Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-07-29
A LAST FAVOR.

met him on the Blackfriars bridge. 1t
was past midnight and 1 was hurrying
along and did not notice him until he
spoke.
.'wiTl you leave This az The Planet Of
fee for me?''
This was a Cat envelope which he held
out to me. with The Planet, Planet square,
written on it, and in one corner the fam
liar "News-immediato. l hositatec
moment and said. why, certainly, and
took L from him
Thank you,' he said. Tvs the last
favor 1 shall ask any one
The sentence ended n a half sob. l
turned and looked 1T the man more close
IL. A very setdy fellow n n very seedy
suit, with an odor OF stale tobacco hang
ing about him, Is not ordinarily an inter
esting loEsanagc, bur my professional IN
stinct was aroused.
Here perhaps was material for a story.
It might he worked up into thrilling
tale. Clearly II was my duty to inquire
modestly into his situation and assist him
with my advice.
"Did you say 2he Asteroid oticeF"
enid I.
pride myself on this opening. When
the conversation has stopped and you wish
to continue l., but can think of nothing
that does net seem sill? or i;npert!nent, 1t
Is always In order TO pretend yea have
mistaken your companions meaning. In
this case it succeeded even better ;han
usual.
"No. The Fnnot, The Planet. They
must have il first. l would not have The
Asteroid get it, l, good item like that, and
exclusive too "
This was encouraging. He was news
paper man. that was plain enough, but
why didn't be take Lis copy TO the Office
himself instead of loaGng here on the
bridge?
The plot was tbickeiing 1t would
probably work Up best for The Weekly.
They liked something soraational.
$50 you are in the foul Ii estate? used
to do a little in that way myself.
l said this because / reIatinber reading
in Emerson or the Bible or somewhere
that 1t creates n subtle sort OF Freema-
sonry between persons when they find that
they have worked at the same craft. In
my youth l used to fold papers in II coun-
"Yes, wss a reporter, but that is my
last item. Stopl" he exclaimed suddenly.
"You are not reporter now, are youf'
"No; l have not been reporter for some
time" l replied, with perfect candor.
''Then l can trust you with this and
since you have consented to do me favor
will tell you what you are about to ask,
the substance of the item.
at Is an account of a man who commit
ted suicide by jumping from the Black
friars bridge. 1t Is q perfect piece OF news
giving the mans name, correctly spelled,
his residence, names of relatives, motives
for the rash act and all.
''When did it take place'"
"It hasn't taken place at all yet. 1t
will take place at 1915 tonight. "
"But, butt stRmmercd-
"How do / know about itg" he broke in
because I'm the man. Do you under
stand now? I'm going to kill myself co.
night. I've no friend in the world hut my
paper, and I'm going 10 do it the only good
turn in my power by giving it a correct
and exclusive piece Of news.
The man was surely crazy, but the story
was coming on finely. I must hulnor
him.
Good" said Z ITS capital idea''
thought Of applying my maxim and tell
Ing him that had committed suicide my
self In my youth, but l reflected that In
his excited state he might not believe me.
His story / must have at any cost.
Come, went on. Come with me to
my rooms just across the bridge and have
something To cat. IU's-it's--it's awfully
unhealthy to 20 into water on an empty
stomach"
The man looked at me as II he thought ]
was crazy too, but excused It on account
of his perturbed mind. He followed me,
however, and as we walked on in silence
hugged myself as I thought of the mate
rial was gathering.
Besides the article for The Weekly, which
had now decided to expand into serial,
the incident would also make an excellent
article for The Psychological Journal.
l might also change the facts little,
have him crazed by STRONG drink and work
II up for temperance paper with the title
"The Bottle and the Bridge; True Story
Founded on Facts" The possibilities
were simply endless.
A good fire, some cold meat pie, bread
and cheese and a glass of hot whisky
punch soon loosencd his tongue, and l had
him talking nationally enough. He had
been Journalist for 12 years, he said, had
worked on all the leading papers of Man
chester and London and had barely made
enough to support himself and an invalid
mother.
When we parted, 1t was past 2 O'Clock,
and he had promised me to give up his
fatal purpose. Rejecting that / had So
cured material from him for no end of
good work, gave way to my generous
impulses and pressed half sovereign into
his hand.
Heaven bless you," he said. You
have saved my life!"
Circumstances prevented me from work
ing up my material for several days, but
my head was full of it all the time, and
when / sat down at my desk deciding to
write the first serinl the plot was clearly
outlined in my mind.
wrote till late at night and then, accord
ing to my custom, went out for walk
My feet turned involuntarily toward the
Icene Of my late adventure.
l walked out upon the bridge, and as /
neared the middle / saw two persons en-
gagged in conversation almost on the very
spot where had been the humble means
Of saving human life few nights be-
fore
AS / drew nearer one Of the figures
seemed strangely familiar. A moment
inter caught the words, 1T is the last
favor shall ever ask of any one"
/ turned and fled.
l still have on hand material for serial
for The Weekly and an article for The
Psychological journal and a dissertation
upon the hardships of journalism.-E
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