The Dolores star., 1919-01-17
A DOUBLE SCOOP
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Dy oENEvIEvE ULMAa,

cied he had. He was doubJy spxjous
to win the good grsces of her father.
the Hon. Rupert Waters, Judge. ex.
mayor and present owner Of the Daily
Gazette. Rushton was n lively, up-to.
date little city and boasted 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 q while called
upon Elvs, which DeaDe deemed an
invasion of home territory. Danver,
was dyed-jn-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 Denne from scoring SCOOP
or getting even his honest share of the
news. This was exempliAed one day
when both young reporters stood on
the platform Of junction. A politi-
clan Of national fame was to reach
there at q. M, wait eight minutes
for connection and 90 on his way
Both reporters were to get brief in.
terview within that precious four hun.
dred and eighty seconds time. The
Field cared little for the item, as the
politician was Of party antagonistic
TO its principles. For the Gazette 1t
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.
Perslstently 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 MS the next train
pulled in he jumped aboard, deter
mined II 1t took all day he would Sc
cure that coveted interview. At first
the politician resented further infringe
inent on his time, but Deane felt that
he was making the play of his life.
'Mr. Ashton" he said. my future as
reporter and possibly my life's hap.
pness depend upon your indulgence.
AIN going to appeal to the sentimen-
tal 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 1t took
eight hours to make connections,
Deane got back to Rushton at dusk,
chuckling over q two-column interview
that was worthy Of big headlines and
told something.
"Of course don't know what have
lost Of the usual local grist, but l can
soon catch up with that" ruminated
Deane and started for the central po-
lice office TO find 1t deserted.
why, where's the crowd?" he In
quired of the night clerk.
"All OF on the Fidelity bank case"
"The what!" faltered Deane, with
sinking heart.
"Where you been-asleep? 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 watchman at the
Fidelity, grabbed a satchel with over
one hundred thousand dollars In 1t
and made on. The watchman Is sure
that he winged him as he put down the
alley, but money and man haven't left
trace"
Deane reached the bank to find
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 broken lad
der ran up II sidewalk.
Blood" muttered Deane. and as
cended. Then again he flashed the
light There, lying face up and still
upon the hay. was man, gaping
wound In his throat. At his side was
satchel. At y glance Deane took In
The situatiOn-here was the thief and
Ills booty
The man, wounded, had crawled
mere hours since. He had, just died.
any sentiment of help WIS useless.
Deane became The astute reporter in
inc presence OF u tremendous scoop.
he thought quickly. He examined
atchel and clothing. He took flash
hsnt Of man and environment. He
eoVered up the body with the hay, he
"ok the satchel with him to the office
aad called up the home of his chief
behind guarded doors those two
worked over the graatest newspaper
triumph ever scored IN RushtOn. The
ne Al ~ fs,sfa