Opening material

[Illustration: ”ANY THING GOING ON TO-NIGHT?” VAN CLEEF ASKED THE POLICE SERGEANT. (_Page 44._)]

UNDER ORDERS

THE STORY OF A YOUNG REPORTER

BY

KIRK MUNROE

AUTHOR OF “THE FLAMINGO FEATHER,” “DERRICK STERLING,” “DORYMATES,” “CAMPMATES,” ETC., ETC.

ILLUSTRATED

TO JOHN BOGART

FOR MANY YEARS CITY EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK “SUN”

who, more than any other, helped me to obtain a literary foothold, whose honesty of purpose, strict sense of justice, and unswerving fidelity to duty uplifted him as an example of the ideal city editor, the dedication of this story of newspaper life is offered as a tribute of gratitude and affection by

THE AUTHOR

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I.—THE CAPTAIN OF THE CREW RESIGNS 1

II.—TRYING TO BECOME A REPORTER 16

III.—THE OLD GENTLEMAN OF THE OXYGEN 32

IV.—BEGINNING A NEW LIFE 49

V.—THE KIND OF A FELLOW BILLINGS WAS 66

VI.—A REPORTER AT HOME 81

VII.—“NO LOAFERS NOR REPORTERS ADMITTED” 96

VIII.—”LORD STEEREM,” THE COXSWAIN 111

IX.—AN ACT OF FOLLY AND A CRUEL DISPATCH 125

X.—MYLES MAKES A STARTLING DISCOVERY 141

XI.—A FIGHT AND A MISTAKE 157

XII.—MYLES FALLS INTO A TRAP 172

XIII.—THE STRIKERS CAPTURE A TRAIN 186

XIV.—A RACE AGAINST TIME 199

XV.—THE 50TH REGIMENT, N. G. S. N. Y. 214

XVI.—RECALLED AND DISMISSED 229

XVII.—THE BEST SISTER IN THE WORLD 243

XVIII.—WHO ROBBED THE SAFE? 260

XIX.—REINSTATED AND ARRESTED 277

XX.—COLLECTING EVIDENCE FOR THE DEFENCE 294

XXI.—A DAY OF TRIAL 311

XXII.—TRIUMPHANTLY ACQUITTED 329

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

“ANY THING GOING ON TO-NIGHT?” VAN CLEEF ASKED THE POLICE SERGEANT _Frontispiece_

“IF YOU MUST GO TO WORK AT ONCE, WHY NOT TRY JOURNALISM?” 14

VAN CLEEF SAID SOMETHING TO THE CITY EDITOR IN A LOW TONE 30

A HOARSE VOICE SHOUTED THE OMINOUS WORD “SPOTTER” 68

“I DON’T SEE HOW WE CAN BREAK THROUGH THAT RULE, EVEN IN YOUR CASE” 96

AS HE WAS STOOPING TO SET FIRE TO THE READY FUEL, THE SOUND OF HIS OWN NAME CAUSED HIM TO DROP THE MATCH 150

THE STRIKERS REORGANIZING THE MILITIA 192

THE CAR PLUNGED FORWARD, TURNED COMPLETELY OVER, AND CRUSHED POOR MYLES BENEATH IT 212

THE NEXT MOMENT HE FOUND HIMSELF STANDING ON THE PLATFORM BESIDE THE COLONEL 226

HE LEANED GLOOMILY AGAINST THE MANTEL SHELF THAT NEARLY FILLED ONE SIDE OF THE ROOM 248

“WHO ARE YOU?” SAID BILL, HOLDING ON TO TIGE WITH ALL HIS MIGHT 310

“IT’S ALL RIGHT, OLD MAN. YOUR SPACE HAS BEEN MEASURED, AND THE FULL BILL IS ALLOWED” 342