The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-02-10
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
A DOUBLE SCOOP (
Observation-Disclosures
BY GENEvlEvE uLMAR,

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Cnon.'
Deane Marshall had made a good
impression upon Elva Waters, or fam
cied he had. He was doubly anxious
to win the good graces of her father.
the Hon. Rupert Waters, judge, ex-
mayor and present owner Of the Daily
Gazette. Rushton was 4 lively, up-to-
date little city and boosted two daily
newspapers, hot rivals, fighting each
other every inch Of the way and keep
ing things locally at fever heat.
Blinn Danvers was the star reporter
on the Field and once in while called
upon Elva, which Deane deemed an
invasion Of home territory. Danvers
was dyed-in-the-wool journalist.
while Deane was a mere novice. The
latter was striving hard to hold his
position on the Gazette and win bet
ter one, for that meant the good will
Of the Judge and permanent position
near to Elva. The policy of Danvers
was obstructive. He did all he could
to keep Deane from scoring scoop
or getting even his honest share Of the
] news. This was exemplitied one day
when both young reporters stood on
the platform Of junction. A politi-
clan of national fame was to reach
there at 8 a. m wait eight minutes
for a connection and 60 on his way.
Both reporters were to get brief In
terview within that precious four hum
dred and eighty seconds time. The
Field cared little for the item, as the
politician was of a party antagonistic
to its principles. For the Gazette It
would be quite feature.
In his usual fresh way, and knowing
the ropes and full of assurance, Dan
vers got the ear of the politician first.
Persistently he held his pI.ge by the
side of the annoyed functionary, simply
wasting the time to keep Deane from
getting in a word edgewlse. So net
tied was Deane that as the next train
pulled in he jumped aboard, deter.
mined If 1t took all day he would Sc
cure that coveted interview. At first
the politician resented further infringe.
ment on his time, but Deane felt that
he was making the play Of his life.
"Mr. Ashton" he said. "my future al
q reporter and possibly my life's zap
r piness depend upon your indulgence
am going to appeal to the sentimen
0 tai side Of your broad human nature"
s "You interest me-" acknowledge
Il the politician, and Deane told bill
whole story. The politician smiled
: spread himself, and, although 1t too
q eight hours to make connections
r Deane got back to Rushton at dusl
10 chuckling over a two-column Interview
fe that was worthy Of big headlines an
c. told something.
s, "Of course / don't know what hay
ID lost of the usual local grist, but ca
:, soon catch up with that" ruminatt
Deane and started for the central p
- lice office to find it deserted.
- "Why, where's the crowd9 he
" ouired of the night clerk.
;, "All off on the Fidelity bank case
ID "The what |" faltered Deane, with
IL sinking heart.
q "Where you been--asleepf All u
/: force and three extras on the fle
q are working up the biggest bank ro
r. berry that ever happened In Rushto
IL, II was Just at dark. A masked ma
!. oyerpowered the Waterman at u
= Fidelity, grabbed satchel with ovt
'e one hundred thousand dollars III
q and made off. The Waterman Is SUI
to that he winged him as he put down III
N alley, but money and man haven't lei
10 q trace"
(; Deane reached the bank to ma
1 crowd gathered there, but that was nc
10 the present center Of Interest. In
- emissaries of the law were scourln
! the district In every direction. DaI
- vers and his extras, provided with al
le tomobiles, were following down clue
ID Deane got the primary facts OF ID
la case and rather disheartenedly pace
T down the alley. Turning toward IN
n main street, as he passed an old III
n used barn he paused. A groan, quicl
= spasmodic, caught his hearing. de Ell
tered the lower dismantled story. ii
:" flashed his electric torch about. sons
ie thing gllstened where broken iat
y der ran up sidewalk.
+ "gloodIr muttered Deane, and a.
II cended Then again he flashed 10
X light. There, lying face up and sti
to upon the hay, was man, q gapih
n wound In his throat. At his side wa
= a satchel. At a glance Deane took !
= the situation-here was the THIEF an
:. his booty!
The man, wounded, had crawle
= here hours since. He had just die'
!" Any sentiment OF help was useless
n Deane became the astute reporter |
fe the presence Of a tremendous scool
10 He thought quickly. He examine
r. satchel and clothing. He took flasl
a light of man and environment. Ii
:, covered up the body with the hay,
= took the satchel with him to the oflc
2" and called up the home of his chief.
Behind guarded doors those tw
= uorked over the greatest newspap6