| Show 1 L NEWSPAPER GIRL Barbara Webb By e CHAPTER 24 Cautiously Ann moved nearer i to her and the partition which divided ai the voices vo cs she heard She want wanted to to be positive that she could identify those voices She had to oe be Listen she hc overheard a l voi voice Saying i ying ing Randolph would never c ca do doa a a thing like that to me He wouldn wouldn't Mare dare Ive I've worked with him Us Used to 40 be his partner when he was Ju just A 8 patrolman I know too muc much About him She was sure now No mistaking that voice It was the voice of Officer Tom Keene the cop who ha had arrested her when Doc Doe had bad sent her herout out in his car u All AU right Keene You just lei tell ou e got on Rai Ran Ran- Tio me jno one thing youve you've dolph and Ill I'll spread it over eight columns of the Times and young M Mr Randolph will be out on his ear Milton Mllton Lou Milton Mllton Ann was wa wasa flared aze a She could hardly believe he her cars ars Lou Milton star police re reporter re- re porter of the Times the reporter Doc oc had assigned to her to help 01 on the iho th investigation plotting with ar an an- other mother policeman to ruin Randolph But why 71 We We got to do something s Lou do i it rac heard Keene say and t st Randolph's up to something know just what it is but i if we awe dont don't get busy fast hes he's going to ruin our racket He thinks hes he's C art Wants to clean up Bridge Bridgeton Bridgeton ton and all that sort of business Jre Ve got ot to get something on hIm What do you mean Haven't Haven you bu u got something on him him now you just say you'd worked I with him You must have something something some some- him thing on iere was a pause Ann didn't didn cn ow whether the the men were whispering whis whis- or whether th the silence re re-I re reIs re- re s suited from Keenes Keene's trying to remember remember re reo re- re member something crooked about abou Brent rent She waited sIy Theres one thing Lou Its It's no not much But we ma may get by with it Well what is it ll Lous Lou's voice jy las yas as angry You know this dame Caldwell who's been investigating the depart depart- Sure I know her What of ot it the first tW Well Wel cU its it's this One of ot i things she has done was to go out I Ind and nd get arrest arrested d. d I Yes I know about that I yeah but what you ou didn't know knO 1 was that I was the cop that pulled her Well what of it What's that thai got gotto to do with Randolph Now dont don't get mad Lou Im I'm coming to that At that time Randolph Ran Ran- dolph was my partner Well the day h her r case was to come up in incourt incourt court I was off oU Randolph had some cases in court that same day and md andI I didn't want to td ruin my day ott of toy by going to 10 court so I 1 had him take the case care for me Remember Roberts the court in tr traffic court who got kicked out about a month ago Well Roberts gets 10 bribe from this Caldwell CaldweL gitl telling her half of its it's for th the thep cop p and half hall for the court cout clerk He told her hes that by paying that she gould could get a dismissal or or ora a suspended sentence She paid it it Yes but I still dont don't see where Randolph comes in was the cop in court wasn't he Roberts can swear he be gave him half bait the ten if it we tell him la to 1 What's the matter with that Lou didn't answer immediately Anns Ann's thoughts were confused contused She was afraid for Brent Keene had outlined exactly what had to c her that day in court and she shew was w s afraid that this would be just what Milton would want in order to tomme mme frame Brent 4 Tom Lou said I think we can work this Just leave it to me Now listen l This is what I 1 want you youW W do ANN IS WORRIED The 1 voices trailed of off Into ers r Ann waited a little longer girs then en got up quietly and stud went out She didn't go right back to the office She was afraid She wanted m nire re than anything to confide in ine some e one But who Doc Doe came to toL her L mind first but she dismissed h pi I immediately not even realizing as s she did so that this marked her first disloyalty to her that that Eh cho was was puttIng putting Brent Randolph Brent Randolph head ahead of everything She thought of Dan Dart Heath and Jane but didn't want w nt to tell them They knew went Brent too well and knew how sh she felt about Brent Brent she felt was the person i w ehe could tell She wanted to protect prot pro pro- t tet t him but even even as this thought came Carne into her mind and although it stayed there she didn't think Brent Randolph was the kind of