The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-20
EVENING STORY
A Little Help.
by RAY BAKER,

IL wafer BURROWS mad been three
minutes sooner he would have caught
the relief train. If Lucille Mccarthy
had been three minutes later she
would have missed it.
As it was, the Tribune" had the
start of the Star" A six-cylinder,
high-geared automobile overcame the
handicap, however, and Lucille
stepped off the train one one side of
the piled-up coaches at the same time
that Walter jumped from the ton
neau of the car on the other side
Then began the race to clean up on
the details and get them into the re-
spective newspaper offices, which were
fifteen miles from the scene of the
wreck.
If Lucille Mccarthy had known that
Walter Burrows was her rival In this
skirmiSh for facts she would have
worked more feverishly than she did.
If he had known that ne had to COM
pete with a wOman-and this par
ticular woman above all others-he
would have smiled grin1ly and put in
a few extra ticks.
For these two reporters, altho they
were on rival afternoon newspapers,
were erstwhile sweethearts. 1t was
thru him that she obtained her place
on the Tribune" simply because she
could do something she couldn't do,
and because she thought the work
would appeal to her, which it did.
Then came an argument one after
noon. 1t started with discussion of
social and economic problems of the
world in general. Reporters. in their
hours Of relaxation, will Discus and
argue about anything, from the price
of King Georges imperial bedroom
slippers to the number of calories in
the daily meals of the mayor of
Hoboken.
This particular discussion dwindled
to an out-and-out argument which
generated some heat, about whether
women were as resourceful as men.
and if not why not, and If SO why So
The last straw was Walters assertion
that women-are dependable on men IN
emergencies, whereupon Lucille roic
him that she would prove that she IN
particular was not dependent on any
man and never would be.
men overestimate their 1mpor-
lance" she detained. They are not
in the least essential to a woman
success or happiness. You're one OF
those narrow minded beings that think
a woman can't do anything for her
self. You disgust me, that's what you
do I wouldn't have such man hang
ing around the house: Kindly forget
my telephone number"
The reporters at the wreck were SO
busy asking questions of trainmen ana
doctors and scribbling notes that
neither noticed the other. 1t was not
until they got ready to leave that they
became aware of each others pres
ence, and then it was only thru a
miShap.
I'm get the story in for the second
edition and scoop the Tribune" said
Walter, as he scrubbed one last I'M
readable note on some folded copy pa
per and thrust it into a pocket.
At the same time the whistle of
the relief train sounded and Lucille
knew she must get aboard or be left.
She was not far from the train. but
in order to get to it she had to scran-
bic over some wreckage. In SO doing
she slipped and fell to the ground, a
sharp pain darting thru her foot. In
voluntarily she uttered a slight cry,
and it was heard by Walter, who was
standing a short distance away, look
ing around in vain for the automobile
that had brought him to the scene of
the wreck.
He hurried to her and found her
huddled on the ground. When he saw
who it was that had suffered the acct
dent he hesitated a few brief seconds,
then picked her up in his arms. She
was small and he was big, so it wasn't
much of a task to move her off to one
tendant on clearing away the wreck
age.
Where's that COMPOUNDED carr" he
said, aloud. in vexation. Il thought it
was over by that fence when L got out
of it. 1 wonder if the driver didn't
think l was going back?"
His voice made her curious to know
in whose arms she was resting. Hither-
to the pain she was suffering had
made her indifferent as to his identity.
So she lifted two very brown eyes and
they met two gray-blue ones, and then
her mouth Strengthened out and she
commanded:
Put me down at once"
He grinned and complied. She took
a few steps, limping pronouncedly.
! How dare you pick me up in your
arms" she demanfed. Il don't need
your assistance"
He looked out on the road but there
was not an automobile in sight. 1t
was yet too early for the general pub
lie to hear the news and begin flock
ing to the scene. When he looked
back at the girl she was huddled on
the ground again.
I've lost OUT she almost sobbed.
1.-The train has gone. 1 was going to
take it back to the next station and
file my story at the telegraph office"
He looked sympathetic.
If you will allow me to suggest an
idea" he remarked, perhaps | can
help both you and myself. I'm not
doing this in a personal way. you I'M
derstand. but simply professionally. 1
would give any reporter little help
in like circumstances, be it man or
woman"
She answered him almost surliiy.
| jabbing pins into her back hair.
Go on with your idea I've got to
get my story to the Tribune or lose
my job
well" he went on. my chauffeur
| has gone and left me; but 1 just no
| ticed a handcar standing some dis
lance up the. track on the other side
| of the wreck. and we can ride on that
! to Bushville, which is only a mile
around that bend. We can file our
stories there"