University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1915-07-14


newspaper business seventeen years
and nobody ever called me a black
mailer and got away with it. I'm il
a generous mood. I'll give you on
chance to take that back"
Nonsense. 1t happens to be true
put in Paddock.
I'm talking to your friend here.
O'Neill's breath came fast. "Ill at
tend to you, you lily of the field, in /;
minute You-you liar-are you go
ing to take that back?"
No." cried Minot.
He saw a wild Irishman coming fol-
him, breathing fire. He squared him
self to meet the attack. But the maj
at the typewriter leaped up and seizet
O'Neill from behind.
Steady, Bob" he shouted. "How dc
you know this fellow isn't right?"
Unaccountably the warlike one col
lapsed into a chair.
Damn it, | know he's right" he
| grOaned. That's what makes me rave
| Why didn't you let me punch him? II
would have been some satisfaction. OF
course he's right. l had a hunch this
was a blackmailing sheet from the
moment my hot fingers closed on Con-
zale's money. But so long as nobody
told us, We were all right"
He glared angrily at Minot.
"You-you killjoy." he cried. "You
skeleton at the feast. You've put us
in lovely fix"
"Well, I'm sorry" said Minot, "but
| don't understand these heroics."
"It's all up now, Harry" moaned
O'Neill. THE free trial is over and
we've got to send the mattress back
to the factory. Here in this hollow
lotus land, ever to live and lie re-
clined-I was putting welcome on the
mat for a fate like that Back to the
road for US. That human fish over in
the Chronicle Office was a prophet
You look unlucky-maybe they IL
give you jobs on the Mail Remember" !"
Cool off, Bob" Howe said. He
turned to Minot and Paddock. "Of
course you don't understand. You
see. we're strangers here. Drifted in
last night broke and hungry, looking
for jobs. We got them-under rather
unusual circumstances. Things looked
suspicious-the proprietor parted with
money without screaming for help,
and no regular newspaper is run like
that. But-when you're down and
out, you know"
81 understand" said Minot, smiling
And I'm sorry l called you what
did. l apologize. And hate to be "a
era killjoy. But as matter Of fact,
your employer is blackmailer. and
it's best you should know it."
"Yes," put in Paddock. do you
gentlemen happen to have heard
where the editor of Mr. Gonzales late
newspaper. published in Havana, is
now?"
1--WE do not" said O'Neill, "but may
be you'll tell u.s."
81 will. He's in prison, doing ten
years for blackmail. l understand
that Mr.. Gonzale prefers to involve
his editors, rather than himself"
O'Neill came over and held out his
hand to Minot.
shake. son." he said. Thank God
| didn't waste my strength on you.
Gonzale will be in here in a minute"
About those letters? Howe in
quired.
Yes" said Minot. "They were writ
ten to a Gaiety actress by a man who
is in San Marco for his wedding next
Harrowby."
His ludship again." O'Neill re-
marked. Say, l always thought the
South was democratic"
WELL" said Howe, 1--WE owe you
fellows something for putting us wise.
We've stood for a good deal, but never
for blackmailing. AS matter of fact.
Gonzale hasn't brought the letters in
yet, but he's due at any minute. WheE
he comes take the letters away from
him. l shah't interfere. How about |
3ou, Bob?'
"I'll interfere" said O'Neill. land
ri interfere strong-if | think y ~ fell
lows amt leaving enough of little |
Manuel for me to caress-"
The door opened, and the imnacu-
ate proprietor of the Mail came rUise-
essly into the room. His eyes mar
rowed when they fell on the strangers
hero.
"Are you Manuel Gonzalez" Minot