Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-05-17
How He Got a story.

From the Chicago T~imes-Herald.
The other evening the head of the news
staff of a local daily was standing in front
Of the Palmer house. An elegantly dressed
young woman suddenly stopped before him
and with evident embarrassment inquired
the way to the Casino. The direction was
given and the newspaper man added that
the place was closed.
"Closed?' echoed the woman in surprise.
Yes; it hasn't been open for several
months"
oh, WELL" she continued. Il guess it is
all right, anyway. l am a stranger in the
city; a gentleman and his wife from. New
York asked me to meet them at S O'Clock
in front of the Casino to go to the heater
l supposed We were going to the Casino.
My friends evidently are going to some
other theater and asked me 10 meet them
where they thought would be the most con-
venient for me-"
She thanked him, gave him a smile which
he emembered afteIward, n passed on.
A minute later the newspaper man threw
away the remnant of his cigar. A bit of
ashes, caught by the wind, fell upon his
coat lapel. In brushing it off his hand
accidentally touched his cravat The scarf
pin which had nestled there a moment be-
fore was gone.
1T wasn't worth a dollar. anyway" he
said to himself consolingly, "and she's well
come to it; but I'd like to know how she
did it. There's a great story in that woman
if l could only find her again and make her
talk.
His intended visit to the theater was
given up forthwith, and he began patrolling
the downtown streets in search for that
story. An hour later he came face to face
with the woman he was looking for. She
evidently had seen him first, but she made
no attempt to avoid lin.
Il want yOu," he said bluntly.
She laughed. We'll" she said, II rup-
pose all of us sometimes want what we
can't get"
And some of u.s." he added, "it seems,
help ourselves to whatever we want"
"Oh, did you miss it. reaIly?' she asked,
smiling like a houri. II couldn't help TAX
ing it, you know; really 1 couldn't. But it
wasn't worth keeping. after all. You'll
find IL in your lefthand overcoat pocket"
And he did. Come" he said, there's a
restaurant across the street. 1 owe you
a dinner"
When the last particle of the broiled
lobster had been washed dow and she had
told a fairy story which he mentally con-
cluded would make at least a column they
arose to go.
do you know she said. you were
pretty lucky tonight? Well. you were.
When 1 was talking to you on the street
1 tried for your watch. Your coat was
buttoned, n il covered the pocket so
tightly that 1 couldn't get the watch with
out your noticing il. See,' she continued.
pointing to his tightly buttoned cutaway,
II couldn't get my hand under there with
out your knowing It. Notice how tight the
coat is over that pocket. There's a pointer
for ~you-always keep your coat buttoned in
a crowd. Then you're safe"
The newspaper man offered to escort his
companion to her hotel. She declined. He
insisted. She hailed a passing hanson.
jumped in. and was whirled away. He
lighted another cigar and strolled toward
the theater. He wondered If he would he in
time to see the second act.
What he said when he reached for his
watch couldn't be printed.