Evening star., 1940-04-30
CHAPTER VIII.


liked working on a paper Silcott
had stayed on the job as her men,
tor. He taught her how to give
a friendly gossipy tone to the "Senti-
mel" news and impressed on her
that even trivial events were worth
recording to build up interest and
goodwill. She found herself setting
down that Hilary Benson, champion
horseshoe pitcher of the Powder
Horn country, had been challenged
by Pete Yeager and had success
fully defended his title by winning
three games out of five. Bar Over
street, she wrote, had brought in to
the editor a basket of the largest
potatoes ever grown in the county.
Everybody was pleased to know
that little Bobby Simpson had re-
covered from the measles and was
back at school. Her advisor drilled
into the young woman the impor-
tance of getting as many names into
the columns of the Sentinel" as
possible.
She decided she should write the
story of the Sneve killing and the
subsequent attack on the "Senti-
mel" building, and took it to Silcott
for criticism. After reading it, he
slanted warm friendly grin at
her. white teeth flashing in the
tanned face.
my, my, lady, this won't do at
ALL" he told her You've turned
a news story into an editorial. Just
tell what took place. Don't scold
the Hat T boys. Be very brief and
impartial. The only names you
need to mention are Sneve's and
mine. I think your story is much
too indignant and much too long"
But why?" Anne demanded hot
ly. you had me write nearly half
q column about the school enter
tainment. There isn't much more
than that here Or isn't murder
big news here?"
Urges Factual Story.
Jim's eyebrows lifted whimsically.
"Murder?" he said. Then, IF this
story had nothing to do with the
Sentinel I would say give it a big
play. But it has everything to do
with us. Folks will be expecting
you to lambaste the Hat T riders,
and if you do they will discount all
you say, figuring that you will be
telling your side of the story. My
idea would be to write a short, i'm
personal account, giving nothing but
facts. This would be a complete
surprise. You would gain ground
lot. Fair-minded people would
see you are an editor not biased by
your personal viewpoint"
"They would think I was afraid
to tell what I thought"
mot if your policy about local is
sues is firm. It doesn't matter
what you think about this killing.
All that matters in news story is
just what happened" He glanced
through what she had written.
"You say here. 'Jud Prentiss and
his rufians rode into Blanco with
lawlessness and murder in their
hearts, We don't know that. ANY,
how, it's only an opinion"
II suppose it's only an opinion
that they f1ogged Jess Lamprey and
tried to kill you and came down
here and shot into this building with
me in it."
Anne Gives In.
LET me write the story" he sug-
gested. "You don't have to use it.
But it will give you line on what
I mean. It's important folks should
not think you are just an impulsive
girl" Again he gave her his cheer
full smile. "We're going to show
them a real editor"
Anne surrendered reluctantly. She
liked what she had written, as most
young writer's do. But her judg-
ment told her Jim was right.
She ran the story exactly as Sill
colt wroit it, though she found a
good deal of fault with what it left
out. "You don't even say they lay
In wait to try to kill you," she COM
planned. you speak about an un-
fortunate shooting affray. That's a
nice way to talk about bunch of
murderers."
Everybody IN the country knows
Just what took place." Jim said.
Were not giving anybody informa-
ton; we're just going on record as
leaning over backward to be more
than fair"
"Its funny about you," Anne said,
almost vindicatively. From all !
can learn, you are as wild as young
men come"
USED to be-" he corrected. I'm a
reformed character"
Later in the week Rufe Jelks
drifted into the Office, copy of the
Sentinel" in his hand.
II drapped in with news item,
Miss Eliot" he said. THAT fine
young character, Rufe Jelks, has
bought the Longhorn Corral from
old man Monk. He has done paid
a dollar down and will settle the
balance at some future date un-