, 1903-01-17
The Five Franc Piece,
BY JAMES s. WAN

BY AMES s. EVANE.
Copyright. 1909, by Daily Story e.b. CO..
In the cub" days of the new paper
reporter Troupe Mcintosh saw little
il life that had more than ordinary
interest for him He got few assign.
mcnts. and these were chiefly obitu-
airy notices. church bazaars and small
fires. The city editor did not have
confidence in him. He had displayed
ltltle of the instincts that are essen.
tial to reporters who make names
and are permitted to sign stories. But
Mcintosh knew the stun was in him
and that some time or ether, he would
show it..
ed hurriedly from his room to the
local room. In his hand was a piece
of yellow paper and he was excited.
Where is Davis? Where is Horn?
Where is Allen?" he shouted at Nc
IntOsh."
Il think they have gone" said the
cub" meekly.
You think they have? You don't
see them do you? And they don't
usually leave with you a memoranda
of their doings, hey?"
The cub" attempted to say some.
thing. but before he could proceed the
city editor said: Here, go to Butler
on the , O'Clock train. | do not like
to trust so important an assignment
to sucl an ordinary blockhead, but
you are the only one in sight. Get
some expense money down stairs and
hurry. You've barely time to catch
the train. Take this telegram. 1t
will explain why you are sent. Get
your facts and write all you can get
on the story. By the time you arrive
there. | have made arrangements with
matter as fast as you can write 1t.
Gel along now. and do your best.
The cub fairly flew to the depot.
Out of breath almost, he found a seat
IL the car and for the first time look.
ed at the telegram. 1t was merely a
bulletin from the Butler correspond.
ent and read:
John Billings, cashier Second National
bank. found his wife in arms of William
Champenois this afternoon. Billings killed
Champenois. then his wife and then him
self. Society is greatly startled. Both
the wealthicst and most influential In
town. How much?
Well, here was a story for the
cub after all. Butler was forty miles
distant. and the train would make 1t
in less than an hour. AS the cars
sped along the cubs mind was
framing sentences. He paced nervous.
ly up n down the aisleway, occa-
~sionally throwing back the lapel of
his coat, showing his reporters star.
R%egaining his seat, he would take
out a pad of paper from his pocket
and scribble. The opening sentence
of his story could not be framed ex.
actly right to suit him. He wanted
something that would catch and glad
den the city editors y at first
glance. Finally he wrote something.
looked at it a long while, smiled and
put the paper in his pocket. At But
Ter there was little difficulty in obtain.
ing the facts. The coroner's jury ives
IN session when he alighted from the
train. He heard the testimony of the
servants in the Billings home, who
say the shooting. They also testified
that Chanpenois had been a frequent
visitor at the Billings home, both
while Mr.. Billings was at home and
occasionally when the husband was
absent. Their testimony was some
what sensational and disclosed q
phase Of Mrs. Billings life that was
3ot in keeping with her reputation in
|fhe community. Champenois left q
4 widow; Billings had nc children.
The cub secured photographs
which he mailed on the 8 o'clock train.
By 10 o'clock he was in possession OF
all the information necessary for a
long story. He began to write. AT
first he was nervous and uncertain OF
himself, but after he had written two
or three hundred words, the rest be.
came easy to handle. He wrote rap.
idly, and by midnight he had three
columns Of matter in the newspaper