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 l an
about to relate.
It is customary for newspaper men to
buy almost every afternoon paper in
order to familiarize themselves vita
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 n 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," I 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
known "Jim" he had new been absent
from his post of duty at t. ."aer. But
about two months ago was missing
from the accustomed "place OF bust.
ness" and although l 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 .
hospital without relatives or friends t..
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: "Seo
Senator H. in regard to the rumor that
ne had been offered the presidency OF
the - 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 i
1hi amt Jim How in the world dlt
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 it 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 Pool
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 the
senator would receive me in his study
and would l please to walk In"
The senator proved to be q man o
small stature, with c~lean-shaven face
and had altogether a boyish appearance
After such formal introduction custom
airy to newspaper men making them
selves known to entire strangers,
boldly started in with: Senator,
called to see you in reference to thu
rumor that you were offered the-oh
by the way, excuse me. but how do 20,
happen to have Jim Taylor in you
employ. He and are old acquaint
ances."
I could not resist the temptation tt
satisfy my curiosity on that score be
fore attending to my official duty. ,
"Indeed," replied the senator. Il an
very glad to hear it, for my wife and
think a great deal of James, and ar
happy to do a favor for any OF nj
friends. AS to how I came to emplo!
!, .Jim,' as you call him, it is a story wei
worth the telling, in confidence, o
course, although the joke was on me.
"You see, about a year ago l wa
!. called out West. to attend to some busl
ness concerning my committee. Cor
3 tinuous travelling is not conductive Il
I. improving a mans personal appearance
80 YOU need not marvel that when ar
rived in New York on the return ITO?
! a flying trip to Cincinnati was covere'
with dust and was looking rathe
seedy. Indeed, I was in such a hurry t
get TO my hotel that l paid no attention
to my personal appearance, and so m
face was dust-begrimed when stood o