The Progress., 1889-01-26

Some years aao q green looking fel-z
low appeared in the city editors room
from no one knew where and wanted
job. The city editor told him, as he
had told hundreds of fellows before
him, that there was no vacancy at
present-that is the usual formula
but that if he came across good bit
of news it would be cheerfully accepted
and paid for.
Well, the young man brought in
what stuff he could, and sometimes an
item or two was used; but more often
nothing was available, and the fellow
lived as best he could and slept III
sheds or in the park and never grum-
bled. The editor began to get tired of
seeing his want-stricken face, and once
or twice advised him to 60 home, but
the young man said that perhaps q
chance would come along by aud by,
and, any how, he was there to stay.
One night the city editor said to him:
slf you want a chance, there's q
beautiful one open for you tonight.
The street-car men are having meet
ings every night, and we can't find out
what they're up to. They meet at the
corner OF It's street and ave-
nue."
"All right, said the young man.
s'Have you any objection to my say
ing I'm a reporter on this paper?'
'tNone in the least,n said the edit.
or, with grin. ST may say, though,
that Ratigan, who tried to get last
nights meeting, is in the hospital to-
day." (.
Seeing how much in earnest the
young man was the city editor added:
"The meeting is SHADES regular as
signment tonight, but I don't think
he'll get much except a broken head
perhaps. Any how if you get any
thing at all it'll help out. Here's a
couple of dollars to meet amy expenses
you may have
Shortly after midnight the young
man appeared in the city editors
room. He looked as if he had been
principal in a prize fight
'Well?" said the city editor.
81 couldn't get in,n remarked the
young man. s.Has Mr.. Slade brought
any thingpn
eyes, a first-rate excuse like yours. y
81 tried to pass the guards but they
flung me down stairs. That's how l
got this" pointing to his cut and swol-
len lip.
''That's all right. I didn't expect
you'd get in.
Il bribed q fellow for q dollar to let
me in the back way. They found me
out and dropped me out Of the back
window. That's how got this" point
ing to his closed right eye.
"Well, you mustn't feel discour-
aged"
Il felt a little cast down when they
dropped me out the window. y
'That's not bad. You ought to ap-
ply for position in the paragraph de-
! partment.
81 climbed up to the roof on the
rear fire escape, got into the top story
through Che trap door, went down to
the room above them by the stair and
found that the stove pipe came up
J through the floor
Eyes, y said the city editor, with in
creasing interest.
'They were having such stormy
time below that removed the stove
pipe without any one hearing and held
the lower pipe from falling with my
left hand''
eyes"
81 could move it aside and see all
wanted to and hear every thing"
"YEs."
| ''They have resolved to go on strike
on all the lines at nine tomorrow
| morning and every one is sworn to
secresy.''
"Great Scott!'' cried the city editor,
jumping to his feet s'Write that up.
Give us all you can of it.n
cit IS written up. You see, the
electric light opposite made the room
light enough to write by, and l had to
stay there and hold the stovepipe till
every one was gone ard fit it up again
so they wouldn't suspect. Good scheme
for next meeting. So I wrote it up as
| lay there.
"Great head, = said the city editor.
That young man is now managing
one OF the biggests papers in the West,
and all because hfs rule was:
! '.NeUe, h0ve q good excuse. '';-Detyoit
Free Press.