The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-26
REPORTER KEPT FAITH.


81 believe IL always pays a newspaper
reporter to keep up confidence" remarked
Noble ]. Dilday, inspector of agencies for
the Equitable Life Assurance Society. at
the Denison Hotel last night. "At least it
paid me-" he added. land 1 think in the
end it will pay any man.
Years ago, when a young fellow just
out of college, / went West with the two
sons of John G. Carlisle, and we settled at
Wichita, Kan. The two Carlisle boys be-
gan the practice of law and 1 got job
as a newspaper reporter on Wichita
paper. After / had been there a while
the paper sent me to the State capital to
do some reporting. In returning home /
decided that l would ride In the best sort
of STYLE so / got berth in the Pullman.
1t was night time and not being Sloppy
walked into the smoking apartment and
lighted a cigar. There were several men
in the apartment whom l did not know
and VINO did not know me. soon learned
from their conversation that they were
officials of the Rock Island Railway, which
was at that time extending its lines through
the State of Kansas l could not help
hearing what they said and the topic they
were discussing was very interesting, for
at that time there was great interest in
many Kansas towns as to just what course
the road would take. These men were
talking about a certain town where 1t
seemed there was some uncertainty as to
whether 1T would vote subsidy. AS / In
terpreted the conversation the plan was 10
ignore this town and build around it, or at
least make bluff at this. In order to show
the town that the road was independent
of 1t. The officials reasoned that If they
did not show some independence. these
Kansas towns would keep them weaving
around all over the State. The details of
the scheme, as l got them, were very in
teresting and l thought l could see an ex-
elusive story Tor my paper: Gouia al
most imagine / could see the big head
lines. All this time the train was speeding
across the Kansas prairies and finally Ii
came bedtime. There were just one or two
conversation and 1 thought 1 would ask
one of the mon before they separated for
the night about these facts. l did so. and.
of course, my question gave the whole
thing away. They saw ] was a newspaper
reporter and they saw where publication
of what 1 had heard would probably be
fatal to their plans.
"'Look here, young fellow said one of
the men In kindly voice, you don't
want to do this. If you publish what you
have heard II VIII injure us greatly and
Now listen to me, I've got better scheme
than that for YOU The man then pro-
ceeded to unfold his scheme and the others
joined with him In urging me to take a
reasonable view of the matter. They IN
formed me that they were going TO estab-
lish a new town on their line In Kansas and
they were sure II would boom. They said
If / could raise little money-enough to
start newspaper in the place. could not
help but realize well on 1t. / heard them
through and then tossed the notes l had
taken out of the car window. l assured
them that their secret was safe and that
what / had heard would not be published
When the proper time arrived l got about
$500 together and invested as the Rock
Island men advised me and the result was
that / realized about 5000 on my invest
ment. Now, there is a case where IL paid
newspaper reporter to keep faith with
those who trusted him."