The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-23
The Euening Story
When Bronco Bill Did Society.

(By Jane OSBORNE
Old Peter Heppleton, the owner and
editor-in-chief of the Morning Stan
dard, was in one of his rainy-day
moods. The events of the day only
made him noodier. In the first place,
when he arrived at noon he was
greeted in his own office by Miss
West, tho society editor, who wore a
troubled expression.
He answered her good morning
with something that sounded very
much like a bears growl. What
right have you to look grouchy?" he
and all you have to do Is to draw
your salary. You don't have to take
any risks. You don't have to worry,
you don't have the govt or the rheu-
matism. What's the matter now?"
Only that 1 have to have new as
sistant."
Another bear growl. What did you
do with the last one? Wasn't she good
enough for you? See here, young lady,
l can't spend all my time getting you
assistants. Is it my fault if they
quit?'
"She got married-thats what they
all do. And it puts me in an awful
fix. There are two charity balls to
cover tonight. a coming-out party
every day next week and three the
dansants, besides all sorts of similar
affairs. What 1 wanted to ask you,
Mr.. Hepp1eton, If whether you think
it would be a good idea for me to
have a young man. You see, the
girls are not reliable. They are so
likely to get married."
mo reason why they should Mr..
Heppleton growled. You don't get
married, do you?" And then, more
gruffly still And you are a pesky
lot prettier than any of the assistants.
You don't get married-you stick to
your job. What's the matter with the
girls nowadays? Don't they appreciate
a good job? Haven't they any brains
at ALP"
May I have man reporter? ?" Mar
garet persisted. 81 know other so
ciety editors always have girls, but
man you can be severe with, you can
ask him to work late every night in
the week and you can boss him
of offending him. And when a man
gets married he just has to work all
the harder"
Good idea, Now get out and let mo
alone. I'll send to the city desk right
away and have a cub sent to you at
once"
please be sure that the cub has
evening Clothes said Margaret, leav-
ing.
Old Heppleton was still growing
when Bronco Bill strobe leisurely and
with perfect assurance into the Of
/ flee. But the uncle did not at first
recognize in the tall, lanky broad
shouldered figure. still clad in the soft
shirt and soft hat of the Texas ranch
err, his nephew, William Heppleton.
Good mornin'. Uncle Pete" quoth
the nephew, seating himself unbidden
astride the only vacant chair in the
ROOM Il dare say you are some sur
tanned hand and vigorously shook the
hand that the uncle extended rather
gingerly
about the size of it. Oh, yes, ranch
ms all right, but it gets lonesome,
burned lonesome. So 1 just hired a
rancher and his wife-it isn't half
bad when fellows got a wife and a
brood O. young ones-and l came east
Now I'm countin' on gettin' into this
newspaper game. What sort of a job
have you got to offer me?'
There isn't a blessed thing re-
piled the uncle. He rather liked the
young mans breezy manner and
have done so to his own advantage
mo, there isn't a thing, though there
may be later"
Then I suppose I'd better be
| goin'." replied the nephew. NO
thanks, I'm not strapped by long
shot. Good morning. And he held
his hand out again. But the uncle
did not shake it. The telephone bel
at the side CT his desk had beer
| jingling, and instead he took off the
, Yes, yes" he growled. II know
: 1 haven't forgotten. I'll try to gel
you a man This afternoon sure
: am not sure the city desk can spare
= one, but I'll tell the city editor wher
he comes in to dig up a green one
that yeu can break in And then he
banged the receiver down. His nephew
had taken his seat again.
''Well?" he queried. There's one
i of your men wantin some one. What.
the matter with me? I'm greer
= enough. amt II"
The uncle knit his brow for about e
= minute. Yes, you're green enough
and then some," he said, and for {
D moment his grumpiness was lost il
D the suggestion of a smile. Report t.
0 room 455 and tell the party that
n sent you-that you're the man. And
as soon as you get a chance go ane
get dolled out the way they tell yol
o to- That cowboy makeup won't do
n you know"
j 1t was half an hour later and Bron
. CO Bill was sitting at Margaret West.
side and Margaret West was laugh
ing. well, why don't 1 do? Ain
n green enough? Amt I cage