The Washington times., 1937-05-18

ner as she answered reportorial
questions. If she fears what lies
ahead of her she at least has
given no sign -.
Two columns Of it. Nobody
knows what it means to be busy
until he has worked on an after
noon metropolitan newspaper. In
addition to the lead story I had
to pound out an interview with
Howard Wrenn telling about the
misericorde and the penny that
Margie Shannon had insisted on
paying him for it.
Both of them written right
under the home edition gun. Fiji
teen minutes for the interview.
Forty minutes for the lead, and
half Of it written with ear phones
claSped to my head while I lis
tened to Harris give me the latest
developments from headquarters.
And in the final 10 minutes. that
Simon Legree Calhoun snatch1ng
copy from my typewriter IN one
paragraph takes, until I could
have screamed and Drained him
with paperweight.
The United Press man grabbing
his carbon. Sparks, the managing
editor, reading over my shoulder.
The makeup editor bawling from
the composing room.
And then the edition was IN.
The tension relaxed.
Calhoun came over to my desk
and sat down. I turned a hostile
eye on him, but before I could
tell him what thought Of him he
beat me to the punch.
st know, I know. What does
the dictionary say about justiti-
able homicide?"
Murder of a city editor" I
snapped.
Fright again. Now that we're
friends again I just want to tell
you that we put a mighty sweet
paper to bed. And you're mainly
responsible. There are times when
you're a downright comfort to
have around the shop"
Calhoun" I said, "if you don't
cut out that lousy habit Of snatch
ing copy out Of my typewriter"
But he had gone.
Two floors below the presses be-
gan to throb.
A few minutes later another boy
ran in with copies of the home
edition Of the Sun. There was a
hurried comparison, and then
faint cheers sounded. Sparks
paused at my desk to say, "That
miseficorde story was exclusive.
Good stuff" and passed on to be-
gin the work of tearing the paper
apart for the next edition.
I ambled over to the copy desk,
intending to speak to Brant. But
he was not in his accustomed seat.
He had left the desk to use type
writer and I discovered him just
as. he was finishing.
I'D like to find a nice quiet
insane asylum" I sighed as he sat
back and folded the paper he had
just withdrawn from the type
writer.
He made no answer; just sucked
on his dead pipe.
1.-THE boys" I said, "are betting
even money therell be a confes-
sion inside of twenty-four hours"
How are you betting" he asked
with slow scrutiny.
I'm not"
But you have an opinion"
"Sure. I don't believe she'll
confess. She's got too much nerve.
I had quite a talk with her. She's
got a lot Of spirit"
Lowell Brant nodded. IT gath
cred as much from your story.
She'll need it,"
Calhoun wandered over and
Joined us, a quizzical smile on his
mouth. He stood, tense and wiry,
beside Brant's chair and smoked
a cigaret. Brant looked up at him
wordlesSly and family smiled. He
was a silent admirer of Calhoun's.
Whats your idea of activity
for the afternoon?" Calhoun asked
me.
I'm going to attach myself to
the honorable county prosecutor, "
answered, land advise him to
get off his high horse"
HE and his extraordinary cir.
cumStanceS'!" snorted Calhoun.
Brant smiled. did he take the
newspaper men into his conf
dence concerning the mans iden-
tity?"
"He didn't" said Calhoun
grin1ly, but he will, or we'll get
a very good reason why not"
To Be Continued
! Copyright by Michael oMaIley)