ofa a anan who would need her help Ina in ina case a-case a case casc like this And again Ann believed Brent to be guilty She sUll thought that Brent had accepted accepted ac ac- ac c this' this bribe She She was to meet Brent that night tB ars She went back to h her office wrote a couple of stories and asked Doc for a Good night Go VGo ahead he lie told her I 1 dont don't think Ill I'll need you ou any more tonight to to- night Slowly lowly she walked home She 2 hoped Jane wouldn't be in She didn't want to to sea see any one right away Brent would call for her within half an hour after alter she got home and Ann wanted time to collect collect col col- col- col lect her thoughts She entered her apartment to be bem m met t with a noisy welcome by arid i d' d Amby Absently she the stroked head then picked him up In 1 her arms arms' and settled back to think went to sleep Jane came in jn and found her J in that position and s sensed instant Instantly that something was troubling Ann Lo darling Jane said Tec Feel eel ing lag bad No not at all Just thinking Could I be of any help Thanks Jane Dont Don't think so Dans downstairs in the ca car Were We're going for a ride Want to come com along alon Fresh air might clear things thing up for you ou No Jane That's nice of yoi you But ut Ill I'll stay here Brents Brent's coming By the time Brents Brent's knock camon came cam cameon cameon on the door Ann had her mind min made up She decided that she shed she'd do nothing no thins at present tell no on one what she had overheard but sh she had lad also decided that Brent did nee need her that she he could be of great us use to 0 him especially j if he got into an any trouble over this thing To Ann th the actual act if Brent were guilty o ot of of it-of t of f accepting a bribe br had bribe had become dimmed in importance beside the thi I danger of jeopardizing Brents Brent's whole I future An Ann was still unable to o reconcile such an act on the par part I of Brent with the many instances instance I wherein he had shown himself ti tibe to tobe be the very antithesis of a person who vho would do such a thing Ann called a Come in to the thi knock on the door and Brent Drent en en- ered BRENT PROPOSES Sit down Brent Lets Let's just stay here and talk this evening Sure you wouldn't rather go somewhere somewhere some some- where She nodded Great said Brent That suits suit me fine Ive I've had an awfully hare hard day Despite everything Brent said or 01 did id Anns Ann's moodiness persisted the matter Ann Can I help Dont know Brent I guess Im I'm just feeling sort of stuffy tonight Doing a lot of thinking Why dont don't you tell me about it HI Maybe laybe I could help You But But I think I can help elp more Brent What do you ou mean She didn't answer and after wait walt lag ing ng a while Brent moved nearer to her er taking her hand in iii his She made lade no effort to remove her hand Ive been thinking mostly about aboul you ou Brent and Im I'm troubled Troubled Ann Youre You're thinking about bout me inc and youre you're troubled Please dont don't I dont don't want you ou to toe tobe tobe be e troubled about anything Cant Can't Cantou you ou tell me roe what it is Afraid I cant can't Brent Sorry but just don't dont know where I stand my- my self elf in this thing I wish you could tell me You know enow how much snuck I want to help you ou Ill I'll always want to help you I love you ou Ann Ann pressed her small hands against those large ones which h held them I know you do Brent and It makes me happy And I love you ou Brent took her in his arms preventing pre pro venting enting her from saying any more They rhey sat there silently with sitting at their feet on the floor look- look lookIng lag Ing ng up quizzically After another moment Brent said Ann Ann will you marry me She tightened her hold on Brents Brent's arm rm and nodded Yes she said Again gain they were silent both happy with ith their thoughts Sure you wont won't mind being a aop's cops op's wife darling Brent smiled Wont mind if I dont don't have to toline shine line brass bras buttons and you rou wont won't arrest me for not having a license for or Im so happy Ann When can we wee webe webe be e married A frown came over her brow Not right away Brent Lets Let's wait a lite littie lit lit- tie tle e while There are some things that lat have ha to work themselves out Still dont don't feel lik like lil telling me about them No Brent Not just yet I dont don't know myself what's going to happen lappen But Ann you make it sound senIt serio sen ous us I It uIt Is That's why rm Im afraid Hold