The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1918-09-13

details OF murder, and has but luke
warm interest In the higher criticism
and that on newspaper staff uni.
versity degree is regarded with far
less respect than nose for news.
Still, the glamour stripped from Jour-
nalism, Philip kept doggedly on. He
acquired reputation for being faith
ful and accurate. He was a gour-
mand for work and the city editor be-
gan to speak hopefully of him, but
advancement comes slowly in news
paper office, and to Philip Madge
seemed an immeasurable distance off,
when suddenly he made his great
scoop. 1t was the merest accident
successes mostly are, If we knew the
truth of them. One evening he was
walking along one of the fashionable
residence streets when suddenly he
was startled by scream, and looking
up he saw woman with the wild
eyes and cunning of maniac sitting
on the very outer coping of the walls
of tall house, where she waved her
arms gleefully, and leaned dizzily for
ward to peer into the street below.
In an instant all the mystery of the
drawn blinds, and jealousy guarded
doors Of the mansion, at which many
had marveled was revealed. Here
was one Of those family tragedies, at
which the world guesses-some poor
crazed creature.
1t had taken Philip but an instant
to realize the scene, and with a sud-
den inspiration he dashed past the
servant in the doorway, and up the
stairway. The crazed woman was still
young and pretty. A dainty sllken
robe, and ,filmy lace scarf blew about
her. Evidently she was a woman of
fashion and society, so the thoughts
flew through his mind as he dashed
up the three flights Of steps and
through the open door in the roof
through which she had evidently |
He knew well enough he
might be going to his death, but he
only smiled little grimly and moved
On towards the pathetic figure sway
ng on the ledge of the wall The
woman looked up at the sound Of an
approaching step. She saw hand
some young mana young man such
Is she vaguely remembered in that
world that was not all horrible dreams
md padded walls-coming toward
Ter. When he reached her he made
'ourtly bow, and offered her his arm,
md without one protest, mechanically,
as If they had been on the
,allroom floor, she arose and put her
land within it, and together they start
I'd toward the house, treading the
narrow ledge, whose outer edge was
leath. A single push of the crazed
vOman's feeble hand and mutilation
waited for them below, but there was :
lot tremble in the mans voice as he !
sked her:
"And what did you think of the new
enor this winter ut the opera?" =,
In the street below the crowd stood ,.
silent, tense with excitement, until
hey saw Philip hand the woman, still
With courtly grace, through the door
II the roof, and then 1t broke into tu-
cheering.
AS for Philip his one thought was ,
o get to the office. His part In the
dventure appealed to him not at all.
t was what any fellow would nave "
lone, he thought, and he could leave
hat out, but he realized the value Of
he story. The secret Of the darken-
d mansion. The closed blinds. The !
eautiful woman, with her wild, mad I
yes-it was full Of color, 1t was pic u
uresque. Besides 1t was n scoop. No c
ther reporter had been there, and a ?
coop is as dear to the newspaper D
cart as first-born to mother.
There Is, perhaps, no other JOY In u
ife equal to that of the young Il
writer who reads his own productions p
1 type, and Philips first con-
cious act the next morning was to n
each for the paper. He had expected Il
Is story to be given some prominent U
lace perhaps to be featured. To his |!
ismay 1t was not even printed. He II
,oked the paper over twice to have L
usplclon deepen into certainty. 1t II
nd been left out. How long he might z
ave stared at the paper in bewilder- b
lent he never knew, but that two let I
'rs caught his eyes, as they lay upon t
is table. One was from the city ed h
or Of the Asterisk, and he pounced c
pom 1t for an explanation. t
Dear Van Vlvier," he read "sorry, L
ut your scoop was scooped. The dis {
'essed damsel you rescued Is old La v
ouxs daughter, and La RouX, as you a
ppear not to know, is the heaviest Il
ockholder In the Astersk. Natu- t
llly he wanted your story killed, Vir- "
lie is rewarded, however. He sul $
nsts you for night editor In place OF $
larson who has resigned. Report C
,r duty tonight" y
The other letter was from Mudge. II t
nd: t
"Dear Philip: have heard Of your l
'scue of poor Fannie Ia Roux. How a
Duld you be such Il hero, and such p
goose as to take such risk? You 4
eed guardian, sir, and am going to n
larry you to take care OF you on this II
ny one month. You can't refuse e
dy, you know. Yours, Madge." 4
Philip read the letter twice. and n
Zen he bowed his head on the table. V
nd when he raised 1t his eyes were o
,ry dim and tender. 6