still bustling city.
“There has to be something I can do,” he murmured in frustration.
Reaching the corner of Montgomery and Merchant streets, he paused, praying silently and then wondering if any of the churches had enough influence to help.
He glanced up and realized where he was standing. That was his answer. The Bulletin offices werehere. It was the perfect solution. An exposé, written by a man with the solid reputation of James King might force Coleman to call the Vigilance Committee into action. It was certainly worth a try.
A lamp flickered on the second story.
Taylor pushed through the door and took the stairs two at a time.
Chapter Five
W orking late by the light of a kerosene lamp in the deserted parlor, Sara Beth labored that first evening and the next to phrase everything just right. Because both paper and ink were dear at the orphans’ home, she took special care to make her first draft both concise and perfect.
Satisfied, she folded the sheet of paper several times, addressing the outside of the packet because she lacked an envelope. As soon as her morning chores were completed the next day she’d try to steal away long enough to deliver her written plea. If that wasn’t possible, she’d have to entrust it to one of the older boys and hope he carried out her orders correctly.
Rising, she lifted the lamp to light her way backto the girls’ area. When she looked ahead, a tall shadow was falling across the marble-floored entry-way.
“Who…who is it?”
“Dr. Hayward.”
The breath whooshed out of her and she noticed that she was trembling slightly. “What are you doing here? It must be very late.”
“It is,” Taylor said, approaching and relieving her of the glass lamp. “I was passing and I saw this light, so I stopped. Why have you not retired with the rest of the staff? Did the latest earthquake bother you?”
“No. I never even felt one happen. It must not have been very strong.”
Sara Beth realized she was clutching her letter so tightly she was wrinkling it. Her first instinct was to tell the doctor everything. Then she realized that she really didn’t know him, not as a personal friend, at any rate, and should therefore be prudent.
She slid the folded paper into her apron pocket to hide it. “I simply couldn’t sleep.”
“Would you like me to give you a powder to take? It would relax you.”
“No. Thank you.” She purposely lifted her chin to emphasize her decisiveness. “You should go. It isn’t proper for us to be together like this. I don’twant Mrs. McNeil to think I’m entertaining a gentleman in her absence.”
The doctor bowed. “Of course. I’ll go. Just let me see you to your quarters.”
Instead, Sara Beth reached for the lamp and wrested it from his grasp. “That won’t be necessary. I can take care of myself.”
“Can you?” Taylor asked. “I wonder.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Only that I wish to be of service to you, Miss Reese. I assure you, I have no ulterior motives.” He fell into step beside her as she started for the hallway. “I have already tried to assist you in getting your home back. Unfortunately, the head of the Vigilance Committee is not willing to act on your behalf.”
“I’m not surprised,” she replied.
“I was. But I had another idea and stopped by the newspaper to see if the editor wished to champion your cause.”
That brought her up short. She whirled and held the lamp high to clearly observe his expression. “Which editor? Not James Casey, I hope.”
“Of course not. He’s too involved with Scannell and the others. I visited the offices of the Bulletin .”
Sara Beth caught her breath. Was this the answer to her wish to have her letter safely delivered? It certainly appeared so.
“Do you know Mr. King?” she asked.
“Very well. And I think he’ll print a story about you, if you want. All you have to do is tell him everything and leave the actual preparation of the article up to
“There has to be something I can do,” he murmured in frustration.
Reaching the corner of Montgomery and Merchant streets, he paused, praying silently and then wondering if any of the churches had enough influence to help.
He glanced up and realized where he was standing. That was his answer. The Bulletin offices werehere. It was the perfect solution. An exposé, written by a man with the solid reputation of James King might force Coleman to call the Vigilance Committee into action. It was certainly worth a try.
A lamp flickered on the second story.
Taylor pushed through the door and took the stairs two at a time.
Chapter Five
W orking late by the light of a kerosene lamp in the deserted parlor, Sara Beth labored that first evening and the next to phrase everything just right. Because both paper and ink were dear at the orphans’ home, she took special care to make her first draft both concise and perfect.
Satisfied, she folded the sheet of paper several times, addressing the outside of the packet because she lacked an envelope. As soon as her morning chores were completed the next day she’d try to steal away long enough to deliver her written plea. If that wasn’t possible, she’d have to entrust it to one of the older boys and hope he carried out her orders correctly.
Rising, she lifted the lamp to light her way backto the girls’ area. When she looked ahead, a tall shadow was falling across the marble-floored entry-way.
“Who…who is it?”
“Dr. Hayward.”
The breath whooshed out of her and she noticed that she was trembling slightly. “What are you doing here? It must be very late.”
“It is,” Taylor said, approaching and relieving her of the glass lamp. “I was passing and I saw this light, so I stopped. Why have you not retired with the rest of the staff? Did the latest earthquake bother you?”
“No. I never even felt one happen. It must not have been very strong.”
Sara Beth realized she was clutching her letter so tightly she was wrinkling it. Her first instinct was to tell the doctor everything. Then she realized that she really didn’t know him, not as a personal friend, at any rate, and should therefore be prudent.
She slid the folded paper into her apron pocket to hide it. “I simply couldn’t sleep.”
“Would you like me to give you a powder to take? It would relax you.”
“No. Thank you.” She purposely lifted her chin to emphasize her decisiveness. “You should go. It isn’t proper for us to be together like this. I don’twant Mrs. McNeil to think I’m entertaining a gentleman in her absence.”
The doctor bowed. “Of course. I’ll go. Just let me see you to your quarters.”
Instead, Sara Beth reached for the lamp and wrested it from his grasp. “That won’t be necessary. I can take care of myself.”
“Can you?” Taylor asked. “I wonder.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Only that I wish to be of service to you, Miss Reese. I assure you, I have no ulterior motives.” He fell into step beside her as she started for the hallway. “I have already tried to assist you in getting your home back. Unfortunately, the head of the Vigilance Committee is not willing to act on your behalf.”
“I’m not surprised,” she replied.
“I was. But I had another idea and stopped by the newspaper to see if the editor wished to champion your cause.”
That brought her up short. She whirled and held the lamp high to clearly observe his expression. “Which editor? Not James Casey, I hope.”
“Of course not. He’s too involved with Scannell and the others. I visited the offices of the Bulletin .”
Sara Beth caught her breath. Was this the answer to her wish to have her letter safely delivered? It certainly appeared so.
“Do you know Mr. King?” she asked.
“Very well. And I think he’ll print a story about you, if you want. All you have to do is tell him everything and leave the actual preparation of the article up to
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