The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-16
BATES The Incompetent |! !;g:!l %! PEI:
BY EDWARD cHILDs CARPENTER.


| marked Bates, laying down the receiver
and lighting his pipe. HE hasn't half
the names, but he has the losses and in
surance down pat"
Then, after a moments pause, con-
sumed in getting his pipe we'll lighted,
he resumed: 'Mr. Central, you're a
brick! This is great! Here we sit
pardon me, shall roll you cigarette?
! Very good" He rolled one for the youth.
Here we sit, while the gang rushes
about in the rain-I guess you'd prefer
to lick the paper yourself''-he gave the
cigarette a final twist and passed it to
| the operator, as he went on: while the
gang rushes about in the rain, gathering
the news, and 1 edit it on the wire. Do
you know, old man, 1 haven't enjoyed
myself as much since He paused
suddenly. The light went out of his eyes,
and melancholy cast shadow over them.
The operator did not heed the change,
for one of the tiny brass hinges in front
of him dropped.
Here's another reporter whispered
Mr.. Central" He had to pluck Bates
by the sleeve before he could get the
| reporters attention.
Eth! What! Oh! Yes!o Bates
grabbed a receiver and was soon putting
clouds of smoke with every scrawl of his
fast-moving pencil. The light came into
ton and the fact that he was collecting
a good story revived his spirits.
Drop another dime in that SLOT call
ed the operator into the telephone;
you've talked over five minutes" Your
friends working the slot machine tele-
phone at the railroad station
Il think that's Herman. of the Eagle.
He's all right for a Sunday special but
he's not much use on a news story. The
Eagle will print the history of the Bed
Rock Chemical works this morning:
that's about all. Strange no one seems
to know anything about the cause of the
explosion"
you can go ahead now,'' called mt
Central to the reporter at the railroad
station.
Bates took no more notes. Gosh, but
he's long-winded; he's telling the same
thing over again." remarked the GlCoe
reporter. Say, isn't it time to charge
him another 10 cents?"
Hes only been at 1t three minutes
Charge him, anyway; I'm getting sick
of hearing him talk. Besides it's time
was sending in my story for the second
edition.
Times up" cried the operator. IF
you've more to say, drop another dime
well, then. two nickels." Mr.. Central"
smiled at Bates. He's kickingr'
Then cut him off altogether and con-
meet me with the Globe
Bates spread his notes before MIN. "If
1 haven't the best story Of the Bed Rock
catastrophe he muttered, 1T isn't the
fault of the other reporters.''
While one of the men in the Globe Of
flee took Bates elaborated story over
the telephone, copy reader whipped it
into shape and passed it, sheet by sheet,
to the city editor
That dapper little person was marvel
ing at the amount Of work that Bates had
accomplished when the reporter at the
telephone wheeled about and exclaimed:
We're cut off, and I've only got the
names of two out of the fifteen killedr'
Bates had been keeping the wire hot
with the story, reading it, in disorder,
from his hieroglyphic-like notes. and had
just come to the list Of killed and in
1ured. when the operator touched him
on the arm.
Listen to this said he, switching
Bates on to another wire; some ones
taking to the town burgess"
rms is what the reporter heard: Hello
Samp-hello-1 wish you'd repeat thar
Talk louder. I can't half make ont what
you're saying" Then another voice an
sWered: We've arrested one man Alien
REYNOLDS He used to be engineer OF
Ine works, but Hayworth discharged him
a month ago. He confesses that he had a
hand in the plot to destroy the place hut
won't give up the names of his accom-
pllces. l think l can lay my hands ON
en- though. in the mornin', if they don't
get wind Of Reynolds arrest"
That was enough for Bates. .Give me-
inc Globe again-in a hurryr' he ex-
canned. Incendiary origin! DHabolical
plot! Lord won't that lar tba o+ba.
sheets! I'll beat the town.
me operator was almost as Interested
as the reporter. He cut In on some one
Gaining physician and gave Bates the
city wire. INC
Hello, is that the Globe?e asked the
reporter. This is Bates
Whle the man at the other end wac
taking the reporter to task for keen;n@
the the paper waiting there came he 1,l7-S
KNOCK mock at the street door Of the exchange
WHAT'S that?" questioned Bates anyr
iously ahA-
Mr.. Central threw open the window
ana looked out. He spoke to a man below