Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-04-06
THE YOUNG REPORTER.


"You needn't stay, Hervey, unless you
care to wait ON emergency" said the
editor. There's nothing special, and
you may as well have your night off, if
the rest of US can't.
"Thank you, sir.
Alfred Hervey, the youngest reporter
on the paper, would no doubt have pre-
ferred to work, but there was nothing for
him TO do, and as the dismissal of his chief
had been kindly meant, he accepted it in
the same spirit.
1t was no ordinary achievement for
boy of 19 to have advanced, by his un-
aided aptitude and energy, from the
typesetter's case to the reportorial staff
of one of the great daily journals.
This was what Alfred had recently sue
ceeded in doing, but he discovered only
too soon that the position, once attained,
involved difficulties and drawbacks.
The new reporters position was very
subordinate one. He was paid at the
rate of so much per column for such of
his articles only as were actually printed
in the paper. What was cut out of his
@copyn by the editor or rejected bodily
was so much time and labor lost.
The consequence was that Alfred, like
many others, not only had no opportun-
ity even to attempt to distinguish him.
self by fine writing, but his earnings
were actually less than he could COM
mand at typesetting.
These were the reflections, no doubt,
that tended to cast down the spirits of
the young reporter as he quilted the edi-
torial rooms that Christmas eve.
Alfred drew on his gloves and started
in|the direction of the river; he usually
went home by steamboat. AS he elbowed
his way through the throng of people he
occasionally threw back his head and
quickened his step with an air of deter
mination.
He was thinking of the resolutions he
meant to make on the approaching New
Years sday-resolutions of pluck and per-
severance in his work, which would tri-
umph in spite of all obstacles.
Arriving at the pier, he went aboard
the boat that was in waiting and, accord
ing to his habit, walked straight to the
forward deck.
The boat glided out into theswift, dark
tide.
AS the vessel bumped against the pier
which was Alf's destination, a man wear
ing long black overcoat, with the collar
turned up about his ears, advanced in a
nervous manner to the extreme edge of
the deck, ready to leap onto the pier.
He might have accomplished the feat
In safety had not the boat at the same
instant recoiled and suddenly receded
several feet.
The passengers were Mortified to see
the unfortunate man fall short of his
landing, and, throwing up his arms with
a wild cry of terror, disappear in the dark,
seething waters.
He had escaped being caught and
crushed between the boat and the pier,
but his plight was none the less terrible
@Man overboardl Hold her back I"
shouted the men on the pier to the wheel
man.
The order was obeyed with prompt
ness.
The poor fellow In the water was in
capable of making any effort to save him
self.
One Of the pier hands, who had had
previous experience Of such accidents,
did the one thing practicable under the
circumstances.
Grasping long boathook, he thrust
It into the water, and dexterously CATCH
ing it IN the loose clothing Of the drown
ing man, dragged him with more expe-
dition than gentleness to the pier.
His comrade waited there to grasp the
limp and dripping body, and the two
gently raised it from the water.
Seized with feeling of profound pity,
Alfred bent over the PROSTATE body when
be stepped onto the pier.
Do you know himfT asked the man
who had used the boathook.
Il don't, but / know he must be at
tended to ct once, replied the young re-
porter energeticaIly. ~LOok, he has been
stunned by the shock, and he'll freeze to
death herels
Call policeman and get doctor, or
else take the poor fellow TO some place
where he can be attended 20. We can't
leave him here even for q second, said
the man.
Alfred beckoned to 3 policeman, who