the vision spendid(美景)-第44节
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〃I'm not against him。 It's because I'm anxious to see him win that I
want to be sure he has given you the whole story。〃
〃Why shouldn't he give me the whole story？〃
〃Because he isn't the kind to boast。 Did he tell you about the sharks？〃
〃Or how Miss Frome helped pull him aboard just in time to save him
from the crimps？〃
The reporter's eyes gleamed。 〃What's that？〃 he snapped quickly。
〃And all about the race from the schooner to the _Bellingham；_ It was
the most exciting thing I ever saw。〃
〃Great guns！ What's the matter with Jeff Farnum？ He didn't say a word
about thatmissed the cream of the story。〃
Alice smiled。 〃I thought perhaps he might have。〃
〃He said he saw a chance to swim across to the _Bellingham。_ That
made a pretty good story。 But sharksand the shanghaiers chasing him
and a young lady helping to haul him aboard to safetyand that young
lady Miss Alice Frome！ Say； this is the biggest story that ever broke in
Verden。 If I fall down on it I'm a dead one sure enough。〃
〃You think it will help Mr。 Farnum's fight for his bill？〃
〃Help it。 Say； I'd give fifty dollars to see James K。 Farnum's face when
he reads the _World_ tomorrow morning。 The town will go right up in the
air。 Hundreds of telegrams are going to pour in to members of the
assembly from their constituents。 We'll make a Yale finish of this yet。〃
〃It's lucky Miss Frome recognized Mr。 Farnum。 Otherwise I suppose
he would have been sent back to the _Nancy Hanks_ 。〃
〃Oh； Miss Frome recognized him？ Jeff said one of the passengers did。
He couldn't remember who。〃
〃I don't suppose my name is necessary to the story。 Just say a young
woman on board；〃 Alice suggested。
Dunn's black eyes questioned her。 〃Are you for us； Miss Frome？〃
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She smiled。 〃I'm for you。〃
〃Against Senator Frome and Mr。 Powers？〃
〃I think the bill ought to be passed。 I'm not against anybody。〃
〃Well； I'll tell you this。 It will help the story a lot to have you in it。
Some people might say we framed the whole thing up。 But with Senator
Frome's daughter starring in it。〃
〃Oh； no； Mr。 Farnum's the star。〃
〃Well； you're the leading lady。 Don't you see how it helps？ Clinches
the whole thing as genuine。 It's as good as putting the Senator himself on
the stand as a witness for us。 We've just got to have you。〃
〃It will really help； you think？〃
〃No question。〃
〃Very well。〃
〃And photographs。 You'll stand for one； of course。〃
〃Now really I don't see 〃
〃They can't get back of a photograph。 It carries conviction。 Of course
we've got pictures of you at the office； Miss Frome。 But I want to play fair
with you。 Besides； I want them to show the ship setting。〃
She laughed。 〃Don't worry。 Your enterprising photographer caught me
twice before I knew it。 And he got one of my cousin； Mrs。 Van Tyle。 She
doesn't know it； though。〃
〃Good boy； Quillen。 Now； if you'll begin at the beginning； Miss Frome；
I'll listen to your story。
When she had finished his eyes were gleaming。 〃It's the biggest scoop
I ever got in on。 Sounds too good to be true。〃
PART 5
At Gillam's Point Jeff and his friends； with Dunn and Quillen； left the
_Bellingham_ on the launch which brought the pilot。 They caught the fast
express a half hour later and reached Verden shortly after midnight。 His
hat drawn down over his eyes and muffied to the ears in an ulster so that
he might not be recognized； Farnum took a cab with Captain Chunn； Dunn
and Quillen for the office of the World。 He slipped into the building and
his private room unnoticed by any member of the staff。
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Dunn presently brought to him Jenkins； the make…up man。
〃Rip your front page to pieces。 We've got the story of a life time；〃
Captain Chunn exploded。
Jenkins opened his eyes and grinned at Jeff。 〃That's what Jim tells me。
Have you got the proof to hang the thing on Big Tim？〃
〃I've got a letter he wrote to Captain Green of the_Nancy Hanks_ 。 It's
on city hall stationery of the last administration。〃
〃Funny he used that paper。〃
〃Someone usually makes a slip in putting a deal of this kind through。〃
〃And the letter？〃
〃Just a line； signed with O'Brien's initials。 'The terms agreed on are
satisfactory。' I found the letter in Green's cabin。 As I thought I might make
use of it I helped myself。〃
〃Bully！ We'll run a fac…simile of it on the front page。〃
〃Dunn's story covers the whole affair。 I don't like some features of it；
but our friends say it ought to be run as it stands。 I've written three
columns of editorial stuff dealing with the situation。 And here's a story
calling for a mass meeting in front of the State House to…morrow
morning。〃
〃You'll speak to the people？〃
〃I'll say a few words。 Hardy and Rawson will be the speakers。〃
〃Pity we've lost your cousin。 He'd stir them up。〃
The muscles stood out on Jeff's lean jaw。 James was a subject he could
not yet discuss。 〃We're nailing the No Compromise flag to our masthead；
Jenkins。 We've got to prevent them from forcing through Garman's bill to…
morrow。 After that every day will be in our favor。 Unless I'm mistaken the
state will waken up as it never has before。 The people will see how nearly
they've been euchred out of what they want。〃
Jenkins came bluntly to another point。 〃This story would carry a lot
more weight if those charges made against your character by the other
papers had been answered。〃
〃Then we'll answer them。〃
The night editor looked at him dubiously。 〃They've got four affidavits
to back their story。〃
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〃Only four？〃 A gay smile was dancing in Jeff's eyes。
〃Both the _Herald_ and the _Advocate_ have been playing it strong。
Every day they rehash the story and challenge a denial。〃
〃It will all be free advertising for us if we can make them eat crow。〃
〃If we can！〃 Jenkins did not see how any effective answer was
possible and he knew that in the present state of public opinion an
unsupported bluff would be fatal。
〃How would this do for a starter？〃
Jeff handed him two typewritten sheets。 The night editor read them
through。 He looked straight at Jeff。
〃Can you back this up？〃
〃I can。〃
〃Butwhat about those affidavits？〃
Farnum grinned。 〃We'll take care of them when we come to them。〃
〃It's your funeral；〃 Jenkins admitted。
The whole front page of the _World_ next morning was filled with the
Farnum story。 As part of it there were interviews with Alice Frome； with
Captain Barclay； and with other passengers。 The deadly note from O'Brien
to Green of the _Nancy Hanks_ occupied the place usually held by the
cartoon。 Beneath it； exactly in the center of the page； was a leaded box
with the caption 〃A Challenge。〃 It ran as follows：
The editor of the _World_ does not think his reputation important
enough to protect it at the expense of a woman。 Yet he denies absolutely
the import of the charges made by the _Herald_ and the _Advocate。_ That
the matter may be forever set at rest the _World_ challenges the papers
named to a searching investigation。 It proposes：
（1） That the names of five representative citizens of Verden be
submitted to Governor Hawley by each of the three papers； and that from
this number be select a committee of five to sift thoroughly the
allegations；
（2） That the meetings of the committee be held in secret； no members
of the press being admitted； and that those composing it pledge themselves
never to divulge the names of any witnesses who may appear to give
evidence；
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（3） That the _Herald；_ the _Advocate；_ and the _World_ severally
