Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1919-02-14

| q rev steps, jumping pronounccuny.
"How dare you pick me up in your
armsw she demanded. II don't need
you"
He looked out on the road, but
there was not an automobile In sight.
1t was yet too early for the general
| public to hear the news and begin
flocking to the scene. When he looked
back at the girl she was huddled on
the ground again.
"I've lost out" she almost sobbed.
''The train has gone. l was going to
take it back to the next station and
file my story at the telegraph office"
He looked sympathetic.
"f 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 IN
derstand, but simply professionally.
/ would give any reporter little help
in like circumstances, be 1t man OF
woman"
She answered him almost Surlily,
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 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 mile
fhot Uo
stories there"
Without waiting for her consent he
picked her up again and succeeded In
getting to the handcar, on which he
placed her. Selling the handles, he
soon had the vehicle moving down the
track.
"Hey. bring that back, you!" called
section hand, but Walter couldn't
or wouldn't hear.
She sat at one end Of the kanAear
and looked away from him. The PAIN
had left her foot, but there was an
other kind Of pain that she couldn't
dispeL
he worked the pump 90 fast that
perspiration streamed from his brow,
although the weather was only the
mild kind that Is enjoyed early In the
fall.
Before long the Bushville station
doomed into sight. He stopped near
1t and removed the handcar from the
rails, after which he carried Lucille
into the station and placed her on q
bench. 1t was one OF those structures
about the size of a box car, with
waiting room and a combined ticket
and telegraph Office.
"How about sending some press
stuff" Walter inquired Of the Ratchet.
faced man behind the counter.
The man was too busy reading a
magazine to look up.
mo operator" he condescended to
grunt.
THAT settles it." said Lucille In
tones that bordered on anguish
We've both lost out"
Walter had some further converse.
ton with the man at the ticket win
dow, after which he went over to Lu.
Gle and said:
Can you dictate your story to the
wire. You won't have time to write it,
She laughed, almost Historically.
Sure can dictate to the wire, but
what good will that do? We have to
have an operator first"
There was something of triumph In
his eyes.
"We have" he declared. "I'm the
operator. Didn't you ever know that
I graduated from telegraph office to
a newspaper"
She looked up quickly, with mingled
surprise and admiration showing In
her face, but quickly she sought tc |
hide 1t. Turning from him she looked |
out the window. A farmer boy was |
having difficulty with a calf that be- |
trayed pronounced prejudice fol- |
some grass that stuck up in the middle
of the main track.
"Oh, can't do it." she said. you've |
earned the right to send your story,
and yours alone. I couldn't let VOC
send mine too. I'm sick of the game, |
and I'm going to watch that boy get |
that calf off the track while you rattle
the key and lose my job. I don't |
want the job any more, anyhow. It's |
more important that you keep yours,
and maybe this scoop will bring you a
raise. You see, I've decided to let
your pay envelop provide for us both
If you're still of that mind"