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

He thanked me profusely for the
gift, AMI 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 feathers,
for in half an hour he emerged from a
pawnshop. dressed in his old suit of
rags. and with 81 of his uncies coin in
his pocket.
Il felt fairly rewarded for my pur-
suit and convinced that | was on the
track of story, if not scoop.
Pete made a bee-line for an alley
back of an evening newspaper Office.
where | observed him lose nv stake
and his uncle's loan in the varving
fortunes of 'erusoe,' played with I'M
daunted courage but poor luck | con-
Guided. in the wisdom of experience,
that could then afford to relax my
watch; that. if left alone. Peter would
soon hunt me up.
''On my way down to the editorial
rooms after dinner. Peter waylaid me.
Me fadder broke his leg in de foundry,
he began, AN me mudder sent me 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 ups and shoves de har-
ness wild me uncle, an, wild wot YER
staked me. | raise. de five; seep An
so I'm broke, bein' good boy an
lovin' me mudder.'
Ihereupon Peter. wept plentifully
being excited with his efforts of imagi-
nation and lack of dinner.
Then | took my potential scoop to
a cotfee-house-'a bun-joint' in his
slang-and fed him. In the honesty
begotten of a full stomach and con-
tented mind, Pete confided to me that
he had mo fadder. nor mudder, nor
brudder. nor nothin',' but lived in the
place of his 'side-p ardner."
''Pete's side-partner. he explained.
was Glasgow Jack, the keeper of a
slogging den-a kind of place, Tommy.
which fourished in this community
before the promotion of slogging was
made the vocation of the male two
hundred.
Glasgow Jacks, being an all-night
place, was freqnented in the early
hours of the morning by men who hay
ing the drear prospect of another dav
close at hand, sought to ameliorate
their conditions by that forgetfulness
which comes from an early glance at q
morning paper.
Pete. in exchange for the privilege
of sleeping on the mattress used for
wrestling matches. brought the earliest
papers to Glasgow Jacks, thereby
holding Jacks customers, to the profit
OF the bar. 1t seemed fair bargain,
rs Pete explained it, but the chances
for scoop were not improving.
''To make sure of my game. agreed
with Pete to stake him in the press
room as soon as the paper was off, and
we parted.
That night / went down to the
press-room on the elevator with the
last plate, and there was Pete fighting
with science and success to maintain
his place at the head of the line of
waiting newsboys. all anxious to get
bundles for the all-night places, where
two bits is often picked up for an early
paper.
1T was too dark to follow Pete. SO I
told him had notion to meet his
side-parduer. and hurried along with
him to Glasgow jacks.
lit was the usual place-you re-
member the type, DUNN? "A base
ment, square ring in one end; some
dun b-bells and Indian clubs scattered
about; pool table, with leaden
cushions; a half dozen berry card
tables; bar, and patronage of pugs,
low FOUNDERS. and dreamy young men
who fancied they were seeing life by
poisoning it.
''Pete's advent woke up the place.
My very considerable knowledge of
what the paper contained - had
watched the make-up-had given me
no impression that all our news per-
tanned to fights and fighters, racers and
racing. murders and murderers. Tie
crowd there found nothing else in the
paper, and was soon expressing its in
terest in those phases of life by animat-
ed discussions Of them over the most
unthinkable whisky. | took glass of
it with Glasgow Jack, who treated me
with that considerate-shall [ say fra
ternal?-kindness our profession ever
receives from his.
Jack laughed when / asked him
about Pete. Pm kinder stuck on der
kid said Jack; dere's no flies on i'm,
An; I'm goin' to do der right thing by
proper game to give der kid some
schoolin'. He kinder takes to literary
ways-selling poipers. and that. I'm
dom pretty well. an ant got nobody
wild Il string on me sack; so | was
thinkin' mebbe | could send der kid to
one of der schools in der country,
where he'd get away from dis gang
anu brace up a little. and be II lawyer,
or somethin. He's kinder got ter me.
ye see. and Pm sorter soft on der kid
Il knew Glasgow Jack to be the
toughest character in the city, but just
the wav all the vilainy went out of his
wicked eyes when he spoke of Pete has
secured him graceful epitaph-if /
have the pleasure of knowing of bis
death.
There must have been some very
exciting sporting news that night, for
the crowd became noisy and drunk in
discussing it.
1T was such nasty outfit that
should have left before Pete returned,
but | had resolved to see him through
one day. When he did return. his
papers all sold. Jack motioned him to
come over to us. but couple Of men al
an adjoining table stopped the boy ,and
one Of them offered him a drink OF!
whisky. Jack called out: Let 90
now! You know | don't want Pete of
fered any drink
The c1an laughed in an ugly way,
and replied: You are getting too
pious, Jack. If the kids yours why