The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-03-02
Wardell Was
Right
By VIVA WINsLoW
e. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service

OF the clever yong executive. instead
she continued to look steadily at him.
her large brown eyes as sincere as
they were beautiful.
Il don't want TO be a society repor-
ter, Mr. Wardell," she said with a
drawl that, reminding one Of lazy
southern stream rolling through Ken
lucky blue grass, added infinitely to
the charm of her low, throaty voice.
I've been a general assignment re-
porter for two years, and | want to
continue TO be one. I'm twenty-three
years old and hell-bent to get some
where, and | can't get there by being
a society reporter"
I'm sorry, Miss Dewitt" Wardell
81 d CURLY, "but as I've just said, we
have no place here for you. / don't
hire women reporters. I don't like
them"
With which remark he lowered his
eyes to some copy which lay on his
desk. So far as he was concerned the
interview was over. Not so with
Polly.
Il don't think it is fair of you to
let a personal prejudice against women
enter into business"
Ordinarily Wardell would have
ignored remark like that, but some
how Polly's tone caused him to look
up at her again. Then he said:
There are very few good women re-
porters, and those that are good get
married and quit their jobs"
How do you know. if you've never
hired any?" flashed Polly.
The young managing editor was
about to answer her again when Ted
Lowry, the city editor, called: "Hey,
Tom, where's Towner? There's been
an accident at Market and Broad
streets. and haven't got anybody here
to send out"
"Towner's out Of town." snapped
WardelL Get Binney on the phone.
and tell him to go over"
It can't" said the city editor. Hes
at the fire up in the North End"
Polly had been listening avidly to
the conversation. Turning quickly to
the managing editor, she said:
Let me cover this accident. It'll
give you an opportunity to learn first
hand whether women are good report
ers."
Wardell looked at her for a second,
and then, smiling for the first time
since Polly had been in the Office,
said: "OSay, lady, go to it. Let's see
. what you can do"
When Polly returned with the de-
tails of the accident she summarized
the story for the managing editor, and
asked:
How much do you wantT
about half column" Then, wink
ing at the city editor, he added: "And
it had better be good"
After reading Polly's story, Wardell
tossed it over to the city desk without
even looking at her. His only COM
ment was: Not bad for a girl re-
porter"
do get job?" asked Polly.
Yes, I guess you're worth a trial.
But you probably won't stay long. just
about the time you are beginning to
get valuable 70 US you undoubtedly
will get married"
you needn't worry about that"
Polly laughed.
81 won't" Wardell retorted.
One evening about two months later
the managing editor stopped at Polly's
desk, and said: "Put some powder
on your nose and come along to din
ner want to talk to you"
Polly's heart almost stopped beating.
Although she had done everything she
could to please him since she had been
. on the Breeze, Polly hardly had
been noticed by the managing editor.
The two brief sentences he had just
uttered contained the most friendly
words he ever had spoken to her.
so far I've been wrong about at
least one woman reporter" Wardell
began, when he and Polly were seated
in a restaurant near the Office. you've
been doing fine work, Polly, but I'm
going to give you one more test. If
you stand this I'll take back all l said
the day you came in for job. If you
don't, you're through"
What is the test?" asked Polly.
You're going to help me cover the
two state political conventions, and 1t
is going to be tough job. The first
ore is next week"
Polly worked harder during the next
two weeks than she ever had worked
before. But she had a glorious time.
She was sure her work had been sat
isfactory. for Tom had been unusually
kind. even tender at times, and be-
cause of this Polly hardly could be-
Iieve her ears when he told her she
was through as reporter.
You will find two weeks extra pay
waiting for you at the Office" he said,
as the special convention train sped
them hOneward. you've had your
last assignment"
"Why?" asked Polly, incredulous.
Didn't l do good workF"
You did wonderful work, darling"
Tom said, needless of the other pas
sengers as he slipped his arm around
her. "But | don't want you as a re-
porter any longer. ] want you as my
wife. You see. was right when l
said women reporters got married just
about the time they were getting val
liable to their newspapers"
"Oh," said Polly, smuggling down
closer to him. Then: "Tom."
"Yes. dear"
I'm glad you were right"
Monkeys Like Music
An experiment carried out in the