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NEWSPAPER GIRL GIRL By Barbara Webb CHAPTER 22 When th the police commissioner of Bridgeton reached for lor his copy of the Bridgeton Times as he sipped his breakfast coffee coUce he got what w was s to tobe tobe be the surprise and shock of his life life- time Commissioner Wells looked at atthe atthe atthe the glaring headlines and disbelieving ing lag his eyes ces reached for his glas glasses s. s No his eyes had not been wrong The Th Alexander case had been solved Solved the first day he had put Detective De De- Brent Randolph on it Wells Welts reread the story and further along he got the more angry he hC became for the story while praising his detective detective de de- de Randolph certainly could inno in inno inno no way be interpreted as a boost for forthe forthe forthe the police department as a whole while as for one Commissioner Wells it said in lii no uncertain terms just what whal it thought of ot him and of his method of running the police pollee department An editorial written by Doc Doe subtly pointed out that perhaps Commissioner Corn Com missioner Wells had not wanted the solved that the reason he hadn't wanted it solved was an involved one It hinted further that Wells had purposely purposely purposely pur pur- stalled on the case so that he could throw the burden of solving it upon the young shoulders of Brent Randolph who for devious reasons Commissioner Wells would like to see ousted from the department This rankled This hurt This angered angered an an- the commissioner because because because-be- be because cause it was all so true He had stalled on the case He had done so purposely so that he could throw the case into the lap of Rand Randolph lph for Wells was wass s suspicious of Randolph He knew Randolph's background background knew knew that he tic came from a fine family knew that thattie h tie he was a college man And the commissioner com corn missioner did not know why Randolph Ran Ran- dolph had chosen the life me of a cop copper r for or a career And because he didn't know he t There was but one thing one thing left to do and Wells was Just shrewd enough to todo todo todo do that one thing He hurried to police police palice po po- lice headquarters and sent out a call to all newspapers that he wanted a conference with newspaper men at 11 When the reporters were ass assem- assem em bled Ann Ann Caldwell Caidwell wasn't there she was sleeping a well earned sleep the sleep the commissioner arose and produced from his his' pocket a 3 typewritten state state- statement ment mente He read It is ls with wItha vItha a great deal of pleasure that hat I ask you ou gentlemen of the press here today Yet I lam am in the position one that we must all admit would not be to our choosing were we allowed a preference I 1 am in the position of a aman aman aman man who must admit he has been in error I refer of course to the Alexander Alexander Alex Alex- ander case My conclusion in that case was incorrect Yet it was an hon honest est mistake and is just as honestly admitted But my heart fills with pride ride that although the head of Bridgeton's police department t can canic be ic and has been wrong the department department depart depart- ment has in it men of initiative men who do not give up who can go on even in the face of a decision of ot their superior officer and prove that their superior officer has been ben wrong That Thatis is s the kind of police department Bridgeton needs That is the kind of department Bridgeton has The credit for pr the solution of this case the entire entire en en- tire credit mind you ou must go to one of our youngest officers one of ot the newest members of the department He le has hil this day proved himself capable capa capa- ble le tireless efficient in short a policeman po po- po Iceman And I 8 em it an honor to inform you that this officer Brent Randolph formerly a detective third class has hil for his excellent work in bringing to a solution the Alexander case this day been promoted to the rank of lieutenant of ot det detectives ANOTHER PROMOTION There was a low murmur among the he assembled reporters as the commissioner com corn missioner finished reading his lengthy statement The commissioner commission commission- er CL- they were forced to admit had covered his his' ground well He had by his admission of error regained a lot lotof lotof lotof of lost ground Ann Ami Caldwell and Doc Doe Cannon read the commissioners commissioner's statement at about the same tame time Doc Doe came into the he Times Tunes city room at about 2 in the afternoon Ann who had waited until un un- until til ill 3 a. a n m. m the previous morning for forthe forthe the he Times with the murder story tory to come out had slept late She Sh dressed slowly prepared herself hersel some breakfast breakfast break break- fast and wal walKed ed out to buy uy an afternoon after noon paper Ann was thrilled at Brents Brent's promo