met Theo Drew again at the
Greeley at O'Clock that night. but
he had the expression of a man who
sees his way out.
i've thought of n plan, Daisy, and
it all depends on you whether or not
it works out. Come over here while 1
try to make myself clear. You Know,
you just said thai it wouldn't 80 much
matter if it were you"
And seated on a deep divan in q
quiet end of the Greeley foyer Theo
spent ten minutes in explaining his
Now come over to the telephone
booth with me while 1 phone to that
young news scout. oh, L know you've |
got to pack for trunks and fifteen |
hat boxes before 9:15, but you've got |
to help me with this message.
Hello, 1 want to talk to one OF your |
reporters. Tall, slim young chap He
wore gray suit and-what was 1t ?''
this to Daisy-"yes, a blue tie, and
tan button shoes and, yes-No, no |
mustache. Yes, that's the one.
'sOh. hello, I'm Mr.. Theo Drew. Yes.
think you are wise to little elope- |
ment that was going to be pulled off
Saturday night and, being on your job, |
you're going to take the public into
your confidence tomorrow morning. |
Oh, I'm not asking 10 can it, exactly. |
Wouldn't expect you to that. L know |
he young lady didn't just understand |
he ways of the newspaper game.
That's why she told you beforehand.
Now, this is what 1 want you to do.
What you want is a real live local
story, a scoop for the Trumpet: Well,
m IN positloh 10 give you = story
somewhat bigger than that. My con-
litions are that you'll keep the other
'ne dark till the Sunday morning pa
Der. You give me your word of honor
Is a gentleman? Here goes:
Miss Daisy Maidstone-yes. the
leireSS to the Maidstone millions. Yes, |
I'D Maidstone made it in the mustard
business. But 1 haven't time to give
,ou the dope on it. Youth find it in
he morgue, L am sure. Yes, well,
Miss Maidstone is about to elope with
dr. Theo Drew. Yes, L am the lucky
nan. You know all about me, do you"
Thank you? I really didn't know I
vas such celebrity. They leave on
he nine-fifteen for parts unknown.
Quite right. They are TO be married.
where you don't have to have a
license? Yes, they are going to make
racks for that state and be married
onight there. Thank you for the in
ormation. No, there will De no at
endants. No, no one knew anything
bout it. 1t came as total surprise.
70 engagement had existed between
he two contracting parties so far as
vas known, although it was an open
ecret that Mr.. Drew was an ardent ,
dmirer of Miss Maidstone and had ,
cen ever since her debut a year ago.
hats the kind of dope you're look
ng for, isn't it?
..What reason for the elopement?
Veil, that is one of the things you
ont know. No, there was no objec-
ion on the part of Miss Maidstone's ,
amily, for she had none, and Mr..
brew generally does pretty much as {
e pleases. Yes, you can use all the I
ictures of Miss Maidstone and Mr.. /
brew that you want to. Go as far as :
on like.
"But-remember the condition I
hat you can that other dope till Sum
ay morning. And if you tumble to
ne reason whV rha other
-as pulled off you keep it to yourself I
hank you. You're a true gentleman S
nd I trust you."-(Copyright 1915, I
y Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.) t
Phone Companies Consolidate. t
NJ \