Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-31
ME SIDE-PARDNER "

ing the congratulations of the other
newspaper men who gathered around
Morman's supper table, He had given
his paper a sensational scoop that
morning. and every man who con-
graduated him Immediately asked:
But how did you get on, Dunni?"
Il got on to the story by accident,
and that's how nearly every scoop is
brought in" answered Dunnigan
modestly. IF story comes through
the regular channels there's no chance
for scoop and the newspaper men
who 90 about looking for chance stories
exist only in novels written by men
who don't know detail book from a
scarehead = barring Tommy Paget
here. But Tommy is not newspaper
man-he's Il journalist"
More power to him!' exclaimed
Mr.. Lynn. Don't moind him. Tom
my. Shure. DUNN is jealous of We.
It's the young gintlemen loike you who
are elevating the profcshion and the
old hacks loike Dunni and me must
give way before the new regime. of
which YOU are at once the ornament
and pride. A glass of beer wild you.
Tommy"
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 contributed"
asked Tommy with severe politeness.
IF not, I'll just remark that while |
am humbly sensible of my sad deiicien-
cies rs a journalst-which.b by the way,
did not prevent my earning more on
space last week than Mr.. Dunnigan
ever got as Il salary am still unwill-
ing to admit that because keep broke
by retaining membership in Il 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 of
Won have-I am unwilling. | say. to
alj5nit that | may not aspire to the diz.
Y professional heights capped by that
group of graces-Lynn, Dunnig gan, and
Pa:sy.
Tommy grew redder still at 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 Patsy! David has come again, and
I'm his prophet. hacker. and bottle
holder. Bring on your heavy weights.
Otto, Il schooner for MIR. Paget."
Tommy continued to glare at his
grinning friends for Il time. but soon
joined the grin, for. though brstling
with puguacity, there was no one in
the party more alive than Mr.. Paget
to the futility of solitary grandeur i'll q
company Of average mortals.
Il WAS abont to remark" he said
with recovered good~nature. 'hefore
you all braycd at me, that Dunni may
be right in saying that most scoops
are accidental. but sometimes they
are looked for. You remember my
scoop in the Melbourne Rest roGbery?'
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 did
get il because l looked for it. 1t was
about a year ago. / had been doing
the Introduction to II Patti first night
and was in evening dress; 50 when l
turned in my copy, as it was raining |
rang for a coop. When I told the
driver to take me up here he told me
there WAS to be quiet chicken-tight in
the Melbourne Rest"
"Oh. Tommy. break away" inter-
rnpted 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 I
had written the night before. as you
all do every morning of your lives
gentlemen. After damning the proof
reading-as you all do-ani admiring
nv stuff, which still shone despite the
efforts of stupid editor to take the
shine out-as you all admire yours
bethought me Of the various uses |
could make of the additional stipend
resulting from a scoop. | said: My
| dear Nh Patterson. pursue the day.
doings of the first person whose iden-
tity is logged into your life this day. if
his or her life is open to inspection and
you will get Il story
That afternoon met on street
| crossing man | had to interview. and
we stood where we met. until | was
suddenly nearly knocked or pushed
down. When | recovered my usual
dignitied bearing | found that had
been pushed from in front of IL runa-
way team by very bright. exceeding
~ self-possessed and soiled young per-
son. who drawled cut between puffs of
cigarette: Yer chump. did yer want
ter ret killeded?
II discovered that my polite and
efficient friend was q newsboy | had
sometimes 'staked'-I quote his YER
nacular-at early hours in the morn
ing. when he contided to me that rs
game of 'crusoe' had resulted in break
lug him.
Il knew him only as Pete. and
knew him so we'll that antici pated his
next remark: I'm dead broke. Mr.
Patterson, an ant got no stake fer der
evenin' poipers.'
Il staked Pete and took him to q
cletAiers where had credit and furn-
ished him with a suit of clOthes-which