The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-08
EVENING STORY
The Double Scoop.
BY INES MACDONALD.

charming debutanteS In her set, her |
popularity remained undimmed as
new debutantes same dancing after
her. She had survived a violent love
affair attached to a spectacular en-
gagement with a man who had been
unworthy. and she had also survived
the sordidness of its ending and the Of
fensiveness of its publicity Soon at
forwards she had experienced the |
death of her father, who was dear to |
her. and the following financial crash |
which left her to her own devices for |
making. living. And she had made |
her living very creditably indeed. as |
the city editor of a certain metropolitan |
daily can testify, for within a lew
short years she had advanced from |
sob-sistering to the editorship of the
Woman's Page, which position she
adorned when Webster Rhodes Joined |
the staff.
1t is to be regretted that when this
young man first came under her criti- |
cal eye, Alicia! Randall shifted a very
superior sniff. She was at that point
in feminine life where she looked upon
all men under 80 with suspicion-and1
upon those under 80 with scorn. She
placed Web Rhodes at Is, when in
fact, he was nearly 80, and mentally
filed him away as a harmless imper-
thence, a mere boy. But Web Rhodes
refused to stay filed. He sensed her
attitude at once and laughed at her
and one morning he thrust his head in
her office door and shouted disre~
spectfully. Hello, Auntie! How's
life?"
And in the days and weeks that fol-
lowed he cheerfully rumpled up her
dignity and tossed it into the ash-can
of neglect, once entering her sanctu
airy to place a kiss with much gallan-
try on the back of her outraged hand.
How can you be such an imPerti-
nent kid?" she demanded angrily.
grinned. THE next time I'm plan
ming to kiss you right-on-the-nose.
Now, what do you think of that?"
Whereat she laughed How could
she help it 1t was impossible to stay
angry at the ridiculous boy. How
ever, she avoided him as much as pos
sible, for he took the most startling
liberties with such an ingenious
charm that it was most disconcerting
to the reserved Miss Randall. altho she
knew it was just the overwhelming
exuberance of the spirit of his youth.
No one could look into his clean, fine
eyes without liking him instantly, and, !
in spite of herself, she could not resent
his freedom as much as she felt that
she should. for you see. Alicia was just
a girl-woman, after all.
The first realization of her own at
titude toward Web came on a day
when she lunched with Amy Barlow.
| a girl of the old social whirl in which
| Alicia Randall had once moved. The
| luncheon was by appointment at Miss
Barlow's request, and its purpose was
soon evident.
. There's a very interesting young
man on your paper named Webster
| Rhodes began the stunning Miss
| Barlow. DO you know him?"
Tho surprised, Alicia admitted that
| she did
what I want to know is this
smiled the irresistible Amy, lis he vul-
nerable?"
Il don't understand" spared the
1.-The point-is this" explained Amy:
| THE election is but two months away,
as you know. Father has gone to ex-
IRENE lengths to make sure Of the
Mr.. Rhodes has something on father,
] which if published, would not only
| overturn his plans but probably in
| volve him in the most disgraceful
| scandal that this towns ever known.
| Mr.. Rhodes has been Approached
UP to me-" She arched her perfect
brows with amused confidence in her
own powers of persuasion.
/ Alicia was stunned. "You-you
mean toto make him fall in love
| with you?" she asked.
| Not only that condescended the
| charming Miss Barlow, but I would
even marry him If necessary. Father
says he's rather a splendid chap"
i And you want me to Introduce you,
is that it2s murmured Alicia.
Exactly" laughed Miss Barlow.
So it was that within two weeks the
entire staff was on" and when
Rhodes entered the editorial office he
would be greeted with cheers and loud
laughter. And how someone would
ask solicitously. els the charming
heiress resting today?" or Love me-
Webbie, and the world is yours!'' or
Noah, old rooster. hold ou- for q. stiff
dowery-and don't forget your honest
debts, boy; or '''webbie, dear, mar
riage is a hard life
But Webster Rhodes only grinned
good naturally and went on his way
usually with the fascinating Miss Bar
low She 'phoned him, she noted him,
she called for him in her racing car.
They drove together, lunched together,
and he was entertained at the Barlow
mansion whenever it was possible for
him to be there.
Week after week of this followed,
, and Alicia stuck to her job with de-
fiant eyes and tight pressed lips.
Whenever she saw Rhodes he seemed
just the same as always, but she sell
/. dom saw him now. He was ambitious
ton, a beautiful wife-all these things
; had been held out to him and he had
j fallen for t1emi
The election drew nearer and nearer,
till 1T was but five days off-then four.
. The tension was growing every hour
! 1t drew her back to her desk that
! night after dinner on the pretense of a
press of work, but she did nothing but
sit there and wait-she knew not for
what. Eight o'clock came-nine-she
opened her door and looked out into
the big editorial room. She saw
Rhodes enter, and noted that he
looked tired and unkempt. The city
editor leaped up at the sight OF Rhodes
and went forward to meet him. They
talked earnestly for a moment as they
, walked over to Rhodess desk. The
city editor was jubilant about some
thing for, as Web slumped down into
| his chair his boss s1a L, ha