Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-10-23
A SOUGHT-FOR SCOOP.

A SOUGHT-FOR SCOOP.
MIR: Dunnigan was smilingly receiv-
ing the congratulations Of the other
newspaper men who had gathered
around Morman's supper table. He
had given his paper a sensational
scoop that morning and every man
who congratulated him Immediately
asked:
But how did you get on, Dunnipr
Il got onto the story by accident
and that's how nearly every SCOOP is
brought in," answered Dunnigan,
modestly.
'1'll prove that all scoops are not
accidental, said Mr. Patterson.
~ ears ago l lay in bed one morning
reading what had written the night
before as you all do every morning OF
your lives, gentlemen. After damn
ing the proof-reading as you all do
and admiring my stuff, which still
shone despite the efforts of a 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. Patter-
son, pursue the days doings of the
first person whose identity is logged
into your life this day. and if his or
her life is opened to inspection, and
you will get story
! THAT afternoon. / met on street
crossing, man | had to interview,
and We stood where we met, until
was nearly knocked. or pushed, down.
When ! recovered my usual dignifed
bearing, found that l had been push
ed from in front of a runaway team by
II very bright exceedingly self-poss-
essed and soiled young person, who
drawled out between putfs OF a cigar
cite: Yer chump. did yer want ter
get killed?'
Il discovered that my polite and
efficient friend was a newsboy | had
sometimes 'staked'-I quote his verna-
cular-at early hours in the morning,
when he confded to me that his game
of 'crusoe' had resulted in breaking
him.
Il knew him only as Pete, and |
knew him so well that l anticipated
his next remark: I'm dead broke
Mr.. Patterson, an amt got no stake
fer the evenin' poipers.'
| Il staked Pete and took him to a
clothier's, where / had credit and
| furnished him with suit of clothes
which he called a narness-when 1t
occurred to me that he was the person
should pursue for my story.
He thanked me profusely for the
| gift and declared that he wanted to
run home and show de harness to me
mudder an ladder
Il followed unobserved and dis
| covered that it was to another relative
Pete wanted to display his fine feath-
ers, for in half an hour he emerged
from a pawnshop dressed in his old
suit of rags with "a of his uncle's coin
in his pocket.
II felt fairly rewarded for my pur-
suit and convinced that | was on the
track of a story, if not scoop.
Pete made Decline for an alley
back of an evening newspaper office,
where | observed him lose my stake
and his uncle's loan in the varying
| fortunes of 'crusoe. played with un-
daunted courage but poor luck. |
| concluded, in the wisdom of expert
ence, that | could then afford to relax
| my watch; that if left alone Peter
would hunt me up.
On my way down to the editorial
rooms after dinner Pete waylaid me-
Me fadder broke his leg in de foun-
dry, he began, an me mudder sent
fer de doctor, who said me ladders leg
could rot before he d touch it, less he
had five plunks down in advance de
snoozer! So l ups an shoves de har-
ness wild me uncle an, wild wot yer
staked me, | raised de five seep An
SO I'm broke. bein' good boy, an
lovin' me mudder
'Thereupon, Peter wept plentifully
being excited with his efforts of the
imagination and lack of dinner.
Then / took my potential scoop to
a coffee-house- "a bun joint in his
slang fed him. In the honesty
begotten of full stomach and content
ed mind, Pete confided to me that he
had no ladder nor mudder, nor brud-
der, nor nothin,' but lived in the place
of his 'side-partner.'
'Pete's side-partner, he explained.
was Glasgow Jack, the keeper of a
slogging- den-a kind of place, Tom
my, which flourished in this commun-
ity before the promotion of slogging
was made the vocation OF the male
two hundred.
Glasgow Jacks being an all-night
place, was frequented in the early
hours of the morning by men who,
having the drear prospect OF another
day close at hand. sought to anchor
ate their conditions by that forgetful-
ness which comes from tan early glance
at a morning paper.
Pete, in exchange for the privilege
of sleeping on the mattress used for
wrestling matches. brought the earli-
est papers to Glasgow Jacks thereby
holding Jacks customers, 10 the pro1t
Of tho bar. 1t seemed fair bargain !