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No news！ It's not a news story at all。 It's an editorial； and
an essay； and a spring poem。 I don't know what it is。 And；
what's worse；〃 wailed the copy editor defiantly and to the
amazement of all； 〃it's so darned good that you can't touch
it。 You've got to let it go or kill it。〃
The eyes of the managing editor； masked by his green paper
shade； were racing over Sam's written words。 He thrust the
first page back at Collins。
〃Is it all like that？〃
〃There's a column like that！〃
〃Run it just as it is；〃 commanded the managing editor。 〃 Use
it for your introduction and get your story from the flimsy。
And； in your head； cut out Flagg entirely。 Call it 'The Red
Cross Girl。' And play it up strong with pictures。〃 He turned
on Sam and eyed him curiously。
〃What's the idea； Ward？〃 he said。 〃This is a newspapernot a
magazine！〃
The click of the typewriters was silent； the hectic rush of
the pencils had ceased； and the staff； expectant； smiled
cynically upon the star reporter。 Sam shoved his hands into
his trousers pockets and also smiled； but unhappily。
〃I know it's not news； Sir；〃 he said； but that's the way I
saw the storyoutside on the lawn； the band playing； and the
governor and the governor's staff and the clergy burning
incense to Flagg； and inside； this girl right on the job
taking care of the sick and wounded。 It seemed to me that a
million from a man that won't miss a million didn't stack up
against what this girl was doing for these sick folks！ What I
wanted to say；〃 continued Sam stoutly 〃was that the moving
spirit of the hospital was not in the man who signed the
checks； but in these women who do the workthe nurses； like
the one I wrote about； the one you called 'The Red Cross
Girl。'〃
Collins； strong through many years of faithful service；
backed by the traditions of the profession； snorted
scornfully。
〃But it's not news！〃
〃It's not news；〃 said Elliott doubtfully； 〃but it's the kind
of story that made Frank O'Malley famous。 It's the kind of
story that drives men out of this business into the arms of
what Kipling calls 'the illegitimate sister。'〃
It seldom is granted to a man on the same day to give his
whole heart to a girl and to be patted on the back by his
managing editor； and it was this combination； and not the
drinks he dispensed to the staff in return for its
congratulations； that sent Sam home walking on air。 He loved
his business； he was proud of his business； but never before
had it served him so well。 It had enabled him to tell the
woman he loved； and incidentally a million other people； how
deeply he honored her； how clearly he appreciated her power
for good。 No one would know he meant Sister Anne； save two
peopleSister Anne and himself； but for her and for him that
was as many as should know。 In his story he had used real
incidents of the day； he had described her as she passed
through the wards of the hospital； cheering and sympathetic；
he had told of the little acts of consideration that endeared
her to the sick people。
The next morning she would know that it was she of whom he
had written； and between the lines she would read that the
man who wrote them loved her。 So he fell asleep； impatient
for the morning。 In the hotel at which he lived the REPUBLIC
was always placed promptly outside his door； and； after many
excursions into the hall； he at last found it。 On the front
page was his story； 〃The Red Cross Girl。〃 It had the place of
honorright…hand column； but more conspicuous than the
headlines of his own story was one of Redding's； photographs。
It was the one he had taken of Sister Anne when first she had
approached them； in her uniform of mercy； advancing across
the lawn； walking straight into the focus of the； camera。
There was no mistaking her for any other living woman； but
beneath the picture； in bold； staring； uncompromising type；
was a strange and grotesque legend。
〃Daughter of Millionaire Flagg；〃 it read； 〃in a New Role；
Miss Anita Flagg as The Red Cross Girl。〃
For a long time Sam looked at the picture； and then； folding
the paper so that the picture was hidden； he walked to the
open window。 From below； Broadway sent up a tumultuous
greetingcable cars jangled； taxis hooted； and； on the
sidewalks； on their way to work； processions of shop…girls
stepped out briskly。 It was the street and the city and the
life he had found fascinating； but now it jarred and
affronted him。 A girl he knew had died； had passed out of his
life foreverworse than that had never existed； and yet the
city went or just as though that made no difference； or just
as little difference as it would have made had Sister Anne
really lived and really died。
At the same early hour； an hour far too early for the rest of
the house party； Anita Flagg and Helen Page； booted and
riding…habited； sat alone at the breakfast table； their tea
before them； and in the hands of Anita Flagg was the DAILY
REPUBLIC。 Miss Page had brought the paper to the table and；
with affected indignation at the impertinence of the press；
had pointed at the front…page photograph； but Miss Flagg was
not looking at the photograph； or drinking her tea； or
showing in her immediate surroundings any interest
whatsoever。 Instead； her lovely eyes were fastened with
fascination upon the column under the heading 〃The Red Cross
Girl〃； and； as she read； the lovely eyes lost all trace of
recent slumber； her lovely lips parted breathlessly； and on
her lovely cheeks the color flowed and faded and glowed and
bloomed。 When she had read as far as a paragraph beginning；
〃When Sister Anne walked between them those who suffered
raised their eyes to hers as flowers lift their faces to the
rain；〃 she dropped the paper and started for telephone。
〃Any man；〃 cried she； to the mutual discomfort of Helen Page
and the servants； 〃who thinks I'm like that mustn't get away！
I'm not like that and I know it； but if he thinks so that's
all I want。 And maybe I might be like thatif any man would
help。〃
She gave her attention to the telephone and 〃Information。〃
She demanded to be instantly put into communication with the
DAILY REPUBLIC and Mr。 Sam Ward。 She turned again upon Helen
Page。
〃I'm tired of being called a good sport；〃 she protested； 〃by
men who aren't half so good sports as I am。 I'm tired of
being talked to about moneyas though I were a stock…broker。
This man's got a head on his shoulders； and he's got the
shoulders too； and he's got a darned good…looking head； and
he thinks I'm a ministering angel and a saint； and he put me
up on a pedestal and made me dizzyand I like being made
dizzy； and I'm for him！ And I'm going after him！〃
〃Be still！〃 implored Helen Page。 〃Any one might think you
meant it！〃 She nodded violently at the discreet backs of the
men…servants。
〃Ye gods； Parker！〃 cried Anita Flagg。 〃Does it take three of
you to pour a cup of tea？ Get out of here； and tell everybody
that you all three caught me in the act of proposing to an
American gentleman over the telephone and that the betting is
even that I'll make him marry me！〃
The faithful and sorely tried domestics fled toward the door。
〃And what's more；〃 Anita hurled after them； 〃get your bets
down quick； for after I meet him the odds will be a hundred
to one！〃
Had the REPUBLIC been an afternoon paper； Sam might have been
at the office and might have gone to the telephone； and
things might have happened differently； but； as the REPUBLIC
was a morning paper； the only person in the office was the
lady who scrubbed the floors and she refused to go near the
telephone。 So Anita Flagg said； 〃I'll call him up later；〃 and
went happily on her ride； with her heart warm with love for
all the beautiful world； but later it was too late。
To keep himself fit； Sam Ward always walked to the office。 On
this particular morning Hollis Holworthy was walking uptown
and they met opposite the cathedral。
〃You're the very man I want；〃 said Hollworthy joyously
〃you've got to decide a bet。〃
He turned and fell into step with Sam。
〃It's one I made last night with Anita Flagg。 She thinks you
didn't know who she was yesterday； and I said that was
ridiculous。 Of course you knew。 I be