The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-01-14

By JANE OSBORN.

~ tuAs tMc 4udu WIZ WHITES uP sAAO
sIopements?y
Daisy Maidstone looked with trust
full appeal in her blue eyes at the
youngest reporter in the Office Of the
Morning Trumpet.
Eyes, elopments and obituaries
grinned back the youth. Anything l
can do for your
Eyes, thank you,v said Daisy, and
then she drew the proffered chair
close to the young mans desk with an
air OF having something to contide-
'sYou see, it's this way"
The young man drew forth pencil
and copy paper, conscious as he did 80
that the girl was very pretty and that
she was totally inexperienced in the
ways Of newspaper Offices.
"You see, / wanted to get the an
nOuncement Of this elopement in for.
the Sunday morning paper. 1t is go-
ing to take place Saturday night, and
| thought I'd give you plenty of time
and let you have it now. You see, 1t
is to be complete surprise. No one
but the clippers and the best man and
l know anything about it. OF course,
Won won't tell anyone, will you?"
And as the young man promised
secrecy, Daisy went on with her story.
Half an hour later Daisy's blue eyes
were opened to the admiring gaze OF
Theo Drew, son of Senator Drew, the
millionaire politician, who shared with
her the exclusive confidence of the
coming elopers They were drinking
tea at Greeley's and were soon to join
the afternoon dancers who were trot-
ting, tripping and ambling past them.
YES said Daisy, gracefully break
ing into an English muffin, everything
is ready. / struggled Theresa's suit
case to my house this morning, and
tomorrow I'll get it to the station.
There isn't anything left to do tomor-
row.. Theresa asked me to take care
Of the newspapers. She said 1t was
better to let those reporter people
have the story right because they'll
get it anyway, and of course we want
everyone to know about it Sunday,
when it is all over. was going to-
send around the notice to the Morning
Trumpet, SO they'd get it Saturday aft
ernoon, and then was afraid that
wasn't time enough. So just dropped
around at the Office this afternoon. We
thought we wouldn't let any paper but
the Trumpet have it"
Theo Drew poised his teacup in mid
air and scrutinized Daisy intently.
Daisy, You are little goose
Why. Theo?"
'sIf you give that story to the Trum-
pet today don't you suppose they'll
come out with it tomorrow morning
before the elopement has taken place
and spoil everything? Theresa's old
aunt will know about it and lock The
resa up and Daisy, I'm surprised;
honest am"
But the reporter was SO nice, and
he said that he wouldn't tell. I was
afraid that if left it till tomorrow it
would be too late, and Theresa was SO
anxious that everyone should know
about it after 1t happened. Oh, Thee,
you don't suppose that nice young man
win print the story tomorrow, do
your
"Surest thing, you know" comment
ed Theo with an air of fnality. "And
that, of course, means that there won't
be any elopement at all. So the little
game is all OF and my friend Daisy is
to blame for it,
'Theo, think you are dreadfully
cruel" Daisy was fumbling in her
gold mesh bag for a filmy piece of lace
and linen to wipe away the tears that
were coming into her blue eyes.
well what shall we do about it?'
Theo asked himself this question rath-
or than Daisy, but Daisy answered it.
Wen have them elope tonight in
stead of Saturday night, and then
they'll be all eloped and away by the
time the story comes out
SILLY child Theo dismissed the
suggestion. Don't you know that
Fred couldn't possibly reach here till
tomorrow afternoon"
Then I'll just go to that nice young
man and tell him all about it. I'll put
1t up to him as gentleman-though
really, Theo, am sure that he doesn't
intend using it. He seemed so inter
ested in the story and SO grateful to
me for telling him"
"AIl the more proof t1at ne knew 1t
would be good for s.set-page, double
column story in the morning"
But he was so anxious to know that
nothing had been given out to the aft
ernpon papers and that we had told no
one else about It."
That is because he wanted to make
a scoop out of it. That's what you call
It when your paper beats the others
out OF good piece Of news. And it
win be a good piece OF news. Society
debutantes don't elope every day, you
know It wouldn't be much more Of a
sensation If Daisy Maidstone herself
ran away to be married"
But 1t wouldn't matter if did,"
Daisy was almost sobbing. you see,