The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-22
DAVIS TOO SMART
Advance Agent Was So Obliging
That He Neatly Blocked His
Own Game.
The Atfable City Editor and the
Employer Who Was soothed
by Joke.

James De Wolfe advance man for the
Sells Forepaugh circus, which will be seen
in Minneapolis July 4, tells good story<4
at the expense Of Bert Davis formerly
advance man for the same show but now
in business in Minneapolis.
According to the story of Mr.. DE wore,
the circus was in Lexington, KY, iast
season. Mr.. Davis, as usual, was just
ahead. He reached Lexington Wedhes-
! day and the circus came THURSDAY. In
going the rounds of the newspaper ON.
! ces he encountered the city editor OF
the Lexington Herald
.'Glad to see you, Mr.. Davis said the
G. e.. Like to do the best we can Tor
YOU but our force is short; two men SICK,
| mother out Of town on story. Just slt
down and write your own yarn; be glad
if you would. Make yo'self at home ana
spread yo'self.'
1 Mr.. Davis needed no second invitation
Before trying the circus stunt ne was
newspaper man. and he wrote ms stol
and clapped a big head upon 1t. lt was
one of the best advance circus stores
ever written. Davis says so himself.
'Ah, thanks" said the city eultor.
Comps? Well, say thirty-or, no. oetter
. make it thirty-fve."
The telephone rang and the city ~ e ,ea
answered it. ."Tarnation," he exclaimed,
heres shooting affair, man killed, ana
haven't reporter to send out on IT,
Davis "on the Spot"
' Davis rose to the emergency with his
: usual aplomb. you have treated me
n pretty WE'LL" he said, land am news
y paper man. Let me get the story
e It was a good story One man hat
: asked another to drink with MIN. Z
quarrel followed the refusal, and tn
would-be host shot and killed his friend
Davis got the facts and handled the stor!
in mis- best style. The city editor compl1
mented him warmly upon the narrative
and Davis felt that he was solid with III
office for all time.
But before he had fairly finished cam
), another telephone Another shooting
Davis volunteered again. This story wa
better than the first. A man had wake
to the front door Of a saloon. AT tapl
IS sat another man against whom ne ma
/ long held a grudge. The newcomer pune
- his gun and fired four times, mlsslng ~
% enemy, but slightly wounding four otne
g. persons An interesting story could Q
'e constructed around these facts, and La
X Wis made the most OF 1t.
< The city editor was lavish in his THANK
= for the kindly and timely assistance {
ID Davis. The Herald tomorrow, ~ =
a. said will be the hottest NUMBER on rex
ID ord thanks to yo' sub. :"
Davis had taken some care with tr
H. two stories, and was rather proud w ne
r. he awoke, the first thing he did was
ring for a bellboy and send for the He
the plac, of honor on the first page. +
slapped himself on the back and conclude
h. that Davis was the best advance age
circus ever had.
"Crowded Out"
-. Then he looked for his circus stor
nc Great heavens! Not line about Sell
~, Forepaugh. Not line, and the clrc
at was in town. Davis dressed and start
* for the Herald office with blood in
Id, eye. The city editor, said the pusine
in office men, was in bed, but would
ed around in a short while, as he was
$50 take a. party of friends to a matinee
a. the circus. The business manager ask
Mr.. Davis for few more comps.
Davis sought the nearest bar Bel
in Kentucky, it was not far away. La
he ran right into the arms Of the
Id editor. The latter greeted the adva1
man with a bland smile. His wife,
beautiful woman, elegantly dressed,
with him.
tail Man! exclaimed Davis. "Mister T
gay itor-why did you cut out the circus.
'as s Sells and all the rest of them in town?
.r as "Wel, old man." drawled thee. E., .,
viii wrote so much good stuff the circus '
of rather crowded out.
here Davis fell back in good order to
1der bar again. But he had q lucky star
rue him, He called a hack and drove to
a circus grounds to get his pay and con
ains The story had preceded him. Davis fo'
Sells, in the midst of his tents. still
exhausted with laughter that he had
-. had time to get mad. H..
or'- Davis" cried Sells, who are you We
ing far anyway-the Sells circus or
. Lexington Herald?"
"Well," replied Davis, as meekly
|, ~, an advance agent can, 1T appears thu
ono am working LOT lne I1eldlu Wv Via"
ed to my pay from the Office
well A soft answer turneth away wrath,
ask no1,,s was with the circus for m
i For N1s 40 We '-