Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1934-02-28
Wardell Was
Right
By VIVA wINSLoW
q. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
WNU Service

ll5ul cOdl clO5Si uDOui hSis SO Soiu
was the gaze of the cleveT execu-
tive. Instead she continued to look
steadily at him. her large brown
eyes as sincere as they were beau
tifuI.
81 don't want TO be a society re
porter, Mr.. Wardell," she said with
a drawl that, reminding one of q
lazy southern stream rolling through
Kentucky blue grass. added infinite
ly to the charm of her low. throaty
voice.
i've been a general assignment
reporter for two years, and | want
TO continue to be one. I'm twenty
three years old and hell-bent to get
somewhere. and | can't get there by
being a society reporter"
I'm sorry. Miss Dewitt" Wardell
said CURLY. but as I've just said,
we have no place here for you. !
don't hire women reporters. | don't
like them"
With which remark he lowered
his eyes to some copy which lay on
his desk. So far as he was con
cerned the interview was over. Not
so with Polly.
II don't think 1t Is fair of you to
let a personal prejudice against
women enter into business"
Ordinarily Wardell would have
ignored a remark like that, but
somehow Polly's tone caused him
to look up at her again. Then be
said:
"There are very few good women
reporters, and those that are good
get married and quit their jobs"
"How do you know, If you've
never hired anyT" flashed Polly.
The young managing editor was
about to answer her again when
Ted Lowry. the city editor, called:
Hey, Tom, where's T0wner? There's
been an accident at Market and
Broad streets. and | haven't got any
body here to send out"
"Towner's out of town." snapped
Wardell. Get Binny on the phone.
and tell him to go over"
Al can't" said the city editor.
Hes at the fire up In the North
End"
Polly had been listening avldly 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
reporters"
Wardell looked at her for a sec
ond. and then. smiling for the first
time since Polly had been in the Of
flee. said: "Okay. lady, go to 1t.
Let's see what you car do"
When Polly returned with the de-
tails of the accident she sum.
married. the story for the managing
editor, and asked:
"How much do you wantg"
"About q half column" Then,
wlnking at the city editor, he add.
ed: "And 1t had better be good"
After reading Polly's story, Ward
ell tossed 1t over to the city desk
without even looking at her. His
only comment was: mot bad for 8
girl reporter"
do | get a job?" asked Polly
Eyes, | guess you're worth a trial
But you probably won't stay long
Just about the time you are begin
ming to get valuable to us you I'm
doubtedly will get married"
You needn't worry about that,
Polly laughed.
Il won't" Wardell ~retorted.
One evening about two month!
later the managing editor stopped
at Polly's desk, and said: "Put some
powder on your nose and COM
along to dinner. | want to talk t,
you"
$50 far I've been wrong about a
least one woman reporter" Ward
ell began, when be and Polly wer'
seated In a restaurant near the of
fee. you've been doing fine work
Polly, but I'm going to give you on
more test. If you stand this II
take back all | said the day yol
came in for a Job. If you don't
you're through"
"What is the test?" asked Polly.
|: you're going to help me cove
the two state political conventions
and 1t is going to be a tough jot
, The first one is next week."
, Polly worked harder during tn
next two weeks than she ever haI
worked before. But she had a glorl
our time. She was sure her wor
had been satisfactory. for Tom ha
been unusually kind, even tender a
times, and because of this. Poll
hardly could believe her ears whe
be told her she was through as
reporter.
you win find two weeks extr
pay waiting for you at the office,
he said. as the special conventio
train sped them homeward. "You'v
had your last assignment"
"Why?" asked Polly. incredulou'
Didn't do good work?'
you did wonderful work, dal
ling" Tom said, needless of tn
other passengers as he slipped hi