promo- lion ion She was Wil glad for him and glad that she had been able to help him win it She didn't read behind the stat statement ment But Doe Doc as he read the statement thought differently He realized the cleverness of Wells in admitting his error the cleverness in promoting Randolph Falling Failing in iii an attempt to ruin Brent Wells knew that he would have to bide his time until he could make another effort to have Brent r removed from the department department depart depart- ment removed for something that is which fri Iri the publics public's eyes would be a mistake which Brent himself himsel had made And Doc Doe realized all this as he read the statement After reading the story Ann called the city desk and asked for Doc Doe Some statement the commissioner commission commission- er made she said It was at that Doc Doe answered Weve got him going Want me to go up and see him No thi this things thing's pretty well cleaned up Walt Wait a a minute Doc pulled the assignment book in front of him and looked at it Not much doing today and youve you've been going pretty prett hard Dont Don't bother about coming in until tomorrow unless of course you want to come in Inand and get paid Be right rig in said Ann Sh She went directly to the cashier cashiers office on the third floor and asked for her money Ann was still making the twenty dollars per week Doc Dec had started started start start- ed her at When the cashier handed Ann her pay card to sign her heart jumped It now read for thirty dollars dol dol- dol lars tars a week Ann Aim was so ro excited at ather ather her raise her first one that she could hardly sign her name Nervously she was fumbling at th the flap of the envelope envelope en en- vel ope when the cashier In interrupted her Wait Walt a minute he said sald l Ive ve got something else for you He handed handed hand hand- ed her another envelope On it was written Ann Caldwell bonus for commendable work It was just about too much for poor or Ann Fi First t a raise raiBe then a bonus On her way down city room she opened the second envelope and as she saw its contents the she almost finished finished fin fin- her des descent of the stairs at one step It contained a shiny new ten ten- ji dollar bill and two Iwo twenties Ann went right up to Doc and breathlessly said Thanks Thank Doc Doe for forthe forthe forthe the raise and bonus Doc Doe looked up and said gruffly You earned it That was all When Doc Doe had first told Ann that she needn't work that day she had wondered just what she could do with herself hersell But now she knew She headed as s directly as she could for forthe forthe forthe the Fairfax department store and right on up to Jane Bryants Bryant's office Well well said aId Jane Janc And hows how's the little stranger who supposedly shares an apartment with me but who spends most of the time tim in a newspaper newspaper per pet office solving crimes ANNS ANN'S BONUS Ann said nothing but opened her handbag and tossed her bonus money on Janes Jane's desk Woman said mid Ann I want clothes Why Wiy Ann darling Tell me about It it il Bank robbed Family jewelry in hock What Ann laughed Neither darling Just a sm small payment on the part of ol the Bridgeton Times for the excellent work on the part of one Ann Caldwell Caidwell But honestly isn't it too thrilling Its It's a bonus Bonus A real live bonus And youve you've captured it Oh but Ann Im I'm Imas Imas Imas as tickled as you are arc I 1 think its it's per perfectly perfectly grand And I got a raise too toe Ten dollars Ann Not really Its It's just too good to be true Again Jane took Ann in charge and throughout the store they went trying on this dress and that suit and that pair of ot shoes A smart little brown fall tall suit was added to Anns Ann's wardrobe along with a dress a hat shoes and lingerie It was nearly 5 when Ann left the Fairl Fairfax x Brent w was s coming for her herat herat herat at 6 Jane had asked her herto to stop althe at al atthe atthe the grocers grocer's on the way home and when she had completed her purchase her grocer motioned her to the back backof of the store Look he said Ann followed his pointing arm and andin andin andin in a box was a little white dog with puppies playing about her They were white and very woolly Arent they darling What kind are they Why they are arc mostly but I 1 haven't got no papers or nothing noth noth- ing Lag like that for them One little fellow escaped from the rest rest and and C came up to Ann His small smaIl eyes stared up at her pleadingly and Ann stooped over to pick him up His short tail wagged vigorously Would you sell him Guess so I got six of them You Youcan Youcan can have him for 5 Ann paid the money and with groceries groceries gro gro- ceries eerier burdening one arm and the dog in the other made her way homeward Amby as usual was in the kitchen with the landlady's cat Ann put her dog on the floor Joor and called Amby He came running in barking excitedly at Ann and jumping