The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-05-22
THE YOUNG
REPORTERS
DILEMMA.

"ZXXXVVXXXXXX
Sheridan" remarked the city editor,
with his accustomed colorless brevity,
without glancing up from his desk, Il
want this story in by 3 o'clock" He
pushed a slip of paper across his desk
almost instinctively in the direction OF
the young reporter and promptly sub
merged his identity in the ever-present
problem of news values.
Sheridan rose from his seat at the re-
porters table, and, crossing the room,
picked up the bit Of paper. 1t was an
easy assignment, being merely an in
terview with charming young society
woman concerning her alleged engage
ment to an English duke, but the ath-
letic young reporter suddenly turned
white and leaned heavily against the
editorial desk for support.
The city editor, dimly conscious that
something was wrong, came to the sur
face and realized that instead of a
banging of door, followed by the alb
sence of Sheridan, the said Sheridan
remained leaning heavily against the
editorial desk.
= 81 can't take this assignment" he
faltered at length.
why not?" asked his chief in aston
ishment
Because l used to know Miss Win
terton," he answered with difficulty.
''Then so much the better for the Ar
gus" said the city editor smiling, you
seem to be just the man for us"
"She was once a very dear friend of
mine" went on Sheridan in low tone,
''and you must see how impossible 1t
would be for me to go to her on such
an errand. | can't do it, that's all"
The city editor sighed deeply, and
emerged from his flood of items. He
looked the young man squarely in the
eyes 1t was crisis for which he was
prepared sooner or later in the case Of
a novice. Usually he said: Il don't care
a hang if your father was the car Of
all the Russias. You've got to sink your
identity when you enter this Office. Try
to forget that once you were your faith
er's son, and remember with all your
soul that you're only reporter on the
Daily Argus"
This useful advice was followed eth
er by an emphatic slam Of the door as
the young reporter began to sink his
identity in that of the Argus, or by an
immediate resignation couched with
cold civility. But this time, glancng
up at the handsome, refined face re-
garding him with such frank distress
and perplexity, the city editor said
quite gently for him who was wont
to growl as the bear: "You know, Mr..
Sheridan, we news-reporters are oblig-
ed to belong to the neuter gender"
Although a self-made man himself
and thoroughly proud Of the fact, the
city editor suddenly experienced feel
ing akin to compassion for young
Sheridan, whom an unexpected furry
in Wall street had robbed of his prince
ly inheritance. 1t occurred to him that
possibly the struggle of an impoverish
ed millionaire might offer difficulties
even more overwhelming than those Of
a man accustomed to hardships from
his birth.
Suddenly, without a word, Sheridan
turned and left the room. AS the dool
banged behind him, the city editor sanl
down again in his items with a sigh O.
relief that his most promising report
81 had not given in his resignation.
The footman smiled broadly as he an
swered the bell, for Sheridan had beer
a great favorite with the Wintertol
servants, but the young mans face wa
unusually grave as he said, briefly:
"Please tell Miss Winterton that
reporter from the Daily Argus wishe
to interview her"
The footmans smile widened into al
instantly suppressed grin as he listen
ed to this message. He recalled the day
not so very distant, when the younj
millionaire had driven up in state t
the door, and pressing a gold piec
in his hand, had hidden him tell hi
mistress that a detective would hav
speech WIN ner at once upon import
ant business. Later, when he was serv
( ing the coffee in the drawing room, h,
sc had overheard Miss Marion telling he
Ne father about an exquisite diamond rim
tht which an unknown detective had foun
ers.at Tiffany's, and recognized as hers b
season Of its surprising beauty; where
1t Mr.. Winterton had been much mys