The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1916-02-24

onward. 1t was one played that night
Of the loving-cup episode. He thought
or Nella. He took from his pocket his
memorandum book. From between it's
pages he tenderly lifted the rose, now
faded, to his lips.
All! for her sake was he glad that,
striking out on an independent line,
he had penetrated to the very heart
of the enemy's country. was returning,
with secret and exclusive information
which, blazoned forth to an interested
reading world, would signalize intrepid
efforts and place him high among the
great war correspondents of the year.
With almost a cheer Ross Worden
dragged himself into the signal tower.
The operator stared askance. A man
lounging and smoking nearby stared,
sprang up in establishment and cried
out:
"You-Worden!"
Worden recognized the man, Pierce
Disbrow, a journalist Of poor repute,
a man he did not like. He greeted him
in friendly way, but instantly CEN
tered his attention upon the operator.
He drew dozen closelywritten sheet9
from his pocket.
Union News service, my man, IRE
announced. You must get this copy
to the cable instanter!"
All right nodded the man. while
Disbrow glared with envy at what he
surmised from the exultant Lace OF
Worden must comprise same big
SCOOP"
Look out!" abruptly sho5ted Dis
brow, and bolted for the open air. The
others were not SO fortunat8. An un-1
expected bomb had come direct from
the enemy's camp across tie river. II
shattered the frail statioil as though
it were an egg shell. When the
devastation was complete Disbrow
crept in among the debris He found
the operator dead and Wlorden insen-
sible and apparently fatally injured.
He crept forth again in possession OF
the scoop" data of Ross Worden.
Three months later, po0k, wretched,
limping, a mere shadow OF his former
self, Ross Worden returned to~the city
which he had left with such high
hopes. When he reported to his news
bureau it was to be treated coldly, in
differently, as man who had failed
to make good IT was then that he
learned that the news he had gathered
at such peril bad been used by Dis
brow, who had received high credit
for the same.
The discovery crushed him. He
was still ill from his wound received
in the explosion. He sought poor, OBJ
scure lodgings; he was Frustrated
with fever. To pay his way his land
lord piece by piece pawned his few
possessions the loving cup.
Then a spell of fever and delirium,
and he awoke in beautiful room, and
a beautiful woman was ministering to
his wants-Nella Armour!
1t was no dream, and this was the
Armour home, and soon Dale Armour
was at his side and telling him how
they had found him-poor, ill. desert
ed by his friends.
"It was Nella who did it," he said.
do you notice Wonder your loving
cup? She saw it in window on sale,
redeemed it and that led to our trac-
ing you, and nowdear old friend,
look!"
Dale Armour held before the eyes
of Worden a newspaper exposure ct
the perfidy of Pierce Disbrow in steal
ing the credit Of the great war
SCOOP" This rehabilitated Wor-
den, and with restored health the higli-
est ranks Of journalism were open to
him.
Convalescent week later, Nella
Armour pressed to his lips a cup con-
tanning medicine. She kissed the rim
tenderly as she did so, for there was
a perfect understanding between
them now. His eyes filled with tears
of joy.
"The loving cup!" he murmured-
"the loving cup, full to overfiowing."