The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1919-11-03
A DOUBLE SCOOP

BY NJ

Deane Marshall had made q good
impression upon Elva Waters, or fan
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 a 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.
Blina Danvers was the star reporter
on the Field and once in a while called
upon Elva. which Deane deemed an
invasion of home territory. Danvers
was Il 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 a bet
ter one, for that mean 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 a scoop
or getting even his honest share of the
news. This was exemplifed n day
| WICb JUL tOuu6 tCBOitCiS StOOu Ou
the platform of a junction. A politi-
clan Of national fame a to reach
there at 8 a. m, wait eight minutes
for a connection and go on his way.
Both reporters were to get a brief In
terview within that precious four hun
dred and eighty seconds time. The
Field cared little for the item, az the
politician was of a party a~ntagonistic
to its principles. For the Gazette II
would be quite a 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 Place by the
side of the annoyed functionary, simply
wasting the time to keep Deane from
getting In a word edgewise. So net
tied was Deane that as the next train
pulled in he jumped aboard, deter
mined if it 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 as
q reporter and possibly my life's zap.
piness depend upon your indulgence.
l am going to appeal to the sentiment
tai side of your broad human nature
"You interest me-" acknowledged
the politician, and Deane told his
whole story. The politician smiled,
spread himself, and, although it took
eight hours to make connections.
Deane got back to Rushton at dusk,
%chuckling over a two-column interview
that was worthy of big headlines and
told something.
"Of course l don't know what / have
lost of the usual local grist, but / can
soon catch up with that" ruminated
Deane and started for the central pO-
lice Office to find it deserted.
"Why, where's the crowd?' he in
Quired of the night clerk.
"All off on the Fidelity bank case"
1.-THE what" faltered Deane, with a
sinking heart.
"Where you been-asleep7 All the
force and three extras on the Field
are working up the biggest bank rob-
berry that ever happened in Rushton.
1t was just at dark. A masked man
overpowered the Waterman at the
Fidelity, grabbed a satchel with over
one hundred thousand dollars In IT
and made off. The Waterman is sure
that he winged him as he put down the
alley, but money and man haven't left
q trace"
Deane reached the bank to find q
crowd gathered there, but that was not
the present center Of interest. The
emissaries Of the law were securing
the district In every direction. Dan
vers and his extras, provided with au-
tomobiles, were following down clues.
Deane got the primary facts Of the
case and rather disheartenedly paced
down the alley. Turning toward the
main street, as he passed an old un-
used barn he paused. A groan, quick.
spasmodic, caught his hearing. He en-
tered the lower dismantled story. He
flashed his electric torch about. Some
thing glistened where a broken lad
der raj up a sidewalk.
"Bloodw muttered Deane, and as
cended. Then again he flashed the
light. There, lying face up n stih
upon the hay. was a a a gaping
wound in his throat. At his side was
a satchel. At a glance Deane took in
the situation-here was the thief and
his booty!
The man, wounded, had crawled
here hours since. He had Just died.
Any sentiment of help was useless.
Deane became he astute reporter in
the presence of q tremendous scoop.
He thought quickly. He examined
satchel and clothing. He took a fash
light of man and environment. He
covered up the body with the hay. he
took the satchel with him to the office
and called up the home of his chief.
49, &-F-