Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-10-09
THE
BELATED
EXTRA
By W. T. WATERS, JR.
90 by Short story Pub. Coz


Southend. The whole city
was Mortified to find the spotlight of
the country turned unblinkingly on
one Of Its own suburbs.
The fourth and last murder had
been the most atrocious of all. A
steady young bookkeeper, head of a
happy little household, was on his way
home Saturday evening, with his arms
full Of weekend packages. Searchers
found him late that night. The bun
dies were scattered about Just as they
had fallen. A cabbage lay unrolled
from the wrappings. Some oranges
had rolled out of paper sack and
lay scattered In the mud at the edge
of the sidewalk.
The boOkkeeper himself-well, there
were no evidences Of robbery. There
was the same lack Of apparent motive
that had characterized all the other
killings of the past three months. The
same devilish hand seemed to show
In all Of them.
The police were bafled. Such faint
clews as they managed to unearth led
them nowhere. The city was getting
nervous. Men asked each other tim
orously where this thing would stop
Few were bold enough to walk the
streets of Southend-or, for that mat
ter. any other part Of the city--after
nlghtfall.
Haden, star man Of the News, was
on the story for his paper. For days
he had not been seen about the office
Not line Of copy came from him. To
his mates ne himself had become
mystery.
Early on this particular afternoon
he sat in whispering conference with
Farnum, managing editor Of the News,
and Burke. the city editor, In the for
mers Office.
ITS the biggest story Of my life"
Haden was saying. 1--WE tied every
thread together, and there's no doubt
on earth that I've located the hend
Whatever you think about my yarn
now, before the days over you'll have
to believe 1t. He's the man, and no
mistake. I've hardly lost sight of him
for three days. At three o'clock I
meet Roswell. He's the deputy, you
know. Then we go together and get
the warrant, and after that there's
nothing to do but serve It."
Farnum laughed nervously. "Just
be careful, Haden."
Roswell doesn't know where he's
going, and has no way of knowing
till | tell him. Nobody knows but you
and me. I've promised Roswell all the
credit If he keeps his head shut
Every hole Is plugged. There just
can't be a leak outside the Office II
It's kept tight inside here Wen wake
them all up with the biggest story Of
the decade-facts, solution, all.
~ think II won't get out from here"
Farnum opined, smiling with a show
of satisfaction. and pointing to his
locked desk. "In here's the type
and the only proof that's been taken.
The foreman Of the composing room
himself set It last night, after every
body had gone. He wouldn't tell I'M
der torture. If you've got 1t sewed up
outside, Haden, It's In a bag here.
Wen stand by till you phone to let
'er go. Then she goes"
Haden stood up, looking at his
watch.
Fair enough, then I'll have to get
along. We've got to be prompt to the
dot. He doesn't vary second. Ros-
well and will get out there and walt,
and then while the fit is on him, while
he's In his own trap with all the grue-
some stuff around him, we'll get him"
TITS tlckllsh business, and you
don't want to get hurt" said Burke,
shifting in his chair.
"Oh, I'm not foollng myself about
that part Of IT," Haden answered,
shaking his head and smiling. 81
warned Roswell to come prepared for
trouble And he knows I never Joke"
He opened the door and stepped
across the threshold lowering his
voice, though there was no one In sight
In the corridor.
"When you hear let 'er go from me-
YOU can Just send that extra sizzling
ont, for I won't say II unless every
thing Is all right SO long"
With a nod and smile he closed
the door and was gone.
The regular city edition Of the after
noon run was off the presses and gone.
The big machines in the bowels OF the
building were laundering forth the
Out-Of-town edition. One Of them was
not working, however It's crew had
been ordered to "stand by" and they
waited without knowing or caring the
reason. The boss pressman himself
had slipped the casts on the cylinder,
and nobody else below knew they were
there waiting for the press Of button
that would send them racing into the
extra which was TO startle the country.
Burke. on the top floor, held his
whole force of reporters together
"Somethlngs mp. I'm thinking, and
It's got the bose" scared, from the
looks OF things" said HIurdy, Of the
courthouse run, to Fisk, the city hall
man. as they sat together with their
feet elevated upOn ltter-strewn
table. But no explanation was forth
coming 50 they tailed Of other things
Burke sat at his desk, apparently
busy. His thoughts, however, were
swlrllng through doubt and conjecture
Farnum. npi2o AY pacing the floor Of
the local rn"'' caught Burke's eye