Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-10-24
supressing the Story

1t is strange thing how quick
ly things are forgotten. 1t always
has seemed to me that as a people
we are the quickest to take up some
thing sensational and forget soon
est.
When | read that story in the
afternoon papers, which did as
soon as l had gotten into my car,
found to my relief that there was
no mention Of Sheila by name nor
reference to her ON the accusation
of Walter Jones, Sr.
l knew that John had read the
story before / saw it, as he had a
paper in his hand, but he said no.
thing to me, although I could see
him stir a little every time the pap
er cracked as l turned it.
Under a 'scare-head" the news
paper spread across the page the
story of "a young man, said to be
the son of the late Walter Jones
was brought to the Good Samaritan
hospital unconscious early this morn
ing, suffering from an overdose of
poison, probably taken with suicidal
intent.
HE has not regained conscious
ness and there is an air of mystery
about the whole affair.
"He was brought to the hospital
in a private car, the chauffeur of
which said he found the man lying
beside the curb on lower 3rd street
and brought him to the nearest hos
pital.
4" L was afraid at first that | had
struck him rs i turned the curb,
but you see there are no bruises
upon him, volunteered the chauffeur
who declined to give the name of
his employers as he confessed that
he had the car out Of the garage
without their knowledge.
This story might be true for il
was found that the license plate ON
his car had been changed and he
was using number allotted to
cart owned by II defunct garbage
collector.
'"The hospital authorities neglect
Cd to hold the man until after they
had reported to the police.
"Howeyer, the police say they
will have the man under arrest with
in "a hours"
When read this far l told John
TO turn around and take me. back
to the police station.
IL am afraid you have mixed
things up" said to John.
They can do nothing except Jail
me, Mrs. Wilmington, John smil-
ed. "And | hardly think they will
even do that, as / shall stick to my
story of being out with the car
without your leave, and everybody
forgive that in chauffeur once
in a while"
"Well, it goes without saying,
John" ! said with a faint smile,
that l shall forgive you this time"
| was ushered directly into the
,hief's quarters. He arose when he
saw me. In his hand he still held
The paper in which the story I had
just read, appeared, and which had
-urned me into a kind of moral
elly.
We think we are quite above the
Tread of scandal, / had said vain
sloriously to myself only a few
hours before that the world might
lay what it would. l would stand |
,irm on the truth and right. And
ret now, when / had visions Of |
'eeing my name in the public press
connected with this more or less
ialacious story, eringed and tried |
o get out from under.
AT this moment every ounce Of |
mercy in my body was in good |
working order and ! was using il
My to keep the name of Spencer
the name Of Sheila--out of the
ewspapers.
The chief looked up with
winkle in his eye as l spoke to
i'm.
80 you want me to lay off get
ing your ehauffeuri" he queried.
IL haven't mentioned my chauf-
sur TO you, chief, am not pre-
ared to accuse my faithful John
{ joy-riding at this late day of his
fe."
The chief smiled openly. "Youn
o." he said.
1T isn't what III do in the mat
n, 1t is what you'll do" l coun-
red sInilingly.
well, III see what can do, Send
'ur chauffeur over to my house
night to tell me whether your
other or your sister-in-law are
me yet. And now let me tell you
mething; Do not come here again
It'll ] send for you.
I'VE are skating, my dear Mrs.
iimington, on the thinnest of thin
, and yon ought to know that
ere is no better detective in the
rid than clsyer young reporterl
10 is hoping to make ten-s,rike !