no rae tight Brent Ill I'll always feel leel about cut you as I do tonight Why Ann Brent tried to laugh You sound as ns if U something might hannen lappen to interfere with us That ca cant can't l be Dont Don't talk like that There was a knock on on the do door r Miss Caldwell the landlady's vo voice e called ailed through the door Y Youre ure wanted anted on the telephone She went downstairs Hello Henon she le said This is Cannon I wan want t you to toome come ome right in Were We're going to break our ur investigation story tomorrow And i if you know where to get in touch ouch with Brent Randolph do so right I away away- and tell him to call mes me Its It's s 's Important Yes Yes sir Ann went back upstairs feeling that at every step her feet would refuse to go any further It ha had come sooner than she expected Lou had evidently b been en at work Told Doc Doe all about Brent although Ann thought Doc Doe already knew about It But evidently Lou ha had persuaded Doc Doe that it was time t to togo togo go ahead Why should Doc Doe want ti to talk blk to Brent otherwise Brent arose as Ann re entered the room Why Ann he said iran Inan inan in ir an alarmed voice happened hap hap- Youre You're as white while as a ghost Tell me She shook her head slowly I Is it the same me trouble that w wa was bothering you just now Yes Brent Ive I've got to go baciLo back baci to Lo the office Were We're breaking our oui investigation story tomorrow anc and Doc Dec wants you to get in touch with him hint right away Ive I've got to go Brent was vas puzzled as 30 he and Ann went downstairs She refused to tc allow him to accompany her to the office Call CaU me inc tomorrow Brent HI ril want to see you ou ANN GOES TO OFFICE In the cab on the way to the theoffice theoffice theoffice office Ann made up her mind Shed She'd write the story Do anything Doc Doe asked her to do The story would ruin Brent But it would have lave to be done Ill write It And then and hen and then Ill I'll quit and marry Brent tomorrow if he wants me to I If hell he'll still sUll have me In her office the first thing she saw was Doc Doe and Lou conferring Then Docs Doc's assistant tant handed him hun a telephone be Brent call call- lag ing ng Ann thought She nodded to Milton who had left eft Docs Doc's desk and started out the door Then Doc Doe called her Weve got this story where we want it jt now Lous Lou's written one Im I'm not going to use it though You take ake it and read it over and if it theres there's anything in it you want to use go ahead Youve You've told me just about everything Use everything youve you've got jot Start of off with your arrest and that hat traffic court bribe Then about that hat speakeasy and those two cops and nd the East Side Social club Give me ne plenty on it Tomorrow a bigger biger bigger big- big ger er story is going to break brea but this thi way ivay wi will have to run ru first fist to get it i under underway uder One more thing dont don't mention menton Brent Randolph in i your story But he's hes hes he's he's hes in i that tat traffic court cout case ase cae Ann said sid Yes I know That's the trouble with Miton's Milton's story That's all there theres is s in i his hi story But dont don't you ou touch it it His name is to remain out of this his thing thin entirely Ann walked back to her desk feel feel- feeing fel lag Ig ng that the castle caste of dreams dream she shead had ad been building for some time tie completed tonight toight with wih Brents Brent's pro pro- proposal pro and her acceptance had suddenly sud sud- denly enly come down dow around her She couldn't understand Docs Doc's attitude He e had already talked ted with Brent this his thi Ann An felt fel certain cerin of ot Yet Doc Dee ace ce newspaperman that he was was shielding Brent She became angry and as she sat down dow own to t her typewriter her r resentment resent resent- ent ment nent grew She felt el sure sue that Brent and nd Doc Doe had found some way of saving Brent but if i that was the kind kid ind of person Brent was wa turning tuning out ut to be Ann An knew kew she had made madea a mistake in i ever saying she could marry narry him him To herself she said Well that's over Ended Eded finished Ive I've Ive ve been a fooL foL Something's been ben going on that I haven't known bout about about I dont don't know what it Is i but Ill I'll 11 find out And as a's as she inserted a page of oX paper aper Into her z machne machine and searched her er mind md for a lead sentence for her story ory her heart was aching To be continued Monday Copyright by Public Ledger |
