The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-11-07

THE REPORTERS STORY.


I am a newspaper man-that is, l am
employed on a morning newspaper to
write news, not love stories.
In my assignments l meet many
men and hear many strange stories.
some true, but the majority not. But
surely the strangest Of all is that I an
about to relate.
It is customary for newspaper men to
buy almost every afternoon paper in
events that have taken place in the
time intervening between the previous
issue of the morning paper on which
they are employed and the following
one. Not that this has anything to dc
with the story-except that it serves to
Introduce one of the characters. I al
ways bought my paper from one boy
Jim" Taylor by name-and thus form.
ed rather a liking for him, for he was
always courteous-and dirty.
"Jim," 1 had learned from him, was
an orphan and lived at the Newsboys'
Lodging house. He had no care beyond
earning enough to feed and clothe him.
self, and, of course, a sufficient amount
left over for ode gallery in the teapter."
accompanied by the traditional pint OF
peanuts.
In the two or three years I have
4Lo o~,n StT3~,SS ho hoa nav hoon qhaQns
from his post Of duty at t. "aer. But
about two months ago was missing
from the accustomed 'place Of bust.
ness" and although 1 made inquiries I
could get no information concerning
him beyond the fact that his compan-
ions hadn't heard narthin' Of him"
So, after bordering as to whether the
little fellow had committed a criminal
act and had been sent to some institu-
ton or had been run over by soma
vehicle and was perhaps lying in q
hospital without relatives or friends IT,
care as to the result of his injuries, and
further inquiries proved fruitless, the
> name of "Jim" passed temporarily from
, my mind.
A week ago, upon going to the office
to get my assignment for the day, l
!, found that opposite my name on the
, book were these instructions: "Sea
:. Senator H. in regard to the rumor that
, ne had been offered the presidency OF
=, the-N National bank"
Going to the senator's house, my
summons at the door was answered by
a rather bright looking boy dressed in
the conventional blue suit with white
:. metal buttons, of whom l inquired: Us
Senator H. at howell, I'm blessed il
1hi amt Jim How in the world dlc
you get here"
At which .Jim" smiled a very broat
: smile and replied: eyes, sir, the sen
), ator is at home. How did I get here;
: Oh. the senator will tell you that II M
isn't too busy. Your card, please"
, This was said in a tone plainly indi'
eating that he was to be treated In
manner becoming his station as Poo
J, Boy, and not with the familiarity nj
!, had been accustomed to as Newsboy.
My card was handed him, and he re-
turned with the announcement that thu
senator would receive me in his study
and would I please to walk In"
!. The senator proved to be man 0
/ small stature. with clean-shaven face
and had altogether a boyish appearances
After such formal introduction custom
airy to newspaper men making them
n selves known to entire strangers,
= boldly started in with: Senator,
r called to see you in reference to tn
: rnmor that you were offered the-oh
e by the way, excuse me, but how do yo'
n happen to have Jim Taylor in you
h employ. He and l are old acquaint
ances."
k 1 could not resist the temptation u
It satisfy my curiosity on that score be
h fore attending to my official duty. ,
e "Indeed," replied the senator. Il an
e very glad to hear it, for my wife and
}. think a great deal Of James, n ar
e happy to do a favor for any OF hi
is friends. AS to how l came to emplo'
IS .Jim,' as you call him, it is a story wei
worth the telling, in confidence, 0
v course, although the joke was on me.
e "You see, about a year g wa
a called out West to attend to some Dusl
If ness concerning my committee. Cor
Is tinuous travelling is not conductive I
,. improving a mans personal appearance
re so YOU need not marvel that when ar
d rived in New York on the return fro9
n a fying trip to Cincinnati l was covere
with dust and was looking ratne
) seedy. Indeed, 1 was in such a hurry t
get to my hotel that I paid no attentlo
i, to my personal appearance, and so m
/; face was dust-begrimed when stood 0