The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-01-17
IE DAILY
HORT STORY
A Little Help.
cay RAY BAKER.)
Copyright, 1918, by the McClur
81 Newspaper Syndicate.

"a cyl HAY bAkEH.l
Waiter BURROWS had been three
minutes sooner he would have
ut the relief train. II Lucille Nc
mad baen three minutes later She
+ 15ld h2ve missed It.
f z was, the Tribune" had tho
ftiltt ct the Star. A sixcylinder.
sg6ared automobile overcame the
tndacap. however, and Lucille stepped
!; ut the train on one side Of the piled.
IN coaches ct the same time that Wal
Jumped from the tonneau Of the
on the other side.
hon began the race 70 clean mp on
ne Netails and get them into the re.
SbActtSe newspaper offices, which
he fifteen miles from the scene OIL
TIE wreck.
Lucille McCarty had known that
Walter Burrows was her rival in this
Etf1niSh for facts she would have
( worked more feyerishly than she did.
a he!had known that he had to COM
Spete with wcman-and this particu-
woman above all others he would
tlaae smiled grimly and put in few
extra ticks.
For these two reporters, although
they were on rival afternoon news
papers, we're erstwhile sweethearts. 1t
Vas through him that she obtained her
place on the Tribune, simply because
4 slie said she wouldn't have a man who
could DO something she couldn't do,
and because she thought the work
would appeal to her, which 1t did.
AN
noon. Il started with discussion OF
social aud economic problems Of the
world IN general. Reporters, in their
hours OF relaxation, will discuss and
argue about anything. from the price
Of King Georges imperial bedroom
I, slippers to the number Of calories In
the daily meals Of the mayor Of Ho-
bokan.
This particular discussion dwindled
10 an cut-and.out argument which gen
Grated some heat, about whether wo-
ntSn wore as resourceful as men, and
a not why not. and II so why so. The
last straw was Walters assertion that
women are dependable on men In en-
argenices, whereupon Lucille told him
inst she would prove that she In par
Z tirnlar was not dependent on any man
and never would be.
MEN overestimate their impor.
q lance, she deciaimed. "They are not
u the least essential TO woman's
success or happiness You're one OF
those narroW-minded beings that think
4 woman can't do anything for her
Zen You disgust me, that's what you
do. I wouldn't have such man hang
ms around the house. Kindly forget
my tela1hbne number"
The reporters at the wreck were 50
busy asking questions Of trainmen and
doctors and scribbling notes that
neither noticed teh other. It was not
unit they got ready to leave that they
's6etSmH aware OF each others pres
shee; aud then II was only through 9
nishaN!
Isii get the story in for the second
edition and scoop the Tribune said
walter, as no scribbled one last un-
readable note on! some folded copy
paper and thrust 1t into 9 pocket
Z AZ the same time the whistle OF the
relief train sounded and Lucille knew
j, Esi1e must get aboard or be left She
Wss not far from the train, but in or
staer 10 get to 1t she had to scramble
over some wreckage. In so doing she
& slipped and fell to the ground, q sharp
paandarting through her foot, lnvol.
nitarilyf she uttered slight cry, and
Was heard by Waiter, who was
standing short distance away. look.
z mr. around IN vain for the automobile
Ethat had brought him to the scene OF
the wreck
ie hurried to her and found her
died on the ground. When he saw
who's WAS that had suffered the acct
sisnt he issitated q few brief seconds,
then picked her up in his arms. She
SFas small and he was big, 80 1t
warn 4 much OF q task to move her off
ko one side o. the hustle and confusion
attendant on clearing away the wreck.
hars's that COMPOUNDED carr? he
said cloud, In vexatlon. II thought II
MAS over Is that fence when I got out
nf Il. L wonder IL the driver didn't
link y was going back?"
fAs voice made her curious to know
IA whose arms she was resting. Hith.
frto tho pain she was suffering had
6dS6 her indif ferent as to his identity.
eosahes littetl two very brown eyes and
dey met twc gray blue ones, and then
Her mouth straightened out and che
cnmnRnded: "A
Put me down at once!"
He ffiuned and complied. She took
! lew atsps s1imping pronouncedly.
How dare; You pick mo up IN your
2tfns she demanded. II don't need
iie looked out on the road. but there
MAS not An automobile IN sight. It
WI set too early for the general pub.
III n hear the news and beglu flock.
hi the scene. When he looked back
Is Inc irl ahe vas huddled "a the
Sfagha pkasn, u
NE lost oiit,~ she almost sobbed.
The train has gone was going tcH
IL 6ahk e the next station erdi
mo ny story at the telegraph Office"
he lacked kympathetic.x
RI you VIII allow me to suggest IN
idSk, No remarked. perhaps can.
help both you and myself. I'm not do
Ing this IA 4 personal way, you under
ftSRe but simply professionally. l.
Ntni6 five my reporter q little help Ia
He circun6at antes, be It man or wo-
HkeI apsWered him almost suriily,
I.tkl0N nfMa6 fnt0 fYiAr kaNk hagrs