Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-08-06

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riedly through it. Then I read it
again. don't know, but I seemed
to have presentiment that Sanford
would get no story.
Stanford may be all right, Joe, "
said I, "but should let the paper go
to press at the usual hour, and then if
his story is anything big we can get
out an extra"
II guess you're right answered
Farrell. "l'll go and see the old man,
any way"
Mr.. Chipman agreed with me, and
the paper went to press at the usual
hour without any story concerning a
murder Barlow. We got out no ex.
ira, either, for about five o'clock San
ford burst into the Office and threw
himself into a chair. He was the
maddest man ever saw.
"Gentlemen," said he, just make a
note to the effect that James Robin
son Sanford is the most unmitigated
fool in Christendom.
"What is the matter, Mr.. Sanford?"
asked Mr.. Chapman.
II am confounded fool" Mr..
Chipman," answered Sanford, his
high-pitched, feminine voice making
his language irresistibly funny.
After much persuasion he told us
the whole story, ending with the re-
mark
"And that livery man charged me
ten dollars for the team. I'll pay it
now, but those ruffians from the
Times will pay it eventually"
"The Post will assume the bill, Mr.
Sanford" said the chief editor, kindly
81 shall pay it myself, Mr.. Chip
man," replied Sanford. eff 1 am
fool enough to go off on such a wild
goose chase I am willing to foot the
bills. As for murders, am afraid
there will be double one when I
meet those Times men on the street. y"
Sanford was true to his word; he
paid all the expenses connected with
HE journey to Barlow, and in q
weeks time we had forgotten the cir
cumstance.
The first outburst of jealousy over,
the Times men became quite friendly
with the Post men, and after old Tom
Shannon, the retired pressman Of the
Times, opened up small restaurant
Just around the corner from the post
office, it was no rare sight to see Times
men and Post men mingled promiscu-
ously about the tables in his back
room. We sometimes had gay :ime
together, even going so far as to start
a press club. In business we were
still rivals, each paper constantly ell
deavoring to get "scoop" on the
other, but socially every one except
the chief editors were good friends.
We soon found that our first i'm
preston of Sanford was al entirely
erroneous one. He was one of the
best fellows that ever lived, and
turned out to be, moreover, news
paper man of the first water. His
Barlow experience was never repeated.
1t was his first and last wild goose
chase.
The Post boys were not long in
learning that Sanford was not depen-
dent upon his salary. He aud his sis
ter were orpha q IS and almost alone in
the world. They had inherited con-
siderable property from their father.
They hired pleasant place in fash
ionable part of the town, and Sandy's
house was always open 10 his fellow
journalists. The little sister was
somewhat of an attraction to the boys,
but she treated us all alike, so there
is no romance in my little tale.
The Post WAS trihe over six
months old when, one morning in De,
cember, each member of the Post and
Times forces received through the
mail the following invitations:
"Mr. James Robinson Sanford re-
quests the pleasure of your presence
at bachelor party to be given to the
newspaper men of Crandall at his resi-
dence, One hundred and eighty Hun
gerford Avenue, Saturday evening,
December twenty three, 1895, at eight
o'clock"
The eventful evening arrived, and
goodly company of journalists gath
cred in the pleasant Sanford residence
Oh Hungerford avenue. Crandall had
not yet ,ta he'd the dignity, if dignity
it can be called, Of possessing Sun
day paper, SO Saturday evening war
an open one for all the newspaper men
in the city. Among the company were
Benham ard Stevens, the two men
who had sent Sanford on ten mile
ride to Barlow after murder that
never took place. To all outward ap-
pearances the incident was long since
forgotten, but, rs we soon learned, the
whole evenings enjoyment was only
All adjunct to a carefully concocted
plan of sandy's to pay them off.
Out of doors it was terrible night,
very cold and stormy, a steady fall of
SNOW and sleet being driven against
the paues by fierce northwest wind.
The weather bureau must have been
taken into Saudy's confidence. In
doors all was life and cheerfulness.
We were gathered in large apart
ment on the second floor, used by our
host as his own private lounging-room.
In the fireplace burned bright and
roaring wood fire.
The room abounded in comfortable
easy chairs, and each chair contained
a happy journalist. Such meeting
as this always brings enjoyment to
Bohemian. Inspired by the cheerful
fire. we waxed talkative. and many n
good story was related. Several Of
the company were accomplished musi.