The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-02-09

since he became reporter and Joined
the jehus of tn truth wagon had con-
sisted mainly of Chasing pictures" in
the afternoons and going to strings OF
banQuets at night. Young Bassett had
no more enthusiasm for photographs
than he had for banquets. Word paint
ing and granting was his art he knew.
And SO when big story walked up
and beckoned to him he was as happy |
as boy In love.
| 1t had been dull day for news. The
evening papers were barren OF sug-
gestions and the assignments had run
out before Bassett's name was reach
ed That meant another afternoon or
dismal lingering In the office, without
even a photograph to chase.
Bassett flung himself disgustedly In
to chair and Strengthened a news
paper with vicious crackle as the
last Of the other reporters hurried out.
Bassett thought he caught a CLEAN OF
merry pity in the reporters eye. New
err mind. Let 'em laugh. Let 'em wait.
One of these days he'd be the one get
ting the real stuff and putting 1t
through, too, from tip to type, without
a rewrite man or copy reader touch
ing it. Let 'em wait!
an balloon? Where's"
The suddenly vibrant voice OF the
city editor talking over the telephone
caused Bassett to lower his paper and
hushed even the chatter of the day Of
flee boys.
Palisades-Panatella; yes. Who's
the girl? You don't know"
The paper dropped from Bassetts
hands.
Much obliged. I'll have man over
there, but you go right ahead" The
city editor clicked down the receiver
and whirled in his chair.
"Oh-Bassett"
Bassett was beside the desk with
i spectral speed.
,, Our Weehawken man says young
woman has been carried off by Pana-
. ltella's balloon. They've lost the bal
, loon. Get car and get over there
, quick. Go as far as you like, only find
, the girl and let me hear from YOU
, Iquick"
Bassett jumped to a phone and or
ldered high-powered machine to meet
!, him at Ninety-sixth street. He ran
down William street, with his straw
hat under his arm, and dived into the
. subway An express had him at Nine
= ty-sixth street in few minutes. His
machine was there. They dashed for
. 1.-The ferry and were on the aviation
field before the bewildered crowd that
had witnessed the runaway flight OF
. the balloon had begun to dispense.
!, Bassett jumped out and mingled
:, with the people. They knew nothing
/. except the general observation-disclosures
!. the west-that the balloon had taken
= Automobiles had pursued for long
way, but had seen the gas bag turn to
. the north and disappear In the hills
The automobiles had returned-mos'
LOT them. Two who had been with the
- girl before she leaped into the basket
:. had not returned. The horse tina
!, acting wild all afternoon. People haG
!, been looking for an accident. The ami
NAL never should have been allOwet
there.
. Bassett got back IN the car besid'
the driver, and they glided off on tn
% westward road.
Il Every one In the farm houses alonl
= the route had seen the balloon. Blu
the houses were further and furthe
apart as Bassett's course wa9 draw
e northward and often he missed tn
;. trail.
;. The trail was blazed by the whee
70 ruts of giant touring car and
small runabout that frequently LET
:. : the highways and plowed across tn
:. fields. When Bassett lost these a
Q last he was in despair.
He lost them In the middle OF
~ field that was marshy where the auto
- mobiles left the road and rock-dry q
1.-THE middle and further side. After
= Ihalf-hour's manoeuvering BaSaett OF
~ dered the driver to go back to tn
ls road. There was respondent Quaye
81 In his voice
~ "Mavhe they done the same thing
turned round an come back" sugges
: ed the chauffeur. Hello, what kind {
!. a rig Is that?" he added as WACO
y" appeared around bend In the road.
The peculiar thing about the "ris
rs was that while It was Z tongue
&c (Cnnf1MuAA On pa~n "a