Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-08-10
The
Reporters Story
AN q newspaper man-that is, l am
employed on a morning newspa per
Observation-Disclosures


employed on a morning newspa per
ID write news, not love stories.
In my assignments" / meet many
Den and hear many strange tales,
0Ome true, but the majority not But
Burely the strangest of all is that am
about to relate.
m is customary for newspaper men
90 buy almost every afternoon paper
IN order to familiarize themselves with
events that have taken place in the
slime intervening between the previous
&Ssue of the morning paper on which
xhey are employed and the following
zone. Not that sAis has anything TO
40 with the story-eXcept that it
serves to introduce one of the char
acters. L always bought my paper
Arom one boy-"Jim" Taylor by name
and thus formed rather a liking for
aim, for he was always courteous
and dirty.
Jim," l had learned from him, was
an orphan and lived at the Newsboys'
sodging house. He had no care beyond
osarning enough to feed and clothe
himself, and, of course, n sufficient
amount left over for a ticket for de
gallery in the teayter," accompanied
by the traditional pint OF peanuts.
In the two or three years | had
Known Jim" he had never been alb
Eent from his post OF DUTY az the cor
aenrr- But about two months ago he
Twas missing from his accustomed
place or business and nrhousyn 4
made Inquiries, could get no informa-
zion concerning him beyond the fact
4h2t his companions hadn't heard
narthin' of him." So, after bordering
M TO whether the little fellow had
committed criminal act and had been
sent TO some institution or had been
run over by some vehicle and was per-
haps lying IN hospital without rela-
1aVes or friends to care as to the result
'o1 his injuries, and further inquiries
EFroFing fruitless, the name of Jim"
passed temporarily from my mind.
"A week ago, upon going to the Office
20 get my assignment" for the day.
found that opposite my name on the
DOCK were these instructions: "See
senator H in regard to the rumor
that he had been offered the pres
Anency of the - national bank
doing TO the senator's house, NV
summons at the door was answered
BY rather bright-looking boy dressed
IN the conventional blue suit with
whte metal buttons, of whom in
aoired: us Senator H at howell.
I'm blessed if this isn't little lin
How In the world did you get here? ?"
AT which Jim" smiled very broad
Emile and replied: Yes, sir, the SEN
ator is at home. How did / get here?
Oh. the senator will tell you that If
he isn't too busy. Your card, please"
This was said in tone plainly in
nirating that he was TO be treated in
manner becoming his station as
door boy, and not with the Familiarity
ne had been accustomed to as news
boy.
My card was handed him, and he re-
turned with the announcement that
the senator would receive me in his
study, and would please to walk in"
The senator proved to be man of
small stature, with clean shaven face.
and had altogether boyish appear
Ance. After such formal introduction
customary to newspaper men making
themselves known to entire strangers.
boldly started in with: Senator. I
called to see you in reference to the
rumor that you were offered the-oh,
-oy the way, excuse me, but how do
you happen to have Jim TAYLOR in
your employ? He and are old ac-
quaintances."
i could not resist the temptation to
satisfy my curiosity on that score be-
lore attending to my official duty.
Indeed" replied the senator, "I am
very glad to hear it, for my wife and
Il think great deal of James, and are
haPpy to do a favor for any of his
friends. AS to how came to employ
JIn,' as you call him, 1t is story well
worth the telling, in confidence, of
course, although the joke was on me.
You see, about year ago 1 was
Acailed out west to attend to some bust
PISS concerning my committee. Con-
.nuous travelling is not conducive to
sProVing mans personal appear
s pee. SO you need not marvel that
zen arrived in New York on the re-
a from my dying trip to Cincinnati
las covered with dust and was look
rather seedy. Indeed, 1 was in
= hurry to got to my hotel that
no attention to my personal ap-
ce. and so my face was dust
d when stood on the hotel