Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-07-05
CHAPTER xxlI-continusd.


Harlan's lean. fine-lined face was a
study in changing emotions as he read.
But at the end there was an aggrieved
look in hic eyes. mirroring the poignant
regret of a newsman who has found a
priceless story which he dares not use.
It's ripping" he sighed, "the big
gest piece of fireworks a poor devil of
a newspaper man ever had chance
to touch of. But. of course, | can't
print II"
why of course'?"
For the same reason that a sane
man doesn't peek down the muzzle Of
a loaded gun when he is monkeying
with the trigger. want to live little
while longer"
Brouillard looked relieved.
Il thought, perhaps, it was on &C
count Of your investments" he said.
Not at the present writing" amend
ed Harlan with grin. Il got case of
cold feet when we had that little let-up
a while back. and when the market
opened cleaned up and sent the sure
enough little round dollars home to
Ohio"
And still you won't print this?'
I'D like to; you don't know how
much Id like to. But they'd hang me
and sack the shop. I shouldn't blame
EN- II what you have said here ever
gets into cold type, it's good-by Mirap-
oils. Why, Brouillard, the whole Uni
ted States would rise up and tell US to
get of the map. You've made us look
IKE thirty cents trying to block the
wheels of a million dollars-and that is
about the real size of it, guess"
Then it is your opinion that II this
were printed it would do the bust
ness?
There isn't the slightest doubt about
It,"
Thank you, Harlan. that is what
wanted to find out--if l had made it
strong enough TIN be printed I'll
put it on the wires to the Associated
Press. l was merely giving you the
irst hack at it,"
"Gee-goshl hold on a minutel" ex-
claimed the newsman. jumping up and
swapping his fingers. IF | weren't
such a dod-gasted coward! Let me
run in a few It is alleged's, and I'll
chance it.
No; it goes as It lies. There are no
allegations. It is merely a string of
cold facts, as you very well know.
Print it If you like. and III see to it
that they don't hang you or loot the
office. I have two hundred of the
safest men on my force under arms to-
night. and Wen take care Of you, I'm
in this thing for blood, Harlan, and
when get through. this little obstruc
ton in the way Of progress that Cort-
wright and his crowd planned. and
that you and I and a lot OF other fools
and knaves helped to build. will be
cooling itself under two hundred feet
OF water"
Good Lord" said the editor. still
Unable to compass the barbaric sud
denness of it. Then he ran his eye
over the scratch sheets again. Does
this formal notice that the waste-gates
viii re closed three weeks from tomor-
row go as it stands?" he inquired.
1T does. have the departments au-
thority. You know as well as do that
unless a fixed day is set there will be
no move made We are all trespassers
here, and we've been warned of
That's all there is to It. And II we
can't get our little belongings up into
the riils in three weeks it's our loss:
we had no business bringing them
here"
The editor looked up with light of
a new discovery in his eyes. you say
we and our. That reminds me;
Garner told me no longer ago than this
afternoon that you are on record for
something like a hundred thousand
dollars worth of choice Mirapolis
front feet How about that?"
Brouillard's smile was quite heart
whole
I've kept my salary in a separate
pocket, Harlan Besides that-weu.