The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-11-04

Horace Blagden's wonderful gift 10 the
City to write up" That, I'm ITSELF
was enough to bring out all that waa
In him for one day. Just as he was
comfortably well under way on the
job-and long before his first drink OF
the day-came those staggering de-
velopments at the court house. Before
he could turn round, IL seemed to him,
the cry went up that Adam, Carr, the
celebrated detective. had been foully
assassinated. From that time on
Joseph did nothing but turn around;
ran up and down stairs so often that
IL got to be a habit with him, and he
couldn't stop. Two amiable and re-
sourceful tramp printers, loafing In
the composing room, came to the res
cue. They went out and gathered UP
the stray ends OF the news, put them
together, and set type so rapidly and
at such length that Joseph never
quite recovered from his surprise and
qualification. They lifted" ads with
out discrimination and substituted live
reading matter" they chopped out"
columns of paid locals with a prodi-
gality that cost Joseph as much as $50
! in trade" they got the news and
they printed the news; they trans
formed the Courier into a sickening
mass OF typographical errors-for no
one was there to read proof on them
but they turned out a "scarehead"
Journal that Corinth never quite got
over talking about.
After 1t was all over, they drew
their pay-a staggering lot OF ems
they had set. by the way-and proceed
| ed to get mxuriously tight" landing
in gaol before midnight. Which pro-
duced another sensation for the cub
reported the next day. It was the
cub reporters practice to make long
eli IN, b. hnI anN
| trains, because 1t was cool there in
the summer time and warm in the
winter. Generally you could catch
him mapping there.
The leading editorial in the Courier
on this memorable day was not writ
ten. by Mr.. Cooper. It was In the
shape of a proclamation. and II was
written and signed by Horace Blag-
den in his private room at the bank.
| 1t crowded out the magnificent edi-
| torial tribute devised by Joseph
Cooper to reflect, in an anticipatory
| sort Of way, the boundless gratitude
Of the people VINO were to be benefited
by the princely gift OF Mr.. Blagden,
exclusive mention Of which may be
| found in another column Of this
| issue"
This signed statement of Horace
Blagden was more remarkable than
| anything that had ever appeared in
the Courier. It may be set forth here
in few words, although It covered
more than an entire column of the
newspaper.
The father OF Chetwynd Blagden
| took this means Of announcing to the
world that he held Eric Midthorne alb
solutely blameless!
Moreover he went on to say that he
considered the taking off of his son to
| be the act of a just, an-wise Provi-
| dence, whose ways, though strange
and inscrutable, bring pain only to
him who seeks to dispute them" He
declared, in no half-hearted terms,
| that he would stand at his unhappy
nephew's side during the trial that
was to come, not as prosecutor but
as defender, and that through him, the
| father, the spirit of Chetwynd Blag-
den would rise to proclaim the limo
cence OF the self-accused. 1t was his
prayer that the case might be brought
| to trial without delay, and that JUS
tice might be appeased in the speedy
acquittal of my beloved nephew,
Eric Midthorne."
The name of Adam Carr was not
mentioned.
In another column, however, ap-
peared the news OF Mr.. Cars illness.
The one great feature Of the story was
missing, however, for the simple season
| that 1t did not come to light.
Mary Midthorne prevailed. She was
at the Payson cottage when the polite
printer appeared, in eager pursuit Of
the news. If he was disappointed to
learn that there had been no assassina-
ton, he was careful to conceal the
fact. In truth, he admitted cheerfully
that he was blamed glad Of it." they
were so hard pressed for time and room
up at the Courier office. Mary kept
John Payson from revealing more of
! the truth than was necessary concern
ing Adam Carr. The perspiring printer
went away directly, in possession Of
everything except the sensation in
volved.
why should you tell 1t to the
world?" argued Mary, confronting Pay
son and his foster mother in the kitchen,
whittier they had fled leaving the I'M
suspecting doctor to tell what he knew
to the interviewer. He doesn't ack-
nowledge you as his son, why should
you say he is your father? Just four
people know the truth, John. It has
been a secret held by two people for
more than 80 years. Why can't we
keep it to the very end? Just you and
and Mrs. Payson. He will never
speak"
Payson agreed to this, with the
single provision that in due time Eric
should be told.
Continued NEXT week