Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart

fact.”
    “Didn’t she go to school?” Joe’s answers were making Blake even more curious.
    “Oh, I suppose she might have. I don’t rightly remember. I do remember Beck used to worry about her some, especially when he heard people talking about her.”
    “What kind of talk?” Blake thought about pulling out his pencil and scribbling down a few notes the way he did when he was working on a story to make sure he kept his facts straight. But this wasn’t for a story, and it was unlikely he’d forget a word of anything he heard about Adriane Darcy.
    “You know how folks are. And I don’t suppose it was exactly proper a little girl like that spending so much time working with us fellows. ’Course at that time there wasn’t nobody but me and old Beck, and I reckon we’d a both died on the spot before we’d have let any harm come to little Addie.” Joe smiled a little. “That was Beck’s pet name for her.”
    “What do you think about her now?”
    “I ain’t seen her for a long spell, but they say she grew up real pretty. ’Course I still hear talk about her.”
    “What kind of talk?”
    “Same old stuff.” Joe waved his hand in dismissal. “How this or that ain’t proper. How she’ll never find no decent gent to marry her because of the way she don’t mind telling a body what she thinks without worrying about who she’s talking to.”
    “I guess they were wrong about that.” Blake pushed back his chair and stood up from his desk. “There’s a big party tonight announcing her engagement to Stanley Jimson.”
    “Is that a fact? Stanley Jimson.” Joe looked thoughtful. “Who’d a thought it? But maybe she got tired of setting type.”
    “I wouldn’t bet on that.” Blake watched Joe’s face as he went on. “You sound like you were really fond of her.”
    Joe looked down at the floor, then back at Blake. “Now, boss, I know how you feel about the Tribune, but I ain’t gonna say nothing bad about the girl cause there ain’t nothing bad to say. I don’t care if she is Wade Darcy’s daughter.”
    “Ease down, Joe.” Blake smiled and held his hand palm out toward Joe. “I was just curious about her. Besides, I don’t think you need to worry too much about defending her. She’s capable of that all on her own.”
    “Sounds like the two of you might have had a little run-in. I wouldn’t want to make no wagers on which of you bested the other.” Joe grinned.
    Blake laughed a little. “If we’d had pistols, we’d both be bleeding. That’s for sure.”
    “And you say she’s planning to tie the knot with Stanley Jimson.” Joe’s smile disappeared. “I’ll bet poor old Beck is grieving some over that.”
    “Why do you say that?” Blake’s eyes sharpened on Joe.
    “Well, you know Stanley Jimson, boss. And old Beck fairly doted on the girl. He’d want better than that pantywaist for her. For a fact, I’d wish better than that for her my own self.”
    “And who would you match her up with, Joe, if you were playing matchmaker?”
    “Oh, I don’t know.” A wicked little glint lit up the man’s eyes as he stared at Blake. “You maybe, boss. The two of you together might start a newspaper dynasty. Why, you’d have your kids setting type before they could walk.”
    Blake threw his head back and laughed. “Wade Darcy would shoot me first.”
    “Now that could be a fact. And I reckon he’s happy as a pig in mud with the whole setup. With Jimson behind the Tribune , he won’t have to worry much about the Herald overtaking him.”
    “And with the Tribune behind Coleman Jimson, Jimson may think his way’s clear to the state senate house.” Blake’s face tightened at the thought. He wasn’t going to let that happen without a fight.
    “You saying he has another think coming, boss?” Joe raised his eyebrows.
    “Could be.”
    Joe suddenly looked worried. “Things could get ugly if you take on Jimson and the Know Nothings. They’ve pretty well got the town wrapped up right