Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-10-01
STORIES BY REPORTERS.

The conditions under which a re-
porter secures information are often
so rigorour that person unskilled in
methods of extracting news from re-
luctant sources would be quickly dis
couraged.
There was case of mystery in
Santa Clara County some years ago,
which will explain the point.
A young girl had come from Ger
many to visit her aunt and uncle in
response to their warm invitation.
In that country she had left hand
some young fellow to whom she was
betrothed, and he was to follow her
SO soon as his term of military duty
had expired.
Once here the aunt-a fierce wO-
compelled the girl to marry a
stableman in Redwood City. The
girl danced at her wedding, hut
locked the bedroom door against her
husband and committed suicide. The
case was notorious at the time, but
difficult to investigate, because Of the
reticence of the people concerned.
A certain reporter was ordered to
get photographs of the aunt and I'M
Gle, and his task was uninviting,
since the two were intrenched in
their house and refused all overtures
for even an interview.
However, when all other measures
failed, the reporter stationed a man
with kodak camera at the front
door and resolved to entice the prey
from its coign of vantage. "
With the utmost impudence he
raised the parlor window and leaped
across the still A search through
the large family album resulted in
finding large cabinet picture of the
aunt, but none of the uncle. So the
burglarizing scribe opened door be-
yond in hope of finding some portrait
on the wall.
In the next room sat the old man
and his wife at lunch, and their as
constituent was extreme. The re-
porter was astonished, too, because
he had believed that they were in the
upper rooms.
The old man with trembling fury
reached over for heavy shotgun
that leaned against the chimney
corner.
'sWhat are you doing here?" he de-
manded, giving both hammers an
ominous click.
81 was looking for your picture?"
SAID the reporter, without faltering.
swell, you thief, 1 am going to
kill yOu," and with that he raised
the gun to his shoulder.
s'You will only spoil your new car
pet with my brains if you kill me in
here" was the reporters quick reply,
as he glanced at the old woman.
At which with sudden bound she
jumped for the gun and pushed the
barrel upward.
eyes! Yes!" she cried in alarm,
!'that carpet cost $50! Don't kill
the scoundrel in here! Kill him out
side!"
'tAll right" remarked the man
grimly. '.I'll kill you outside
march,"
The two walked down the hall to
the front door, and the man threw it
open with an imperious gesture.
"A
the threshold the kodak camera
clicked smartly. and with wild cry,
as if an Internal machine had been
set of, the old man dropped his gun
and bounded into the innermost re-
cesses Of his apartments.
The reporter thOughtfully closed
the door and accompanied the pho
tographer down the street toward
the railway station.
A few evenings ago one Of our
brightest San Francisco reporters told
this:
81 was recently sent by my paper
on an important mission to the south
ern part of the State. My headQuar-
tiers were at San Diego, and from
there made number of trips into
the country.
81 was sitting in front of the Hor-
ton House one afternoon discussing
with a resident of the city the easiest
way to get to a ranch situated sew
eral miles beyond Tia Juana, on the
Mexican boundary. Presently man
with whom my companion was &C
quainted came along and was intro
duced to me as rancher whose place
was adjacent to that which / desired
to. visit on the following day.
1.-THE newcomer told me that he
intended to return home that even
ing and said that if / cared to &C
company him he would call for me
with his team when he was ready to
start. / thanked him for his courte-
sy. availed myself of the opportunity
presented and later was jOurneying
towards our sister republic behind a
spanking team.
ss1'he sun had fallen behind Point
Iona when we reached Tia Juana
and the night was an exceptionally
dark one. The drive had been pleas
ant, my companion being a man OF
more than ordinary education and
pooS collocuiN ability. We had ex.
hausted a good many subiects-the