Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-11-12
"ME SIDE-PARDNER."

log the congratulations of the othel
newspaper men who gathered arounc
Mormans supper table. He had giver
his paper sensational scoop tina
morning, and every man who con
graduated him Immediately asked;
but how did you get on. Dump
Il got on to the story by accident
and that's how nearly every scoop /,
brought i'm answered Dunnigar
modestly. III story comes through
the regular channels there's no chance
for scoop, and the newspaper men
who go about looking for chance stories
exist only in novels written by men
who don't know a detail book from a
scarehead - barring Tommy Pagel
here. But Tommy is not a newspaper
man-he's a journalist.
More power to himl" exclaimed
Mr.. Lynn. Don't moiud him, Tom.
my. Shure. Dunni is jealous of We.
It's theyoung gintlemen loike you who
are eleyating the profeshion and the
old hacks loike Dunni and me must
give way before the new regime. oil
which you are at once the ornament
and pride. A glass of beer wild you,
tOuu1.
Tommy, who by this time was flush
ing slightly. turned to Patterson and
said with lofty scorn:
1T is your turn, Patsy, to score me;
jump in"
I'D strike bottom too quick" re-
sponded Patsy.
ANY one else want to contribntepn
asked Tommy with severe politeness.
'1f not, I'll just remark that while /
am humbly sensible of my sad deGcien-
cies as a journalist-which, by the way,
did not prevent my earning more on
space last week than Mr., Dunnigan
ever got as salary-I am still unwill-
ing to admit that because keep broke
by retaining membership iD decent
club instead of playing poker like
Dunni. or because ! still hold on to
some decent social connections instead
of totally outcasting myself as all os
you have-I am unwilling, | say. to
admit that may not aspire TO the diz-
zy professional heights capped by that
group Of graces-Lynn, Dnnnigan, and
Patsy.
Tommy grew redder still Mt the roar
of laughter which greeted his fine
speech, and glared haughtily at Lynn.
who exclaimed:
Get out Of tn ring. you Dunni and
you Patsyl David has come again, and
I'm his prophet. hacker, and bottle
holder. Bring on your heavy-weighis.
Otto, schooner for Mr., Paget."
Tommy continued to glare at his
grinning friends for time, but soon
joined the grin, for. though bristling
with pugnacity, there was no one in
the party more alive than Mr.. Pagct
10 the futility of solitary grandeur in "A
company of average mortals.
II was about to remark" he said
with recovered good-naturo. before
you all brayed at me. that Dunni may
DO right in saying that most scoops
are accidental, bnt sometimes they
are looked for. You remember my
scoop in the Melbourne Rest robberyPp
There was no immediate response.
1t is probable that every one at the
table did recall, but then most Of us
are sluggish in remembering other
mems scoops.
We'll. did get that scoop. and I did
get it because looked for it. 1t was
about n year ago. had been doing
the introduction to Patti first night
and was in evening dress; so when |
turned in my copy, as it was raining, |
rang for a coop. When told the
driver to take me up here he told me
there was to be quiet chicken-iight in
the Melbourne Rest"
'Oh. Tommy. break away" inter-
rupted Dunni; 'you got that SCOOP
through the accident of ringing for a
coop. the driver of which happened to
be on"
That's So" admitted Tommy. some
what crestfallen; Il was put on by an
accident"
They won't let you tell your story.
Tommy. but I'll prove your PROPOSE
ton that all scoops are not accidental"
said Mr. Patterson. Years ago | lay
in bed one morning reading what /
had written the night before. as you
all do every morning of your lives,
gentlemen. After damning the proof
reading-as you all do-aDd admiring
my stuff. which still shone despite the
efforts Of stupid editor to take the
shine out-as you all admire yours-I
bethought me of the various uses
could make Of the additional stipend
resulting from a scoop. said; My
dear Mr.. Patterson. pursue the days
dOings of the first person whose iden-
tity is logged into your life this day. IL
his or her life Is open to inspection, and
you will get a story
That afternoon / met on street
crossing a man had to interview. and
we stood where we met, until / was
suddenly nearly knocked or pushed
down. When recovered my usual
digniiied bearing l found that had
been pushed from in front of a runa-
way team by a very bright. exceeding
ly self-possessed and soiled young per-
son. who drawled out between pufrs of
a cigarette: Yer chump. did yer want
ter get killeded7h
Il discovered that my polite and
efficient friend was a newsboy l had
sometimes 'staked'-I quote his YER
nacular-at early hours in the morn
ing. when he conlided to me that his
game Of crusOe' had resulted in break
log him.
Il knew him o1iy as Pete and I
knew him so well that anticipated his
next remark: I'm dead broke. Mr.
Patterson. an ant got no stake fer der
eveniu' poipers.'
Il staked Pete aud took him to a
where / had credit and furn-
ishcd him with a suit Of fclothes-which
he called a harness-when Il occurred to /
me that he was the person l should
pursue for my story.
He thanked mo profusely for the
gift. and declared that be wanted to
run home and show de harness to me
mudder an fadder.'
Il followed unobserved. and dis
covered that it was 10 another relative 1
Pete wanted 10 display his liDe feathers.
for IN half an hour be emerged from a
dressed ia his old suit Of /
rags. and with 81 Of his uncle's coin in
bis pocket
- sls s==-l-= -.sr.rdn1 Tor nv mr.
suit and sonTinced that wss % the