Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-12-06
HIS READY MADE SCOOP.

Jerry was as smart "a newspaper re-
porter as ever went on the police detail.
but he was not liked by the other fell
lows. All track Of Jerry would be lost
for an hour or So. but he would turn up
smiling. and the next morning the public
would be treated 10 another freak story
in the Twister-a small scoop" as news
paper men cali an exclusive item OF news
Then we police reporters. one and all.
would have TO face our city editors that
day and make some explanation.
There were three of us who became
tired Of this sort OF thing, and almost
found ourselves shuddering at the very
name of Jerry, because. as for me. the
city editor had said point blank, and
without any frills on it, that II the Daily
Twistcr got beat on me again l
would Ice expected to look for another
berth.
We were loafing around the detective
department at police headquarters one
night about 1880 discussing Jerry He
had been around most OF the day, and
we knew he was taking In one OF the
theatres that night. so we had no fears.
Say" said Currie Of the Stellar. won
der II he would bite at the old gag
ooh. the dickens" put in Briggs. of
the Mercury "IIe is too old in the bust
ness for that
Don't know about that" I ventured.
Il have seen some pretty old birds fall
into that same trap. He is at the show,
and after seeing the girl home he'll be
late. and II we get away early he'll nat
urally be anxious. do you see?'
We'll. let her co. said Briggs. whats
it to be-"
Must be a mystery" put in Currie.
pulled a wad Of copy paper out Of my
pocket and began to write
What is it Scotty?" asked Briggs
Suicide on the water front" / mum
hlrd as wrote on.
"Where?" asked Currie
"Oh. just on the water front. Give him
the whole water front 10 work on
BY this time | had written three sheets.
put the first two in my pocket, and num-
herring the third 10" crumpled IT up and
threw It on the floor beside my seat,
where it could easily be seen.
What number did you have on the last
sheet, Scotty?" asked Currie.
Nineteen" I replied.
How does 1t read?"
Begins in the middle Of a sentence and
breaks at another, giving a partial de
scrption Of a suit Of clothes found on "A
dock"
Good boy" I'll begin on page %. Lis
ten to this as ! write it," and Currie
scrubbed on. at the same time repeating:
ALSO a soft felt hat. What drove the
poor fellow to such horrible methou OF
ending his life is hard TO conceive. Spots
of blood were discovered"
stop there" said Briggs. Give me a
show" and he began: Page No. 40: But
the police authorities both in that di-
vision and at headquarters claim they
know nothing of the mystery, which leads
to the belief that" and here Briggs
crumpled up his sheet and left 1t on the
table. Currie had left his page on the
desk just as he had written it beside a
few other blank sheets.
We left the room, walked over to the
Hub, loafed round bit, and then 'phoned
No. ! station.
Currie was at the machine, and called:
Hello, sergeant! Has Jerry the Twist
er been over there?" Currie waited a
| few seconds then roared with laughter.
Never mind, sergeant" we heard him
say; wen bring you over a Key West
cigar Yes, two of them" Very
goodr "By-by!"
Currie Joined us in the small room
| laughing heartily. THE sergeant says
Jerry must have been drinking. The
fool, says the sergeant thinks there is