Evening star., 1921-05-15

Il got away
with any facts at alI""
With the fact that I'm queered
with the Randers"
'Shucks.'' grumbled the city edi-
tor Il thought you knew him SO
Well"
II know him better now" Richard
assured him. 'On what joyous little
errand would you have me journey
forth next"
II don't think of anything else in
your particular line this afternoon"
drawled Burton-"that is, unless you
can suggest some other interview"
Il am in deep thought said Rich
ard. 1T occurs to me that there is
another member of the Randers fam
lily whom l might
Beat it," laughed The Desk.
From the corner settee in the tea
room at the Ritz. Richard Van Kleeck
rose at one minute after o'clock
that afternoon to greet a girl who
was girl. When Richard had met
her three years before they had
looked at each other strangely and
smiled. And when they had found
a window seat they had again looked
at each other strangely and smiled.
Then each had repeated. way down
where one repeats. that love-at-first-
sight formula: We'll. I didn'. know
exactly how you'd look. but this is
you"
tea and English mullins and MARINA
lade had been wheeled before them.
''your father hates me-"
Why" she queried. puzzled,
smiling.
Because I have become a viper
of the press"
You're making fun of him." said
the girl coloring. She had often
heard her father use the words.
mo. I'm not. 1 took a job with
the Star today"
Helen let her hands fall helplessly
into her lap and regarded him with
a faint. quizzical smile.
Dick, won't you ever settle
down." she asked rather tremulous-
ly. You owe it to me. Surely,
you're not going to be an ordinary
reporter on New York newspaper"
Ordinary? 1 went down today to
interview your father
Dick, are you crazy"
You and he have been comparing
notes" he commented mildly.
Helen flushed. Don't you know
he eats reporters?"
Until today I had only a vague
notion of the intensity Of that ap-
petite
And are you angry and hurt?"
she asked.
No" Richard spoke slowly. III
your father doesn't want his name
in the papers that's his business" He
because l did it,"
That's a foolish question, Dick. |
! was disappointed at first. But if
you're sincere" She gazed at him
questioningly.
Helen. no man knows what he
can do best until he tries" he said
I'm not sure of any
thing in this world except that I
love you
The girl leaned toward him and
impulsiv"ly placed a little hand in
his. mo matter what happens" she |
whispered. "Td rather have the tint
est chair in a Harlem fat with you
than every seat on the stock ex-
change with any other man I ever |
saw. But please hurry up"
He squeezed her little hand until
she WINGED and withdrew it: ]
Tell me-" she said. why do the
newspapers-'hound u.s. as father
expresses it?''
Because the name Randers means |
potential news. It's one Of the curses !
of being powerful and socially i'm !
portant. and. in your case, wonderful !
and the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs, |
james Josiah Randers."
She pursed her red lips in thought. /
Then, IF I were a newspaper edi-
tor" she said simply. "and father
treated my men as I know he treats
al reporters. I'd get hopping mad
myself and never print his name
again."
Richard smiled. The editors re-
venge." he said. "is not in silence
out in screaming headlines"
Then you'll try again to inter-
view him.
THE only thing I ever expect to
interview him about again is a girl |
named Helen"
She bIushed prettily and fingered
her furs on a chair beside her. Then:
It's nearly s. The car is waiting.
Radiant she faced him as he stood.
hat in hand. by the door of the linn
ousine. "wednesday night" she
said gayly. well map out plans that
will make Mr.. Hearst look like the
editor Of a farmers almanac. Come
early"
Richards breath whipped in sharp
Iy. Wednesday night-he had in
tended telling her all her father had
said. Obviously the sidewalk was
no place to do it now. "Helen. mine
is a morning paper" ne said In some
work Wednesday night. Besides. be-
fore I call again, I think you'd bet
ter have a talk with your father"
Before she could protest he had
bowed and swung on toward 9Th
avenue.
said to the chauffeur and settled back
her white furs.
** 4
LIS night assignment covered.
Richard and his city editor lunch
ed together in the restaurant for
employees on the fourteenth floor Of
the Star building.
still sore about Randers?" in
quired Burton.
lows are the goats" said Richard
From what I gather the old gentle
man has been booting you out for
years. and you not only go back for
more but cling to the delusion that !
no story below Fulton street can be |
written without his name. Know
what Id do?''
mo. what" Burton checked a |
sandwich in midair. I
cut him out absolutely. Put an
on the name Randers for
six months year-two years, II
Burton put the sandwich carefully |
back on his plate. and shot Richard |
a look of pity. Then he laughed good |
"Revengeful youth" he said melo- !
dramatically, Il thought you weren't !
sore" T,
I'm not: and the idea isn't even i
original
And IL would be about as popular |
with the newspapers as evening dress |
in Canal street at high noon. Might !
as well suggest cutting out base
ball" !
I'm reply to which" returned Rich !
tnv
myrot. II can be done"
How"