Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-16


Ackland Center, a little old town in
New England, j. proud Of its beauty
and traditions. But the modern world
crowds in on its peace and quiet.
Finally q notorious roadhouse. Jazz
land. is opened BY a gang Of boot
leGgers. Liquor flows. Girls of the
town are lured there. The editor Of
the Weekly Age" il murdered for
his editorial attacks. His brother,
Homer Pew, takes UP the fight.
Homer Is Joined by Stella Bagot, one
Of the hometown girls, who has made
good as a writer ia New York. Stella
comes to write a story and re-
mains 10 fight LAKELAND. Homer is
beaten UP in a mysterious midnight
attack. Stella takes charge OF the
paper and writes sizzling editorials.
She also tries TO trace a telephone
call, believing it 70 come from the
murderers. Stella finds her little
sister. Martha, has been out on a
lark 70 LAKELAND, and has been drink
inE. She gives her a lecture and
Martha complains that she is kept at
home while Stella has been allowed
10 60 TO college and later take up her
own life in New York. Stella r~etires
TO her room, and leaves a note pinned
On her door telling her mother 70
awaken her early the next morning.
Stella has made an appointment TO
phone Ernie Hallam, a New York
acmirer, who is staying in Boston.
Ernie complains that Stella has
forgotten him. but she makes n date
TO meet him in a little town nearby
that night at s~ix-thirty. Ernie is
very much in love with Stella.
Stella finds out Joe Harmer. Ack-
lands leading citizen and political
boss, has had a hand in leasing Jazz
land to the gang
Stella c~onvinces Homer to keep
quiet about Joe Harmer until they
can get more evidence.
Stella tells Homer about her sister
Martha's escapades. Stella is begin
ming TO fall in love with Homer, the
fighting young editor.
tNOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER XIV
How boyish he wasi But how stir
ringl Stella couldn't look at him
now. She folded her hands in her
lap and looked down at them. There
was n lump in her throat.
well" said he, "even so. there's
no n in preaching at you, you're
with US. God knows"
~ wonder If God does know"
You certainly appear to be-"
Eyes, but after all, Homer.
I'm New York. Il has meant every
thing to me-"
"You don't seem New Yorky.
You're a fighter. And you're the
only person / nthe world. apparently,
that / can talk with right now"
She didn't answer that, nor did she
lift her eyes.
81 certainly thought you were with
me. Stella. X has seemed so, today"
81 an Homer. But . \" color
famed into her face "but I'm
New York. just the same. l live with
those little struttinE egos. They're
NV friends. I've laughed at Ackland.
I'm one Of them. I'm ~disruptive. too.
without even being a genius. 7
broke away from my family. Went
out on my own"
But you are gifted. Stella
"No. Just restless. | wanted my
life to myself. Martha tainted me
with Il last nicht-this morning.
caught her sneaking in from a ride
and climbing up the woodshed to her
room. She'd been drinking. She's
Just a wild little flapper. And de-
fiant about il. She said the family
had tried 70 keen her shut up to
balance what I'd done to them. I've
learned one thing. You can't protect
a girl AZ home. Your brother was
right. The world reaches in :.
Well. | really must 60"
"Oh. no.. Stella. Look here. Will
braham's likely to drop in again. He
may bring news. Why don't you just
stay on and have n bite with us.
You can call I'D your folks"
Stella looked at him now, Wild
eyed. Then. very slowly, she arose
~ can't. Homer. I've a dinner en-
garement."
"I'm sorry, Stella. You must for
give nc for hanging on 10 you like
this. But you have 10 talk 70 some
body. And here ut home I daren't
let them see my real feelings. You
see. they've nobody else TO lean On
now"
Tears were coming. She moved TO
the window and looked out. She
could see the clock on the Unitarian
church. 1t was just a quarter past
five. There was time to get the
Ford home. fix up N little. work out
some sort Of misleading half-truth 70
tell the folks. and catch the six-ten