up on her The new dog had gone und under r a table but at the sound of Amby's barking caine came waddling out He ran straight for Amby who upon seeing him turned and growled But the new dog not minding this warning pranced up on Amby and nipped him on the nose Again Amby growled and Ann feared for tor her dogs dog's safety But the little fellow was sure sure by this time that Amby's Am Am- bys by's growls meant more playing and andic he ic tumbled beneath Amby nipping him again Amby looked up at Ann with a look lookIn lookin in n his eyes that as much as said How could you and stalked off stiff stiff- And right behind him came the new addition When Jane came i. i in about half an hour lour later she heard barking and howls from within her apartment and when she entered she found Ann lying on her back in the middle of the floor playing with the two dogs AnnE My goodness What are you doing What in the world is that funny funny fun fun- ny white thing What do you mean funny tunny white thing said Ann sitting up Ill have lave you know that this is Li a fine ine young pup A A- Sealyham almost Jane was down on her h hands and knees Amby jumping all allover over her and the new dog trying to climb up the hand which she extended He is is' isa a a dear little thing Ann Just Justas as cunning And he looks just like a anice nice new white mop without the han dIe dle Eureka shouted Ann it it what Have you gone crazy No But I didn't know what to name him Well We'll call him that swell Perfect Come here dog while I 1 christen you merely wagged his tail while Amby barked S How did you happen to buy him The grocer had him He came right up to me and andl I 1 guess Im I'm a fool about pets He just sold himself to tome me And anyway Jane think of poor Amby Alone here all aUday day with nothing but a cat to play with Now really no sell self respecting dog wants to go around with cats all aU the time do they Amby isn't self If he was I 1 wouldn't have him hum But will wUl be nice for Amby wont won't you Mop Come here Amby This is your new roommate Dont Don't chew him too hard I do hope Ann that thai now Amby has to chew on hell he'll leave my gloves alone You know that new brand beautiful beautiful ful pair pah- of gloves gloves' I brought home the theother theother theother other day Well Amby liked them themas as well as I did and chewed the thumb out of the right hand glove Just the thumb He knows he did it it too dont don't you Amby See him Look at that guilty look on his face 1 MAKES l FRIENDS Amby cocked his head on one side looked from Ann to Jane and then rolled over over- with his nose Youre right Jane No more gloves for Amby now that hes he's got But think of the thc poor cat The cat has harns lost its only friend Is that nice Ann S Tell you what what said Mid id Ann Lets get the cat eat and see what she docs does to Swell Ill I'll Illg get t him Maybe hell he'll think is a kitten Wouldn't that be just too perfect Jane Jan was back in a moment carry carry- Ing tag the landlady's cat Duchess in her arms She placed Duchess on the floor Amby ran right up to her but bu bridled backed away stiffly and nd barked Duchess paid absolutely no attention to him pran pranced d dup up and slapped at the cat Duchess wearied and a bit bored by all this curled comfortably up in the middle o of the floor and went to sleep approached cautiously sniffed and let letout letout letout out a yip Duchess sat up partially turned around and slapped halfheartedly heart hall edly at him turned and ran underneath the lounge Ann and Jane rolled on the floor prostrated with l laughter There was wasa a knock on on the door doof and Jane still laughing called Come The door opened and in walked Brant Randolph Ann sat up and looked at Jane Oh Ohl she gasped Jane looked ba back k at Ann and also managed a weak Oh Ob Then they both reclined gently to the floor ov overcome with laughter and surprise Should I bark said Brent or merely mew I 1 can do either Ann and Jane sat up Were terribly terri tern bly sorry We know this Is no way to tore re receive elve a gentleman caller but we have a new dog The dog is named come here herc and bite this policeman Hes He's a nice policeman so dont don't take too big a bite Congratulations Brent said Ann Brent looked at her and shook his head He said nothing but Ann knew what he was thinking and she felt fell pleased more marc than pleased She looked back at him straight into his eyes and they neither said anything Jane noticed this and felt embar embar- Something she knew was goIng going go iO- ing on something which concerned her hernot hernot hernot not at all yet here she was seated in inthe inthe inthe the middle of the floor Ioor A situation that called for something to be said or done Since way to make a graceful exit xit But what came to the rescue He pranced over to Brent took his trouser cuff in his his' mouth and shook it vigor vigor- i 1 iTo To be con continued tomorrow Copyright by Public Pubic Ledger |
