Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 199, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1918 — The Double Scoop [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Double Scoop

By IMES MACDONALD

(Copyright, 1918, by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.) Alicia Randall waff twenty-seven. She had gone through many stages of development since her twentieth year. One of the most charming debutantes in her set, her popularity remained .undimmed as new debutantes came dancing after her. She had survived a violent love affair attached to a spectacular engagement with a man who had been Unworthy, and she had also survived the sordidness of its ending and the offensiveness of its publicity. Soon afterward she had experienced the death of her father, who was dear to her, and the following financial crash which left her to her own devices for making a living. And she had made her living very creditably, indeed, as the city editor of a certain metropolitan daily can testify, for within a few short years she had advanced from sob-sistering to the editorship of the woman’s page, which position she adorned when Webster Rhodes'Joined the staff. It is to be regretted that when this young man first came under her critical eye, Alicia Randall sniffed a very superior'sniff. She was at that point In feminine life where she lobked upon all men under ninety-two with suspicion—and upon those under thirty with scorn. She placed" Web Rhodes at twenty-five, when in fact, he was nearly thirty, and mentally filed him away as a harmless impertinence, a mere boy. But Web Rhodes refused tp stay filed. He sensed her attitude at once and laughed at her, and one morning he thrust his head in her office door and shouted disrespectfully, “Hello, Auntie! How’s life?” And in the days and weeks that followed he cheerfully rumpled up her

• dignity and tossed It Into the ash-can of neglect, once entering her sanctuary to place a kiss with much gallantry on the back of her outraged hafid. “How can you be such an Impertinent kid?” she demanded angrily. “You’re lucky, young woman,” he grinned. “The next time I’m planning to kiss you right on the nose. Now what do you think about that?” Whereat she laughed. How could she help ft? It was impossible to stay angry at the ridiculous boy. However, she avoided him as much as possible, for he took the most startling liberties with such an ingenuous charm that It was most disconcerting to the reserved Miss Randall, although* she knew it was Just the overwhelming exuberance of the spirit of his youth. No one could look Into his clean, fine eyes without liking him Instantly, and, In spite of herself, she could not resent his freedom as much as she felt that she should, for you see, Alicia was a girl-woman, after all. The first realization of her own attitude toward Web came on a day when she lunched with Amy Barlow, a girl of the old social whirl Ip which Alicia* Randaß had once moved. The luncheon was by appointment at Miss Barlow's request, and Its purpose was soon evident. “There’s a very Interesting young man on your paper named Webster Rhodes,” began the stunning Miss Barlow. "Do you know him?” Though surprised, Alicia, admitted that she did. * What I want to know Is this,” smiled the Irresistible Amy,, “is he vulnerable?” “I don’t understand,” sparred the puzzled Alicia. “The point Is this,” explained Amy: “The election Is but two months away, as you know. Father has gone to extreme lengths to make sure of the election of certain candidates. This Mr. Rhodes has something on father, which If published, would not only overturn bis plans but probably involve him In the most disgraceful political scandal that this town’s ever known. Mr. Rhodes has been ’approached’ without success, and father has put it up to me.” She arched her perfect brows with amused confidence in her oftn powers of persuasion. Alicia was stunned. “You—you mean to —to make him fall in love with you?” she asked. ,

“Not only that," condescended the charming Miss Bartow, “but I would even marry him if necessary. Father ' says he’s rather a splendid chap.”~ I “And you want me to introduce you, is that it?” murmured Alicia. “Exactly,” laughed Miss Barlow. So it was that within two weeks the entire staff was “oh,”and when Rhodes entered the editorial office he would be greeted with cheers and loud laughter. “And how,” someone would ask solicitously, “is the charming heiress resting today?” or “Love me, Webbie, and the world is yours 1” or “Noah, old rooster hold out for a stiff dowry — and don’t forget your honest debts, boy;” or “Webbie, dear, marriage is a hard life.” But' Webster . Rhodes only grinned good naturedly and went on his way—usually with the fascinating Miss Barlow. She ’phoned him, she noted him, 1 she called for him in her racing car. ■ They drove together, lupiched together, and he was entertained at the Barlow mansion whenever it was possible for him to be there. Week after week of this followed, ' and Alicia stuck to her job with de- ; fiant eyes and tight-pressed lips. Whenever she saw Rhodes he seemed just the same as always, but she' seldom saw him now. He was ambitious —she knew that. Money, social posl- ■ tlon, a beautiful wife —all these things I had been held out to him and. he had fallen, for them! ; The election drew nearer and nearer, till It was but five days off —then four. The tension was growing every hour. It drew her back to her desk that night after dinner on the pretense of a press of work, but she did nothing but sit there and wait —she knew not for what. Eight o’clock came —nine —she opened her door and looked out, into the big editorial room. She saw Rhodes enter, and noted that he looked tired and unkempt The city editor leaped up at the sight of Rhodes and went forward to meet him. They talked earnestly for a moment as they walked over to Rhodes’ desk. The city editor was jubilant about something for, as Web slumped down into his chair, his boss slammed him on the back and laughed encouragingly before turrilng back to his own work, while Web himself sprawled before his desk and put a fresh roll of copy paper into his machine. Puzzled, Alicia shut her" door and waited another hour, then looked out again where Webster Rhodes slat alternately glowering at his copy and writing in spasmodic spurts of energy. Finally he glanced up and saw her standing there. He beckoned and she crossed the room to stand by his side. “Stick around a while longer, Alicia,” he grinned up at her, “if you want to see the fun.” That was all. He did not look at her again but went driving along at his story. And Alicia “stuck around” till one o’clock In the morning, when Webster Rhodes finished his work with a sigh and setfight her where she sat with her head in her arms on her desk. She jumped nervously as she heard the door shut behind him. The drone of the heavy presses that jarred the building had almost lulled her to sleep. “Look,” he said, spreading a damp copy of the morning edition before her. And there across the front page was his scoop story of the Barlow Election scandal. He had just that moment finished his follow-up story Which would be printed in a later edition. In getting together his material and in making his investigations he hadn’t slept for two days, and Alicia looked up into his tired eyes contritely. “I —I thought you had —had fallen for Amy Barlow—and her —her scheme,” she murmured. “Who? Me? Not on your life!” he said, picking up her hat and jamming it down over her pretty nose. ' “Cotoe on, let’s eat, I’m hungry!” ’ A tear slid down from one of Alicia’s downcast eyes. “And when I’m hungry,” he chuckled, as he gathered her into his arms. “I always want my dessert first. Two scoops in one day is not so bad,” he added, after the editor of the Woman’s Page had'*been efficiently although not sufficiently kissed.

Puzzled Alicia.