Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-08

READ THIS FIRST:
Ackland Center, a little old town in
New England, is proud Of its beauty
end traditions. But the modern
world is fast erowding in on its
reace. Finally a notorious roadhouse,
LAKELAND, is opened by a gang of
b~ootleggcrs. Liquor flows. Girls OF
the town are lured there. Editor
Hamilton Pew Of "The Weegly Age
fights LAKELAND, and is shot TO death,
the identity Of his a~ssailants never
being ascertained. Homer Pew, his
brother. takes up the fight in the
newspaper. Stella Bagot, a home
town girl who has made good in New
York as a magazine writer. comes
home 10 write about the fight against
the gang. She IL driven 10 Ackland
BY Ernie Hallam. a married man,
much in love with her. He wants
her TO meet him in Boston. Homer
tells Stella how his brother was shot
down at LAKELAND.
Joe Harmer. AckIand's political
boss. calls on Homer 10 find out If Ne
u going to keep On with the paper,
now that his brother is gone.
lNUitE - NAA4tu ". tnt HuNNt anu
hears the same mysterious voice that
warned his brother 10 give"up the
fight against LAKELAND. He ~endeavors
TO trace the call.
Homer is beat up that night when
he puts his car in the garage al
home. Stella races to his side.
Stella writes a sizzling editorial
for the paper upon the attack.
(NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER II
Ham was pretty right about this
business" said Stella.
yes. He was right. And we're
going through with his fight. OF
course" replied Homer. Were going
to run that damn r~oadhouse out OF
town. and while we're about il we're
going to have n or two other ac-
cnuntings. But when that's done, !
rather think Ill just devote myself
Ia trying 70 make the old paper
snappy and interesting again. See
If there's still a place for a little
country weekly that happens to have
a pretty fine tradition. There's
something nice and American in the
Picture. I've. been thinking | may
even try 10 interest one or two keen
modern writers. If | a find EN-. in
pitching in with me. Young ones,
It's funny, ! suppose, but lying there
On that couch with my brain going
every which way, I've been full of
schemes"
You'd better GO back, Homer"
Il will, in n few minutes. . One
definite move occurred to me. I'm
going to get up a petition for a spe-
cial town meeting TO thrash out this
LAKELAND business. The selectmen
nay oppose il. II would be easy for
them to tawe the position that I'm
just a pestiferous young trouble
maker. That's pretty much their
angle. anyway. Of course. If they
do try to stop me. it'll be necessary
10 get a hundred signatures. But il
ought 70 be possible 70 find that
many voters On our side. The select
ren have power to close the place as
a nuisance. and maybe we could force
their hand"
1T would help" unused Stella, eff
We could get a little real evidence of
liquor being sold out there"
1T would. "a lot. Help, at least,
in tying things M. But I'm going
TO start in tomorrow, anyway, on
that special meeting. There's no
other way to bring il to an issue"
II could get signatures" said
Stella.
II believe you could. Stella. I
can't tell you how wonderful it is to
find you . ""
II don't want to Be thanked any
more" she broke in. shortly.
"All right. I'll stop" He fell ST.
lent. He was leaning forward now,
elbows on the desk, his head in his
hands.
There was another a az the curb.
A man in n gray suit came I'M:
youngish, yinewy Of figure, with a
squarely biocked-in face. A quiet
man, with observant blue eyes.
Il saw your lights, Mr.. Pew" he
said, "and wondered who was here.
How are you feeling?"
"Oh. I'll be all right, soon as I've
put away a nights sleep"
Stella. struggling TO control news
that had suddenly gone edgy, said:
Homer. will you please 20 straight
home and get it."
Yes. Honest. Stella. ! will. +.
oh. this is Mr.. Wilbraham, Miss
Bagot. Miss Bagot is here to do an