The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-14

by ull his difficulties. his resolve to win
thrubbod and moan:od within HIN: but he
faced tho knowledge thut the odds now wero
heavily against him. On the long chance.
ha had played IL desperate game. had come
within IN ace of winning. and had lost. His
great secret which. beyond any other pur-
pose no had meant to guard 70 the end.
was EinringIy out. Now It was the iron
heart OF his vii! that 1t should so no further
Ts.lkatIve young IIammerton had given him
the hint how il might be accomplished: and
if the method was extreme it would be sure.
Whatever the cost. il would be n small price
to pay for keeping his name. and Uncle Ell
. hert's, OF. OF ,uin6us headlines in tomor-
rows papers.
Two blocks further or he came opposite
neat three story brick building, across the
width OF which was black and gold sign
board lettered THE Gazette" Below 1t
was the large plate glass window OF count
Ing room, now dark. On the left was light
cd doorway. BEADING upstairs.
Varney crossed. climbed the stairs. found
himself IN narrow upstairs hall. raped
upon a closed ground glass door bearing the
lecend." Editorial" From within. n voice Of
unent;lusiaSm babe him enter. and he went
in closing the door behind him.
In q swivel chair by an open roller top
desk. young man sat- idly smoking n cigar
cite his back 20 tho door, his languorous
feet hung out OF the window. There. were
electric lights in the room. but they were
not lit All the illumination that there was
came from a single dingy gas fixture stuck
in the wall near the desk. but that was
enough
Narney came closer. " Smith, said he.
well" said Smith.
I have come TO see YOU"
Wel-!ooll, away" said Smith.
There was not trace Of the Hast thou
found me-" in the editors voice or his man.
ne- II lie expected assassination. he did
not appear to mind. lie sat on without turn.
ing. staring alphabetically out Of tho window,
just as he had done when he watched Var,
rey cross and come in at his door.
II have come" said Varncy hecl"s"
understand that you are tho sol" owner, us
we'll as the edlto-. Of this paper. An T
right?
Smith. lit g fresh cigarette tipped the old
ora out OF the window and paused 20 watch
the boys outside fight for Il. Half smoked
stubs came frequently out Of thar window
when Mr.. Smith sa- there aud many boys
in funston knew i.
Assuming that l ann" queried he.
Assuming that" said Yar7"y. III say
that I have come to buy this raae". And
70 discharge you from the editorship."
Smith drew in his feet. and swung slowly
around. The two men measured each other
n m interval Of Intelligent silence. On
the whole >,lpon this close view, Fa:ncy
found II harder 70 think OF Smith con-
temptbe cur who circulated lying ISLANDERS
Cor profit than the young man who wrote
,he famous editorials.
And still they come" SAID Smith. enig
matlcally. Three OF them in ono day-wel
we'll" And he added rausingly:' SO I have
stung you as hard as that. have II"
Let US say rather said Tarney. whose
present tack was diplomacy. that I have
some loose money which I want TO stow
away in a paying little enterprise"
u am the last man in tho world to boas,
or kindness" continued Smith, in his faint
- knocking manner. but I gave you fair
warning 20 leave town
Instead L stayed. And an exceedingly
interesting town l have found t. Something
doing every minute. But. rs l Just re-
per"
III I were ike some I know" reditated
Smith, I'D be thinking: The Lord has de-
live-ed him into my hand. aye. delivered
dear old Beany.' I'd emba-rasS you with
questions. make you blush with catechisms
But I am merciful man, and observe that
I ask you nothing. You want to buy the
Gazette for an investment. Let It stand al
that SO you're the money Erubbing sort
that supposes everything on Gods hassocl-
has Its price,"
Il believe it's street knowledge that the
Gazette has It's. But + called really not so
much to discuss ethics as to ascertain your
figure
Smith gave q sigh which was not without
its trace OF mockery. Fortunately. / am
hardened to Insults. Editors are expected
to stand anything. Times are dull-notElng
much to do--drop around and Kick the Cd
itor. You've no idea what we have to put up
with from spring poets alone. Rejoice p.
that is, Mr.-er-Blank, that the Gazette
Is never to be yours
You can't mean That you decline to sell? "
When 1 implied TO you just now that
l WAS sole owner of the Gazette. was. Of
course, speaking rather reminiscently than
in the strict light of present facts"
What do you mean by that7
That sold the Gazette at o'clock this
afternoon"
For an iustan, the room whirled and Var
ney saw nothing in it but the odd eyes Of
CoIgny Smith steadily fixing him. Blythe
shock of thar blow he realized that. after all,